1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HC |

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1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HC

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Sold Price

£32,000

Mileage~53,302
TransmissionManual
Engine2.2L
LocationUddingston

SOLD

1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HC

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Colin Bashford

Professional Consigner

A turbocharged, mid-engined sports car with a lick of red paint - you’d be forgiven for thinking this Turbo Esprit HC is Italian.

The Lotus Turbo Esprit represents one of Hethel’s most refined iterations of the iconic wedge-shaped supercar of the 1970s and ’80s. Introduced in 1986, the HC - denoting High Compression - was built upon the success of the original Giugiaro-styled Turbo Esprit, offering sharper performance and greater flexibility for real-world driving. Powered by Lotus’s 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, the HC benefited from a raised compression ratio and improved engine management, delivering both increased power and smoother delivery across the rev range.

Externally the car retained the sharp, futuristic lines that made the Esprit such a design landmark, while subtle detail changes and bold colour schemes marked it out as a child of its era. Inside, the HC combined period luxury with the focused, driver-centric layout Lotus was renowned for. Today, the Turbo Esprit HC stands as a highly collectable classic; blending striking looks, engaging handling, and a tangible link to one of Britain’s most innovative sports car manufacturers at the height of its creativity.

This specific Esprit comes to market after almost 22 years with our vendor. Recently recommissioned following an extended period off the road, it has had its carburettors ultrasonically cleaned and rebuilt with new service kits, a new fuel pump and filters, fresh oil and coolant, a new coolant header tank, new discs and pads all round, a new cambelt and a new HT king lead — all resulting in a car that runs just as it always has. It comes with a clean MOT with no advisories, valid until 17 July 2026.

This listing was written from information supplied by Colin after meeting Ed the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

When I saw what Giugiaro created with the Esprit, I decided that was the car I wanted to own.

Ed has been a car nut since he was a wee boy, fascinated by design. He told us: “Everything was looking to the future - what with the space race, Concorde being developed, etc. - and I loved both the whacky American custom car scene, with the likes of George Barris and his Batmobile and Monkeemobile, and the crazy wedge-shaped concept cars coming from the European design houses like Bertone, Italdesign and Pininfarina.”

Ed loved Giugiaro’s design of the Esprit. In fact, he actually owned two other Giugiaro-designed cars before the Esprit: a Mk1 Golf and a Fiat Panda. When the time came, Ed knew he wanted a Giugiaro Esprit - not the softer-edged Peter Stevens redesign - and he wanted the turbo engine so the car would perform as well as it looked. He viewed a few different Esprits and eventually bought the best one he could find.

Ed told us: “I love the look, obviously, and the reactions you get from other drivers on the road and from folks generally when you’re parked up somewhere. I love the drive, too, with the turbo wastegate snorting like a horse at every gear change. The handling and balance are great, and the steering feeds back to such an extent that the car almost seems to steer itself. Going against the perceived wisdom, it has always been reliable. Keep on top of the maintenance and I see no reason for that to change in the foreseeable future.”

Having enjoyed his dream car, Ed found less time to drive it as life took over. Sitting unused in his garage, he decided to have the car recommissioned and bring it to auction with us so someone else can enjoy it as much as he has.

Ed would be happy to answer any questions in the comments section below.

Ed

Vehicle Owner

Ed saved £5,760* when they
sold their Lotus with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The hallmark wedge shape of the Esprit remains instantly recognisable today, while this example features some unusual elements: polished rims and body-coloured louvres on the tailgate.

Wheels and Tyres

The gold BBS wheels with polished rims appear to be in decent condition. The rims do show some signs of age, with light marks to the finish, which could be rectified with a refurbishment if desired.

The car is fitted with Pirelli P6000 tyres, sized 195/60 R15, at the front and Pirelli P600 tyres, sized 235/60 R15, at the rear, neither set were available in both sizes when Ed changed them. All tyres look to be in good condition with plenty of tread remaining. They are dated 2007 (front) and 2008 (rear), though no signs of sidewall cracking were noted.

Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior of the Lotus and a closer look at the wheels and tyres to make your own assessment of their condition.

Bodywork

The bodywork of the Esprit appears to be in good shape, with no major dents or scuffs noted on the fibreglass panels. Both doors, along with the bonnet and engine cover, open and close well, although the passenger door felt slightly sticky.

The underside of the car also presents in very good condition.

We've highlighted our observations in more detail through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The "Calypso Red" paint shows good coverage and an even hue. The car has not been restored, so there are quite a few stone chips along the lower edge of the front bumper. Additional stone chips were noted around the car, particularly on the driver’s side wing mirror and the edge of the driver’s door. There is also a small area of paint cracking along the top edge of the louvres on the tailgate.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there yourself. Please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car to form your own opinion about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The windscreen and side windows all appear to be in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks noted in any of the glass.

The badging and stickers are all present and correct, and generally in very good condition. The black pinstripe along the middle of the car shows some scuffing near the door edges.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

With its two-pronged steering wheel, red and black leather seats, and a Nakamichi tape deck, the Turbo Esprit HC offers all the comfort you could need.

Seats and Carpets

The red and black leather seats complement the exterior nicely. They show some signs of age, with wear on the driver’s bolster and a couple of minor scrapes on the red centre of the driver’s seat, but overall they have held their shape well over the years.

The carpets are also in good condition, very clean for the car’s age, and the mats are in good order as well.

Dashboard

The leather-covered dashboard presents very well, with no cracks or splits noted. All the instruments appeared to function correctly during our drive with Ed.

The odometer read approximately 53,302 miles at the time of our visit.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The original two-spoke leather steering wheel appears to be in excellent condition, complete with the black and gold Lotus logo in the centre.

The wooden-topped gear stick is in decent condition, with the numbers clearly legible, although it does show some signs of age on the stick itself.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The turbo chatter is addictive, feeling almost like a horse chasing you just over your shoulder.

Engine and Gearbox

The 2.2-litre turbocharged engine took a few attempts to start, but once running it was steady. Ed explained that it occasionally stalls on first start but fires up reliably on the second attempt. Once on the road and fully warmed, the engine performed flawlessly, pulling strongly with its distinctive turbo note ever present.

The manual gearbox also performed well, engaging smoothly with no crunching or other unwanted noises noted during our drive.

Suspension and Brakes

The Esprit felt planted on the road, with no unwanted noises noted from the suspension during our drive with Ed.

Ed mentioned that the brakes had recently been replaced, which was evident from the shine on the inboard rear brakes when viewed from underneath the car. The car stopped confidently and smoothly, with no drama.

The Drive

Out on the winding country roads with Ed, the Turbo Esprit HC demonstrated its dynamic handling, eager to be unleashed and perfectly at home on the twisties.

The car felt fantastic on the road, with Ed giving us a taste of its capabilities. No unwanted noises were noted from the engine, gearbox, suspension, or brakes - it performed exactly as a true sports car should. Ed explained that the car features no driving aids, offering a pure experience and a direct connection between driver and road.

Electrics and Other

We didn’t test every feature during our drive with Ed, but he confirmed that, to his knowledge, everything is in working order.

Ed told us: “The day after the original owner received the car, he took it to have an audio system installed, run from a Nakamichi cassette deck/radio in the centre console - no expense was spared! The leather-covered blanking plate for the radio slot is included in the sale, in case you don’t want any music.

The second owner fitted a Sony 10-CD changer unit into the glove compartment, which connects to the Nakamichi head unit wirelessly, so no holes were drilled!”

Time to get those Simple Minds tapes out!

Ed told us he hasn't used the air conditioning in the car; "The Esprit was never the best for ventilation and due to the placement of the air vents, the air-con never really cooled the interior down but was very good at giving the driver a frozen left knee! At a minimum I would think the system would need re-charging if a new owner wanted to use it."

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History and Paperwork

Having recently been recommissioned after spending several years in storage, the Turbo Esprit HC passed its most recent MOT with no advisories.

This Esprit has been well cared for by all three owners, with Ed still in touch with both previous owners. Recent work to return the car to the road included: carburettors ultrasonically cleaned and rebuilt with new service kits, a new fuel pump and filters, oil and coolant replaced, a new coolant header tank, new discs and pads all round, a new cambelt, and a new HT king lead. This all results in a car running as it always has, accompanied by a clean MOT valid until 17 July 2026 with no advisories. The car even comes with its original order sheet.

A fantastic opportunity to own a British motoring legend, the Turbo Esprit HC combines the sleek wedge shape with some distinctive styling cues, such as gold BBS alloy wheels with polished rims and body-coloured louvres on the tailgate.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
23.08.2025	Service	53,274
18.07.2025	MOT	53,279
04.06.2011	MOT	52,910
17.04.2010	MOT	52,782
06.04.2009	MOT	52,578
01.12.2004	MOT	50,096
01.10.2004	Service & Camebelt	49,875
19.12.2003	MOT	48,201
13.08.2002	MOT	47,029
22.05.2001	MOT	42,150
01.09.1999	MOT	32,261
28.08.1998	MOT	23,284
30.07.1997	Service	14,330
28.06.1996	MOT	13,558
02.06.1995	MOT	11,407
01.06.1994	MOT	9,883
05.05.1994	Service	9,842
24.05.1993	MOT	9,230
27.08.1992	Service	9,042
27.05.1992	MOT	8,712
22.08.1990	MOT	7,493
02.02.1990	Service	7,046
04.07.1989	Service	6,072
20.12.1988	Service	5,235
03.05.1988	Service	3,505