Car & Classic Dealer

Mark Donaldson Ltd

The Granary 1 Waverley Lane Farnham Surrey

GU9 8BB

1981 Lotus Esprit Series 3 Turbo, Dry Sump. Ex Colin Chapman SOLD

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OVERVIEW
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Deciphered from the generous history file that accompanies the car we are able to summarise the following in respect of this superb vehicle.

Built in February 1981, chassis (ending) 0970 was allocated to Lotus Founder and Chairman Colin Chapman. Finished with the following specification it is a truly unique example;

Chassis #: SCC082910BHD10970
Engine #: CD the details below
Colour: Metallic Silver (Code A03)
Interior: Full Red Leather

Specification: Panasonic RM 610 roof-mounted stereo system
Modified and lowered suspension
Modified bodywork to reduce wind noise and internal ventilation
Modified brake pads
Pollen filters (Chapman suffered from hay fever)
Power Steering (unique to this car)
Specially assembled (blue printed) engine
Air conditioning
BBS alloy wheels (the first Esprit to be fitted with such)

Despite its build noted as February 1981 it was not registered until 1st August 1981 (the date when the ‘new’ registration suffix historically came out) so we assume it was driven on trade plates beforehand. It was allocated the UK registration number UVF 464X and registered to Lotus Cars Ltd (copy of V5 on file).

Anecdotally (from an article printed in Grand Prix International, Edition 105, February 1986), this was also driven at some point by then-appointed Lotus Formula One driver Elio de Angelis. In the article it states that (aside from the racing cars) the only Lotus he ever drove during his time with the team was Colin Chapman’s own ‘modified Esprit Turbo’.

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MARGARET THATCHER DRIVES THE ESPRIT
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Just a few days after registration on 5th August 1981, the Esprit was to be put on display at Norfolk Airport for a special guest. The Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was on an official Norwich area day visit meeting a series of businesses, civil servants and Conservative party members. Chapman chartered a private jet from Heathrow for the Prime Minister and upon arrival at Norfolk Airport she was greeted by the Lord Mayor of Norwich, Mr Alan Driver with Council leader Mr John Alston. Chapman then gave her a tour of a selection of his current race and road cars that were (of course) locally built. We have various photographs of this meeting in the history file.

Covered by local newspaper the Eastern Daily Press, Thatcher was quoted as remarking that the Esprit was ‘lovely to drive’ and she also admitted ‘I was tempted to drive away in it’. Accompanied by her husband Denis and South Norfolk MP (and Minister for Small Industries) John MacGregor, Thatcher was given passenger rides in an Eclat and also treated to a technical explanation of the latest Lotus Formula 1 car; the 88.

The topic of Chapman’s Cessna airplane came into conversation and Thatcher was, as to be expected, to have the final word. Upon finding out that it was American made she quipped ‘We make an executive jet – and it’s much better than this one’.

NOTE: This important, historic (Thatcher) element was only recently attributed to the Chapman Esprit when the current owner happened to spot a video of the ‘Iron Lady’ driving the Esprit with Chapman in the passenger seat.

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IMMEDIATELY AFTER CHAPMAN/ LOTUS CARS HISTORY
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The Esprit remained the property of Lotus Cars Ltd until after Colin Chapman’s sad passing in December 1982. Documentation of file denotes that by 16th February 1983 the mileage was approximately 4, 460 miles and that it had been maintained by the Factory Service Department, for Mr Chapman, since new.

Following Chapman’s passing, this and several other factory owned cars were offered to the highest bidder within the Lotus dealer network. A letter on file from Graham Arnold of Club Lotus notes that something untoward had gone on with the Chapman Esprit in particular. John Hewitt of Norfolk Motor Company had placed the highest bid yet the car was sold another party via the then Sales Manager, who subsequently lost his job (as a result of an internal investigation).

The original Owner’s Manual records a service stamp at the Factory on 11th July 1983 at 5, 003 miles. It appears the car had sold to Midland Car Sales of Leicester who in turn sold the car to its second owner Mr Armstrong on 21st July 1983; he put the cherished number plate JA 30 on the car and a few days later sent it to Derek Woodman (Garages) Ltd in Blackpool for steering alignment work as it did not handle to his taste.

By April 1997 Mr Armstrong made contact with the Lotus Factory as he had only sparingly used the car. It is quoted that the car had been off the road for 7 years and suggested works to recommission it included an engine overhaul, ‘C’ type service and attention to the braking fuel and clutch systems. The car was duly collected and by August 1997 these works were largely complete, a handwritten invoice and worklist accompanies the parts used and at the time of these works a recorded 6, 764 miles was on the odometer. The car stayed with the factory until October 1997 by which time an alarm system was installed and some paintwork carried out to the drivers’ door opening area. Per the correspondence on file the Esprit was ‘thoroughly track tested’ and passed its MOT ‘with flying colours’, the bill in total was a seemingly reasonable £5, 983. 17.

In August 1998 and with 6, 881 miles recorded, it returned to Lotus as the fuel sender had failed and in light of the extensive prior works, this was remedied free of charge. In January 1999 it was back at Lotus (same mileage) and by this time had the cherished number 999 LO affixed, attention was paid to the ignition, fuel and heater systems with the bill totalling just under a thousand pounds. In June 1999 it was MOT’d and displayed 6, 978 miles. By July 2000 it failed an MOT due to the brakes binding on and was recording 7, 099 miles.

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SUBSEQUENT OWNERSHIP
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Armstrong put the cherished number plate 999 LO onto retention in July 2000 (clearly after the prior MOT works were complete) and the Esprit was initially allocated an age-related plate of UCW 386X (instead of the original UVF 464X). It was sold in November 2000 via Paul Matty at just 7, 115 miles to Mr Ford who did a straight swap for his Lotus Elan Sprint and Westfield Eleven.

There is quite a lot of correspondence on file from Mr Ford’s period of ownership and his first task was to reunite the car with the original registration UVF 464X which he swiftly did. He clearly adored the car and referred to it as the ‘Ultimate Lotus’ (by virtue of its Chapman history) and also made note that he considered it to have been Chapman’s last road car prior to his passing.

By June 2001, at 8, 014 miles, Mr Ford had been thoroughly enjoying the Esprit and it was sent for work at GST Performance in Cambridge as the front brake callipers had seized again and there was a small camshaft oil leak.

In April 2002 with 9, 146 miles noted, GST supplied service parts (oil, plugs, oil filter and a wiper blade) to Mr Ford. Tax discs on file cover the 2001 and 2002 period but there is a gap until 2008 when at 10, 256 miles it was MOT tested again. By the following July the mileage had risen to 10, 491 miles and in August 2009 it was sold to its fourth owner Mr Hill from Kent who put the cherished plate JSH 101 on the Esprit.

Hill’s ownership was short-lived and in April 2010 the fifth owner, Mr Leonard, acquired the Chapman car (back on the original UVF 464X number). In September 2010 with 10, 686 miles recorded it went to Paul Matty Sports Cars for a service and replacement of the clutch slave cylinder. Then in an odd twist, in August 2011 the Esprit was bought back by Mr Hill.

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CURRENT OWNERSHIP
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After an MOT in October 2011 at 10, 805 miles the Chapman Esprit was purchased by the current owner. He had long aspired to own an Esprit and this example ‘jumped off the page’ due to the enviable combination of mileage, condition and of course; the history.

Driven briefly it was then put into storage and when next MOT’d in 2016 the odometer had risen to just 10, 977 miles, at around this time the radiator core was replaced. Marque specialists Lakeside Engineering in Surrey then carried out a thorough service to include the all-important cam belt but also alternator, water pump and air conditioning belts. Today the Esprit is just cresting 11, 000 miles and has just had a fresh cam belt service at Lakeside Engineering.

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CONDITION/ SUMMARY
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This really is a very special, time-warp example of the legendary Esprit Turbo. It would be unrealistic to expect perfection from a near forty-year old hand built sportscar though and it does evidence an older (blow over) repaint. The interior in particular is just wonderful and not wanting for anything, even when you study the period and current images you can spot every crease and fold in the beautifully preserved leather. This vehicle has lived a pampered existence and is a testament not only to its rich pedigree but to those who have cared for it over the years.

On the button and ready to go this uniquely specified Esprit boasts a comprehensive history file from which the above summary is formulated.

Putting aside the fact that the Italians penned the lines of the Esprit, this car has to be regarded as an all-British icon. The personal car of one of Britain’s most celebrated Automotive Engineers who founded not only one of Britain’s most-revered Motor Racing teams but also the Sportscar manufacturer which has consistently produced some of the World’s finest handling cars over the last seven decades. Then to have the association with one of Britain’s most outspoken, feared yet respected Prime Ministers at the peak of her career just tops it off rather well indeed.

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