1997 Lotus Esprite V8 Coupe

Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman founded Lotus Engineering in 1952. He was quoted as saying 'adding power makes you faster on the straights while subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere.'

The Lotus Espirt is a series of sports cars built between 1976 and 2004. Initially styled by ItalDesign's Giorgetto Giugaro, and then restyled by Peter Stevens in 1987 and Julian Thomson in 1993.

Launched at the Paris Motor Show in October 1975, production started in mid-1976 with Series 1; Series 2 began in 1978; Series 3 debuted in 1981; Series 4 in 1993, and the V8 model in 1996. The motor is Lotus' own Type 918, all-aluminum, 90-degree DOHC with a flat-plane crankshaft and two Garrett T25/60 turbochargers. In period tests, 0-60 miles per hour was achieved in 4.4 seconds with top speed exceeding 175 miles per hour. These performance statistics are made possible with 500 horsepower and a 3,036 pound weight.

Lotus Cars, with a factory in Hethel, UK, has a long history of producing high performance sports cars - those that go fast, stop quickly and handle well. Part of their success is attributed to building highly engineered cars that are exceptionally lightweight.

Started as Lotus Engineering by Colin Chapman, they have produced notable cars such as the Elite, Elan, Europa, Eclat, Exige, Evora and Elise. They also have a long successful history with motorsports. Today they are owned by Geely Automotive.

Originally delivered to Palm beach, Florida, this particular US-spec Esprit is presented in Calypso Red, with Fawn leather interior, 1 of only 13 such configured. Featuring just 33,000 original miles and three owners, it is a supercar way ahead of its time. It features a U.S. market only removable glass roof along with updated round Lotus LED tail-lights.