Description From a deceased estate; recent nut-and-bolt restoration with bills for over £75k; reputedly the first UK non-turbo X180 made; in the current family ownership since 1994; detailed history file; requires cosmetic TLC First registered in April 1988, this Lotus Esprit X180 (serial number 3056) is reputed to be the very first non-turbo UK market car to leave the Hethel factory following the restyling of the model by Peter Stevens.

It comes with quite a tale to tell, as you will see.

Supplied new via London Lotus Centre of Edgware to fashion retailer Burton Group PLC, it was acquired in 1994 by a lady in Fareham (the car’s third owner) who was to keep it for the next 21 years.

When she passed away, her son inherited the car and decided to restore it in honour of her memory.

In March 2015 he sent it to Worcester Classic Cars with instructions to make it as good as new, no matter what it cost.

17 months and £52,000 later and the job was finally done – almost...

It seems from ...