1986 LOTUS ESPRIT | SCCFC20A5GHF60826
❯1986 LOTUS ESPRIT | SCCFC20A5GHF60826
United States
Lot details
Vehicle details
Vehicle specifications
4
~$59,000
Engine: 2.2L turbocharged inline-4
Torque: 298 Nm
0–100 km/h: ~5.4 s
The Lotus Esprit Turbo from this generation delivered compelling performance for its era, thanks to a lightweight fiberglass body and a turbocharged 2.2-liter inline-four engine producing up to 215 horsepower and 298 Nm of torque in the High Compression (HC) variant. With a curb weight below 1,200 kg, the Esprit could reach 100 km/h in just over 5 seconds, rivaling some V8-powered contemporaries and cementing its reputation as a true British sports machine.
The mid-engine layout, paired with a stiff backbone chassis and double-wishbone suspension, gave the Esprit a sense of immediacy and poise in corners that was rare at the time. Steering was unassisted but razor-sharp, offering intimate feedback and making the car feel alive at any speed. With perfect weight distribution and low center of gravity, it provided extraordinary agility, though it demanded respect from the driver due to its turbo lag and sudden torque delivery.
This version of the Esprit marked a transitional phase for Lotus—from the raw, wedge-shaped icon of the '70s to a more refined performance grand tourer. It maintained the brand’s core philosophy of "adding lightness," yet introduced more comfort, luxury trim, and even air conditioning. Compared to its peers, the Esprit was more exotic than a Porsche 944 and more agile than a Ferrari Mondial, offering unique character, Bond-movie pedigree, and race-bred engineering in a package that was equal parts eccentric and exhilarating.
Body Styles
The Esprit of this era was a low-slung, two-door fastback coupe with unmistakable wedge-shaped proportions. Designed originally by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Series 3 (S3) and Turbo variants continued the geometric, angular design language with subtle refinements—most notably smoother bumpers, integrated air intakes, and wraparound taillights. The car sat extremely low to the ground, with a pronounced beltline and wide rear haunches giving it a planted, aggressive stance. Its tapered glasshouse and slanted rear window enhanced the supercar aesthetic, while pop-up headlights and wide wheel arches completed its futuristic silhouette.
Model Name Meaning (Manufacturer)
The name “Esprit” was part of Lotus’s tradition of naming models starting with the letter “E.” It was selected to convey a sense of vitality, spirit, and motion—characteristics integral to Lotus’s brand identity and the car’s dynamic personality. The name aligned with other iconic Lotus models like Elite, Elan, and Europa.
Model Name Meaning (Languages)
“Esprit” is a French word meaning “spirit” or “mind,” often associated with cleverness or wit (“esprit de corps”). Its phonetic elegance adds a continental flair, enhancing the car’s appeal beyond British borders and subtly elevating its sophistication through linguistic charm.
Body & Interior Colors and Rims
The Lotus Esprit of the 1980s was available in a variety of vibrant and high-contrast exterior colors, reflecting the bold tastes of the decade. Shades like Calypso Red, Monaco White, Essex Blue, and Metallic Gold were common, often paired with color-coded bumpers and side graphics unique to Turbo models. Some special editions featured distinctive two-tone paint or striping along the beltline, further emphasizing the car’s angular profile.
The interior varied significantly depending on model and year, with base versions featuring simple cloth upholstery while higher-spec and Turbo HC variants included full leather trim in shades like black, tan, or red. Dashboards were angular and driver-oriented, with aircraft-inspired gauges and a strong sense of cockpit enclosure. Wood veneer was rare, replaced instead by bold vinyls and functional plastics, although later models gained more refinement. Optional Alcantara and contrast stitching began appearing toward the late '80s.
Wheels were typically 15-inch alloys with a turbine-style or cross-spoke design, often unique to specific trims such as the Turbo SE. Standard finishes were silver or graphite, while some special editions included color-matched or polished rims. The tires had staggered sizing front to rear, highlighting the car’s mid-engine dynamics and enhancing both grip and stance.
Top Expensive Options
- Turbocharged High Compression Engine Package: $7,500
- Full Leather Interior Trim: $2,800
- Air Conditioning System: $1,700
- Two-Tone Exterior Paint with Turbo Striping: $1,500
- Upgraded Alloy Wheels (Turbo Design): $1,400
- Removable Glass Sunroof: $1,200
- Premium Audio Cassette System: $900
- Fog Lamps and Front Air Dam Kit: $800
- Power Windows and Mirrors Package: $750
- Rear Louvered Sunshade Panel: $650
vs Competitors
Against contemporaries like the Porsche 944 Turbo, Ferrari Mondial, and even the Chevrolet Corvette C4, the Esprit carved a niche by prioritizing lightweight construction and exotic layout over brute power. It undercut the Ferrari in price while delivering comparable mid-engine dynamics and greater visual drama. Though less refined than the Porsche and lacking the V8 punch of the Corvette, it offered a purer driving experience for enthusiasts who favored sharp handling and stylistic flair. Its limited production and British charm gave it collector appeal, while its engineering innovations gave it performance credibility.
Fun Fact
The Esprit gained global fame when a modified earlier version transformed into a submarine in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. While that was a 1970s S1, the 1980s models capitalized on the legacy, with the Turbo Esprit even appearing in For Your Eyes Only. Lotus cleverly leveraged this exposure, creating special “Essex” editions and Bond-themed trim packages that boosted sales and cemented the Esprit as one of cinema’s most iconic automotive stars.
Vehicle specifications
4
~$59,000
Torque:
0–100 km/h:
The Lotus Esprit Turbo from this generation delivered compelling performance for its era, thanks to a lightweight fiberglass body and a turbocharged 2.2-liter inline-four engine producing up to 215 horsepower and 298 Nm of torque in the High Compression (HC) variant. With a curb weight below 1,200 kg, the Esprit could reach 100 km/h in just over 5 seconds, rivaling some V8-powered contemporaries and cementing its reputation as a true British sports machine.
The mid-engine layout, paired with a stiff backbone chassis and double-wishbone suspension, gave the Esprit a sense of immediacy and poise in corners that was rare at the time. Steering was unassisted but razor-sharp, offering intimate feedback and making the car feel alive at any speed. With perfect weight distribution and low center of gravity, it provided extraordinary agility, though it demanded respect from the driver due to its turbo lag and sudden torque delivery.
This version of the Esprit marked a transitional phase for Lotus—from the raw, wedge-shaped icon of the '70s to a more refined performance grand tourer. It maintained the brand’s core philosophy of "adding lightness," yet introduced more comfort, luxury trim, and even air conditioning. Compared to its peers, the Esprit was more exotic than a Porsche 944 and more agile than a Ferrari Mondial, offering unique character, Bond-movie pedigree, and race-bred engineering in a package that was equal parts eccentric and exhilarating.
Body Styles
The Esprit of this era was a low-slung, two-door fastback coupe with unmistakable wedge-shaped proportions. Designed originally by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Series 3 (S3) and Turbo variants continued the geometric, angular design language with subtle refinements—most notably smoother bumpers, integrated air intakes, and wraparound taillights. The car sat extremely low to the ground, with a pronounced beltline and wide rear haunches giving it a planted, aggressive stance. Its tapered glasshouse and slanted rear window enhanced the supercar aesthetic, while pop-up headlights and wide wheel arches completed its futuristic silhouette.
Model Name Meaning (Manufacturer)
The name “Esprit” was part of Lotus’s tradition of naming models starting with the letter “E.” It was selected to convey a sense of vitality, spirit, and motion—characteristics integral to Lotus’s brand identity and the car’s dynamic personality. The name aligned with other iconic Lotus models like Elite, Elan, and Europa.
Model Name Meaning (Languages)
“Esprit” is a French word meaning “spirit” or “mind,” often associated with cleverness or wit (“esprit de corps”). Its phonetic elegance adds a continental flair, enhancing the car’s appeal beyond British borders and subtly elevating its sophistication through linguistic charm.
Body & Interior Colors and Rims
The Lotus Esprit of the 1980s was available in a variety of vibrant and high-contrast exterior colors, reflecting the bold tastes of the decade. Shades like Calypso Red, Monaco White, Essex Blue, and Metallic Gold were common, often paired with color-coded bumpers and side graphics unique to Turbo models. Some special editions featured distinctive two-tone paint or striping along the beltline, further emphasizing the car’s angular profile.
The interior varied significantly depending on model and year, with base versions featuring simple cloth upholstery while higher-spec and Turbo HC variants included full leather trim in shades like black, tan, or red. Dashboards were angular and driver-oriented, with aircraft-inspired gauges and a strong sense of cockpit enclosure. Wood veneer was rare, replaced instead by bold vinyls and functional plastics, although later models gained more refinement. Optional Alcantara and contrast stitching began appearing toward the late '80s.
Wheels were typically 15-inch alloys with a turbine-style or cross-spoke design, often unique to specific trims such as the Turbo SE. Standard finishes were silver or graphite, while some special editions included color-matched or polished rims. The tires had staggered sizing front to rear, highlighting the car’s mid-engine dynamics and enhancing both grip and stance.
Top Expensive Options
- Turbocharged High Compression Engine Package: $7,500
- Full Leather Interior Trim: $2,800
- Air Conditioning System: $1,700
- Two-Tone Exterior Paint with Turbo Striping: $1,500
- Upgraded Alloy Wheels (Turbo Design): $1,400
- Removable Glass Sunroof: $1,200
- Premium Audio Cassette System: $900
- Fog Lamps and Front Air Dam Kit: $800
- Power Windows and Mirrors Package: $750
- Rear Louvered Sunshade Panel: $650
vs Competitors
Against contemporaries like the Porsche 944 Turbo, Ferrari Mondial, and even the Chevrolet Corvette C4, the Esprit carved a niche by prioritizing lightweight construction and exotic layout over brute power. It undercut the Ferrari in price while delivering comparable mid-engine dynamics and greater visual drama. Though less refined than the Porsche and lacking the V8 punch of the Corvette, it offered a purer driving experience for enthusiasts who favored sharp handling and stylistic flair. Its limited production and British charm gave it collector appeal, while its engineering innovations gave it performance credibility.
Fun Fact
The Esprit gained global fame when a modified earlier version transformed into a submarine in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. While that was a 1970s S1, the 1980s models capitalized on the legacy, with the Turbo Esprit even appearing in For Your Eyes Only. Lotus cleverly leveraged this exposure, creating special “Essex” editions and Bond-themed trim packages that boosted sales and cemented the Esprit as one of cinema’s most iconic automotive stars.