Thursday 22nd June 2017

Lotus Esprit Sport 350: Spotted

The most focused of all the focused Esprits - and very rare, too - now on offer at £50,000...

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It probably won't have escaped your attention that Lotus is doing rather a good job of producing track focused sports cars at the moment. Models like the Exige Sport 380 are fantastic, with buyers given the option of even more aggressive Cup cars if they so desire. It's an exciting time.

But of course this is not a new strategy for Lotus; and here, plundered from the PH classifieds, is one of the finest examples of what happens when they make a V8 track special: the Esprit Sport 350.

This was the car that took the Esprit into supercar territory in the late 90s, following the same path as the earlier Sport 300 but with twice the cylinders. It was 80kg lighter than a regular V8 Esprit through measures like magnesium wheels and that incredible carbon wing which, combined with 354hp and 295lb ft, made it capable of 0-100mph in 10.7 seconds. On a wet surface.

Ally that to chassis and aero improvements wrought in the world of competition and the result is a fairly sensational car. Not only that but it's also incredibly rare, with less than 50 believed to have been produced.

So, this is a car with enviable heritage, stunning performance, motorsport breeding and incredible rarity - it must cost the earth, right? Well, no, not really. Esprits always appear undervalued but especially so here, with this Sport 350 for sale at £51,995. Of course there are cheaper examples, both four-cylinder and V8, but for something so scarce and desirable it doesn't look absurd.

Think of it this way: an original 996-era Porsche 911 GT3 was launched at about the same time as the Esprit (and with a very similar ethos) yet one of those in similarly beautiful condition and with comfortably less than 50,000 miles is nearly £80,000. Indeed the cheapest way into a 996 GT3 on PH is £10,000 more than the Esprit with nearly another 30,000 miles on it. And there are twice as many first-gen GT3s as 350s...

Perhaps the more interesting comparison though is between the Sport 350 and more modern track focused Lotuses. None will have a V8, granted, and arguably none will be quite as pretty as an Esprit, but there are still some incredible cars out there. The Sport 350 Exige is within budget, appropriately enough, as is a 2-Eleven, and some racier Evoras could also be yours for £50K.

What a decision to have to make! Would the heritage and rarity of the Esprit win you over? Or are the 21st century Lotuses more appealing? As always thoughts are welcome and, if you're one of the lucky few with a Sport 350, we'd love to know what it's like!

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LOTUS ESPRIT SPORT 350
Engine: 3,500cc, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 354@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 295@4,250rpm
MPG: 21.2
CO2: N/A
Recorded mileage: 44,000 miles
Year registered: 1999
Price new: N/A
Price now: £51,995

See the original advert here.

[Source: LotusEspritWorld]

[Gecko1978]

I always loved the esprit and this version was a feature in the dreamcast (remember them) game vanishing point. If i had the cash i really would love this over an evora/exige/elise of course that is based on looks alone having driven none of them. The Esprit was a mini supercar the current lotus range more sports and track cars. Happy to be corrected by thoes who have dricen one.