One of the most headline-grabbing models of recent years, the Lotus-developed Opel Omega/Vauxhall Carlton caused a storm of controversy when it was revealed that this four-door production saloon could touch 175mph (282km/h), a performance bettered by only a handful of exotic supercars.

Lotus' then owners, General Motors, had conceived the project as a means of creating a high-performance flagship for its European marques, Opel's Omega with its 24-valve, 3.0-litre straight-six engine being chosen as the basis.

Enlarged to 3.6-litres and equipped with twin Garrett turbochargers, the engine produced 377bhp and 419lb/ft of torque.

A 6-speed gearbox from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, limited-slip differential, racing suspension, ventilated disc brakes, and improved aerodynamics ensured that the car's enormous potential could be safely controlled.

The cars were assembled by hand at the Lotus factory in Hethel and all were finished in Imperial Dark Green with an Anthracite leather interior...