89 Anniversary Car Value HELP!

[RyanSheldon]

I have a fantastic opportunity to purchase an ’89 Anniversary Car, Pearl White with Blue Leather Interior. This is a one-owner car purchased new. I will not get a chance to see the car until later this weekend, from what I have been told, one of the mirrors is damaged, other than that, the car is in pristine, original condition with full service history and manuals. I do not need another Esprit, but it may be one of those “Must Do” situations since the price may be too good to pass up. Does anyone know what the value of this car would be? Since I have not yet seen it, I do not know if it is an SE. Is it possible they made an ’89 Anniversary Car in an SE? I have been told that it does have the spoiler. I should know more in the next couple of weeks. Any advice and info would be GREATLY appreciated!
-ryan

[karlfranz]

If the car is a USA model, there is no such thing as an "89 Anniversary" car. Lotus had a "Limited Edition Esprit Turbo" in the USA for the 1988 model year. 88 were built, all with pearl white and blue suede.

Lotus also built a "40th Anniversary Commemorative Esprit Turbo" for the non-USA markets for the 1989 model year. 40 were built, again all were pearl white and blue suede.

Neither of the above cars were SE.

Lotus *did* build pearl white SEs in 1989 that had blue leather (i.e. no suede) interior. Perhaps this led to someone believing this made it an "anniversary car".

BTW: Although they were more expensive when new, these anniversary/limited editions are not typically worth more than other Esprits of the same vintage today.

Cheers.

kfm
www.espritfactfile.com

[Skerd]

I would say it is worth about $ 20,000 maximum.

[cnh1990]

Easy if enough to tell just look to see if there is a chargecooler on top of the engine. I have also seen SE's with pearl white and blue interior. SHould have a dash plaque in it if it is a special edition. A few people pay just a tad more for it than a regular 88. It does have a wing and the one I saw did not have a glassback.
Calvin

[sanj]

cnh1990 said:

SHould have a dash plaque in it if it is a special edition. A few people pay just a tad more for it than a regular 88. It does have a wing and the one I saw did not have a glassback. Calvin

Quite a few of them have no dash plaque, for reasons unknown. The wing is somewhat squarer than that fitted to the SE, and they do not have glassbacks.

The pearl white with navy blue interior was actually made from 1989 until at least 1997.

Cheers,
Sanj

[RyanSheldon]

Sanj, It would seem you are correct, it is an '89 SE (non commemerative) with about 20,300 1-owner miles...I have not seen it yet...any idea what this would be worth? I am getting down to the wire on the price issue.
Thanks,
Ryan

[princecharming]

KFM,

I value your opinion so much, but for the first time, I'll have to beg to differ with you on this one.

Traditionally, the Commemorative/Anniversary models here in the US do sell for a little more than the standard models, although they are all in a sense limited editions.

Roy Nakamura
'88 Commemorative Esprit Turbo, #87 of 88 made

P.S. Your Esprit Fact File rocks!!!
www.espritfactfile.com
I highly, highly recommend it to everyone.

KFM wrote:

BTW: Although they were more expensive when new, these anniversary/limited editions are not typically worth more than other Esprits of the same vintage today.

Cheers.

kfm