2000 Lotus Esprit V8

Highlights

• 3.5-litre twin-turbo V8

• Just 38,087 miles, verified

• Superb service and MOT history

• Lovely New Mustard metallic paintwork

• Excellent condition inside and out

Overview

If we asked you to think of a British sports car maker, you’d probably think of Lotus. Maybe the picture in your head is an Elan, a Seven or an Elise. But if we asked you to think of a British supercar manufacturer, Lotus is probably not the first marque that would come to mind.

Yet, for our money, Lotus made one of the finest British supercars of them all – the Esprit V8. From its origins as a mid-engined sports car that dabbled in underwater espionage, it morphed over the years into a proper fire-breathing, Ferrari baiting supercar. Certainly in the last decade or so of production, the V8 models gave the Esprit the performance it needed to stand toe-to-toe with the best Italy and Germany could offer. 

Of course, Lotus have always designed cars that handle fabulously, and the Esprit is certainly no different there. And when it comes to styling, we don’t think there’s anything else from the era that holds a candle to the Esprit, it’s an absolute showstopper. However, the Esprit did always feel like it could handle more oomph. Well, Lotus definitely addressed that issue in the late 90s, installing a thumping great 3.5-litre twin-turbo V8 that dished out a meaty 350bhp+. However, many cars appear to put out much more than this, and you must remember that it only weighs about 1,400Kg. The Esprit was no longer a humble sports car, but a genuine supercar.

A rare sight on the roads these days, the Esprit continues to hold a special place in the hearts of enthusiasts, as well as being possibly the finest supercar to come from this sceptred isle. This is one hell of an example too. Finished in the arguably best colour (Mustard Metallic – because yellow cars are always the best in the eyes of this writer), presented in lovely condition inside and out and with a highly detailed and comprehensive service and maintenance record, this has to be one of the nicest examples on the road.

Always a hit with enthusiasts, this unrestored and highly desirable Esprit V8 would make a fabulous addition to any garage or collection. And with interest in (and values of) 90s and 00s cars on the rise, we don’t think there’s a better time to experience one of Britain’s truly great cars.

History and documentation

• First registered in March 2000

• Present owner since May 2013, 6 former owners

• Current MOT with no advisories expires 1 May 2026 – the overall MOT history is excellent

• Just 38,087 miles on the clock, verified by the MOT and service records

• Stamped service book with services as follows: Apr 2000 @ 1,347 miles; Aug 2000 @ 4,304 miles; May 2001 @ 6,766 miles; Aug 2002 @ 12,927 miles; Apr 2004 @ 19,358 miles; May 2005 @ 21,674 miles; Jun 2007 @ 24,076 miles; May 2008 @ 25,162 miles; Apr 2010 @ 26,004 miles; Dec 2011 @ 27,002 miles; Apr 2013 @ 30,764 miles; May 2014 @ 32,391 miles; Apr 2015 @ 33,497 miles; Jun 2016 @ 35,119 miles; Apr 2018 @ 36,732 miles; Apr 2019 @ 37,241 miles; Apr 2021 @ 37,652 miles; Apr 2022 @ 37,750 miles; Apr 2023 @ 37,829 miles; May 2024 @ 37,913 miles; Apr 2025 @ 38,027 miles

• The vendor tells us they have only driven the car April to September each year, and that it has always been stored in a clean, dry garage

• Dyno-tested by previous owner in 2012 at 377bhp

• Lotus Certificate of Conformity

• Full document pack

• Workshop manual and parts catalogue in ring binders

• Extensive collection of invoices and receipts or servicing and maintenance

• Two keys with Cobra alarm fobs

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

Interior

• Black leather upholstery with yellow contrast piping to reflect the exterior

• The upholstery is in very good order, with some light and gentle creasing, but no tears, sagging or significant wear that we could see aside from about 10mm of the passenger seat side bolster which has lost some stitching

• Black carpet through the cabin, which looks to be in nice condition

• The black vinyl headlining shows well, being secure and undamaged, with no sagging or tears apparent

• Electric side windows and door mirrors

• Lovely Momo sports steering wheel

• Polished alloy gear knob

• Original Alpine CD/radio

• The speakers have been upgraded to a set of JBLs, which are said to have much improved the sound (the original Alpine speakers are included in the sale)

• All of the interior trim, instrumentation and switchgear looks to be in fine fettle, with minimal evidence of wear and only minor blemishes from age and use

• The ‘frunk’ contains a spacesaver spare wheel

• At the rear, the boot space is surprisingly generous, and neatly trimmed with dark grey carpet (we love the fact you can just see the red plenum covers peeking out through the engine access cover too)

• An original toolkit is also included

• No faults or issues are reported, with the vendor telling us that everything in the cabin operates just as it should

Exterior

• Striking New Mustard Metallic (B36) paintwork, which looks to be all original and presents in fine condition for its age

• There are some stone chips to the front bumpers and wing mirrors (many of which have been touched in) and a small crack in the paint above the driver’s door handle, but no really significant paintwork issues we could identify

• The GFRP bodywork shows very well, with no damage, cracking, misalignment or warping we could discern – all the panel gaps appear to be consistent and even

• Removable roof panel, so you can listen to that phenomenal V8 turbo in all its glory

• Large factory-fitted rear wing

• Pop-up headlights which, as we all know, make everything better

• The external badging and trim looks to be complete and in excellent condition, with nothing missing or damaged as far as we can tell

• The previous owner replaced the rear lights with a PNM conversion kit

• 2014 – new windscreen fitted

• 2018 – new headlights fitted (PNM replacement kit)

• The common bulkhead mounting plate modification has been carried out (this eliminates any ‘clunking’ noise from the rear bulkhead)

• The underside is in excellent condition, with no evidence of corrosion or damage we could see

• The original alloy wheels (17-inch front, 18-inch rear) have been painted in gunmetal, and look to be in good condition, with some minor marks and blemishes

• A matched set of new Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres (245/40 front, 285/35 rear) was fitted in 2019, but the car has only covered c.600 miles since, so they look to be in excellent condition with plenty of tread

Mechanical

• 3,506cc twin-turbo V8, mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive

• 5-speed manual transmission

• The engine bay is clean and tidy, with no signs of leaks or other issues we could identify

• Factory performance figures: 350bhp, 0-60 in 4.4 seconds, 175mph

• Just serviced in April 2025 (at 38,027 miles)

• Excellent overall service and maintenance record

• We’re told that the previous owner ran a garage and replaced the engine mounts, had the car polybushed and refurbished the fuel tank

• 2013 – New oil hoses fitted, new ABS sensor, new front Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs (official Lotus upgrade)

• 2014 – New rear Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs (official Lotus upgrade), both turbos refurbished

• 2016 – New starter motor

• 2019 – New stainless steel performance exhaust system and free-flow cats, new turbo pipe kit (the original cats are included in the sale)

• 2020 – Timing belts and idlers replaced (Gates Racing Blue kit), new clutch fitted (37,561 miles)

• We’re assured that the car starts, idles and runs very well indeed, with no known mechanical issues

Summary

What petrolhead doesn’t love a bright yellow wedge of fury, powered by a V8 turbo lump? Precisely. This is a fabulous machine, presented in excellent condition with a cracking history too. The maintenance record alone makes for eye-opening reading – we rarely see such a comprehensive history on an unrestored car with so few miles.

All the important work has been done, the car has been kept in a lovely, genuine condition, with upgrades only made where necessary. To our eyes it’s breath-taking. The Esprit V8 is one of our favourite supercars from the period, and this is a marvellous example. 

Make no mistake about it, this is not one to miss.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located near Aberdeen in Scotland.