1980 Lotus Esprit S2

Registration No: ECF 77V
Chassis No: 79090810G
MOT: Exempt

• Understood to be 1 of just 1,060 S2 examples made
• Offered with history file and owners manual
• Running and driving with room for improvement

• Recently emerged from long term storage

PLEASE NOTE: We have not been able to start this lot at the auction venue. We believe this may be due to an issue with the fuel pump

The most successful Formula One team of the 1970s with four World Championships to its credit, that same decade saw Lotus launch a credible rival to the Ferrari 308 and Porsche 911. Unveiled at the October 1975 Paris Salon, the Esprit was notable as one of Giorgetto Guigiaro’s earliest polygonal designs. A mid-engined two-seater equipped with all-round independent coil-over suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and rack and pinion steering, the newcomer also featured a recumbent, racing car-esque seating position. Powered by a 1973cc DOHC four-cylinder engine allied to five-speed manual transmission (housed in a transaxle), the fibreglass-bodied Esprit weighed just 900kg. Although road testers found it difficult to emulate the factory’s performance figures (0-60mph in 6.8 seconds and 137mph), their praise for the Lotus flagship’s ride / handling balance and overall poise was universal.

In mid-1978, Lotus released details of the Esprit S2. The S2 was primarily a machine of greater creature comforts, rather than improved performance. Made between 1978 and 1981, 1,061 S2s rolled off the production line. Externally, the sharp-edged lines were much the same as before, but some useful modifications had taken place. The top speed claim remained at 138mph, but stability was improved through the use of the integrated front spoiler rather than the blade spoiler of the S1. Additional improvements included a set of 'ears' that were grafted onto the rear side windows to aid air induction for the engine. The most striking external alterations came from the fitment of Speedline alloy wheels. The new wheels were designed by Lotus at the personal behest of Colin Chapman.

Understood to be 1 of just 1,060 S2 examples made, ECF 77V recently emerged from long term storage. Described as being in running and driving condition with room for improvement, including requiring some tuning work to make it useable. Subject to interior work in the late 1990's and understood to have benefitted from engine work in c.2003, the Lotus is accompanied by a collection of invoices and old MOTs, 2 keys and an owners manual. Although previously subject to a ‘Category D Insurance Loss' in 1999, it was subsequently repaired.

For more information, please contact:
James McWilliam
james.mcwilliam@handh.co.uk
07943 584760