Basic information and history

Very rare Lotus Esprit Turbo HCi sold new in Sweden. The car was sold new by Wendels and according to the Lotus Archive this example is one of the cars with the most options available, including gold BBS rims, red full leather with matching carpets and a unique matching red leather steering wheel. The red steering wheel has been replaced by a black one as it is more practical, but the original steering wheel naturally comes with the car. The HCi model was only built in half of '86 and '87 for the Swedish, Austrian, Japanese, Australian and Canadian markets. The model differs from that as it has injection instead of carburettor, which other markets had. Only 33 cars were built worldwide, of which 19 of these are left-hand drive. This makes the car one of the rarest Esprit models available, along with e.g. Lotus Esprit High Wing.

The car comes with the original manual, original service book and a thick binder with a largely complete set of inspection reports, workshop receipts and more. There are also several driving records with dates and mileage which, together with inspection reports, guarantee the low mileage of 78,400km. In total, the car has had 4 users. The car has been exhibited at fairs and has been featured in Classic Motor. It also comes with a bag for the targa, as well as, as previously mentioned, the original red steering wheel.

1. 1 of 19 left-hand drive Lotus Esprit Turbo HCi in the world
2. Fantastic spec in blue with full red interior
3. Extremely well-preserved original condition

Equipped with a 2.2-liter turbo four with electronic injection of approx. 215hp/300nm connected to a five-speed manual box and rear-wheel drive. Performance offers a 0-100km/h sprint in about 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 240km/h.

Equipment and options

2-tone BBS rims, full leather interior in red, A/C, targa with associated bag and Blaupunkt Casablanca. The registration plates are still the original plates that the car was delivered with.

Condition

The car comes in very good condition and has been well taken care of over the years. The original paintwork is without door knocks, worse scratches or need for action. The car is of course also stainless. The paintwork is described as being in very good condition, apart from the usual stone chips around the wheels and front spoiler that sports cars tend to get. The windshield is in good condition with a few minor stone chips, but none that interfere with visibility. The rims are newly refurbished and look very appealing. They have also had a set of new tires fitted.

The interior is in a very good condition. The seats and their material are free of damage and the usual wear and tear that occurs from stepping in and out. Even the door sides have survived scratches. The dashboard is in good condition with no damage. The inner ceiling as well. Steering wheel, controls and buttons are in very good condition. The A/C has been disconnected by the previous owner and there is reportedly a light bulb among the instruments that does not work, otherwise the instrumentation, warning lights, electric lifts and other functions work.

Engine, drivetrain, gearbox and brakes are sparingly used with their low mileage and in good condition without problems or noise.

Service history

The car had a large service carried out approx. 4000km ago with oil, filters, cam belt and clutch being changed. Last MOT was 2023-06-22 and the next MOT should be carried out before 2025-06-30. The car is more than ready to get out on the roads with its new owner!

Summary

A very rare example of only 19 left-hand drive Esprit Turbo HCi. This is an excellent example for those looking for a uniquely equipped Lotus Esprit with low mileage and in fantastic condition.