Used LOTUS ESPRIT 2200 STUNNING YELLOW JUST 3 OWNERS LAST 40 YEARS THE BEST YOU WILL FIND

One of just 88 S2.2s produced, on offer from 40 years long term ownership, a previous Concours d'Elegance winner and remaining in outstanding condition. Leaving the Hethel factory in February of 1980, this S2.2 is has only had 3 owners from new the last ,who purchased the car from Bell & Colville in Surrey on 1st December 1984 with a recorded 21,000 miles. That’s some 40-years of single ownership, one of the longest we’ve seen! They had always wanted an Esprit and this happened to be the right car, at the right time, in the right place. Unfortunately, due to a growing family and the associated commitments, the car was put into dry storage in 1992 and remained there until recently, when it was subject to a full engine-out overhaul and rebuild by marque specialists, Maidstone Sports Cars, completed in December 2023 for a eye watering amount !! The S2.2 presents in wonderfully wholesome and original condition and is finished in its distinctive colours of Lotus Yellow with a green suede interior - it is fabulously 1980s. As a member of Club Lotus for many years, the car has attended shows across the country, with placings and a win at Donnington in 1989. The history file makes for lovely reading, including the purchase invoice from Bell & Colville, its original and fully stamped service book, (most recent in 2023), heaps of old MOTs, invoices for maintenance and the original owners handbook. A fabulous example of the incredibly rare S2.2, with warranted low mileage and a recent refresh, there is very little not to love about this wonderful little Lotus. A truly beautiful example that drives without fault . One of if not the best we have ever seen There is a valuation in the history file in 2022 for £65,000 from the Lotus specialist that did all of the work on the vehicle. There is also a Lotus brochure from 1982 from 1980 and I would say the car in the brochure is quite possibly this one. In March 1992, the car was taken off of the road and it was fully recommissioned through 2022. Approximately £19,000 was spent in that year. This really is the most beautiful example I doubt there are any better!!

! DESCRIPTIONIn the early 1970s, the recently appointed Tony Rudd came up with two major ideas, codenamed Project M50 and Project M70, the former becoming the 1974 Lotus Elite and the latter, the Esprit.
The S1 Esprit was released in 1976 following halts in production and design, with Colin Chapman being underwhelmed by the model version’s wind-tunnel performance. The S2 launched in 1978 and the incredibly rare S2.2 was released in May 1980 as a ‘stop gap’ car, to bridge the 13-month void between the S2 and S3. As part of the advertising and marketing program, the S2 was launched featuring the infamous shot of its creator, Colin Chapman, perched on a Championship Gold S2 Esprit in front of his Chancellor executive twin. It's the kind of image that only the 1970s could pull off with any degree of normality.
External differences from the S1 included new intake and cooling ducts behind the rear quarter windows, 15" Speedline alloy wheels, tail lights from the Rover SD1 and an integrated front spoiler. Not known for their practicality, more helpful changes were made including relocating the battery to the rear of the car, adding an access door to the engine cover, installing wider seats and replacing the  instrument cluster with individual Smiths.