Lotus Esprit 1981 Essex LE

This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Classic Sale at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show 2026 on Saturday the 21st of March Sunday the 22nd of March, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. , This is an outstanding Commemorative example of the flamboyant Formula One sponsorship deal fashioned by Colin Chapman and the equally enigmatic David Theime of the Essex Overseas Petroleum Corporation,The press launch in October 1980 raised the bar in sponsorship profile terms with the association introducing high glamour, high spending and an innovative approach to team hospitality. The Lotus F1 liveries of Elio De Angelis and Mario Andretti were to become one of the alltime most iconic colour schemes in Formula 1 history,Offered here is chassis 17 of only twentytwo Essex Esprits built and it still presents with the same level of 'wow' factor that it did 45 years ago,The paintwork is superb with a stunning all red leather interior and aircraftstyle centre roof console housing switchgear and the Panasonic stereo, and it still retains its original extra wide splitrim Compomotive alloys ,The history file is comprehensive to say the least and commensurate to a Lotus as significant as this. Supplied new by Lotus Main Dealers Randles of StokeonTrent to a Mr. D Preston, it contains the original owners wallet and service book, original brochures, Lotus archive correspondence and the current MOT valid until January 2027,Most recent work carried out in November 2024 included a full brake overhaul including callipers, turbo wastegate, drive belts, reset cam and ignition timing and spark plugs,