Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 124
1995 Lotus Esprit S4S Coupe VIN. SCCFD30C3SHF63141 Engine no. LN910950929051T
Sold for US$54,320 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 124
1995 Lotus Esprit S4S Coupe
1995 Lotus Esprit S4S Coupe
VIN. SCCFD30C3SHF63141
Engine no. LN910950929051T
VIN. SCCFD30C3SHF63141
Engine no. LN910950929051T
2,174cc DOHC Inline 4-Cylinder Turbocharged Engine
Electronic Fuel Injection
5-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Ventilated Disc Brakes
*Traditional British Racing Green livery, one of only 2 in this color way
*Low mileage example, with more than $20,000 recently spent
*Accompanied by Lotus Provenance Report.
*Definitive late specification Lotus Esprit
THE LOTUS ESPRIT S4
Unveiled in 1987, the Peter Stevens redesign of the venerable Lotus Esprit saw the mid-engined rocketship's sharp edges softened, the interior revamped and the mechanical specification improved. Indeed, the Esprit was now a genuine supercar contender, with over 160mph available from the Special Equipment model of 1989, largely thanks to the adoption of a water to air intercooler on the 2.2-liter four. In 1993, Lotus further updated the Esprit with exterior styling by Julian Thompson. Relatively minor changes to the front and rear bumpers, side skirts and a new wheel design were nicely resolved and the Esprit's dramatic styling was suitably updated for a new decade.
It wasn't until 1995 that the mechanical specification came in for change; when the S4 was replaced by the S4S power jumped to 300bhp, with 290 lbs./ft. of torque on tap. To achieve these figures, Lotus made changes to the cylinder head, enlarged the inlet ports and fitted an updated ECM and Garret AiResearch T3/60 turbocharger. This added up to serious on road performance, with 0-60 mph dispatched in a mere 4.6 seconds on the way to a top speed of 168 mph – impressive numbers in anyone's language. Equally impressive was the handling, with a 0.91g figure achieved on the skidpan. The S4S was distinguished by the larger rear wing from the Sport 300, new OZ five-spoke alloy rims and Brembo brakes, having the distinction of being the end of the line for the four cylinder Esprit. Despite its age, The Autocar magazine loved the new Lotus, concluding with the comment: "...the Lotus Esprit S4S is, for the moment, the most complete British sports car – period."
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
Production of the S4S was very limited, with a mere 145 being delivered of those just two are understood to have been delivered in this color way, a rich dark 'racing' green paint (code 804) and with a warm biscuit hide interior (code XX10), and riding on alloy rims, it looks every bit the archetypal British sportscar. Manufactured by Lotus Cars Works in September 1995, the Esprit S4S was originally imported to the U.S. and its tags confirm it to have been officially federalized.
The car was acquired from that original owner in 2011, by a noted collector and enthusiast and immediately subjected to a thorough professional recommissioning at a cost of some $10,000, for which receipts are on file. After that it was used enthusiastically on a series of fast road tours, including the popular Texas 1000 and NorthWest Passage 1000 Mile Rallies organized by Rich and Jean Taylor's Vintage Rallies company, completing these events without issue. Testament to how well these cars stand as a design icon, the car was invited to the 2012 edition of The Quail - A Motorsports Gathering in their Supercar Class.
Bonhams offered the car here 8 years ago, when it transacted for only the second time in its career. Returning here for sale today, at the time of cataloguing it has covered a modest mileage of 27,256, being less than 1,000 a year. Not surprisingly the car interior of the car is extremely clean throughout, from its updated Momo wood rimmed steering wheel and faux wood door trims to its full leather trimmed cabin, and the external paint finish remains very tidy for its age.
Further, since it was last seen by us, the seller reports that the Lotus has been treated to more than $20,000 of expense devoted to comprehensive mechanical servicing as well as the new process of dry ice cleaning to bring it into 'tip-top' condition underneath and on the technical side.
A provenance report from Lotus has been added to the file, which includes the original owner's books, window sticker and service records as well as CarFax. All in all, this must be one of the best that exists today.
Electronic Fuel Injection
5-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Ventilated Disc Brakes
*Traditional British Racing Green livery, one of only 2 in this color way
*Low mileage example, with more than $20,000 recently spent
*Accompanied by Lotus Provenance Report.
*Definitive late specification Lotus Esprit
THE LOTUS ESPRIT S4
Unveiled in 1987, the Peter Stevens redesign of the venerable Lotus Esprit saw the mid-engined rocketship's sharp edges softened, the interior revamped and the mechanical specification improved. Indeed, the Esprit was now a genuine supercar contender, with over 160mph available from the Special Equipment model of 1989, largely thanks to the adoption of a water to air intercooler on the 2.2-liter four. In 1993, Lotus further updated the Esprit with exterior styling by Julian Thompson. Relatively minor changes to the front and rear bumpers, side skirts and a new wheel design were nicely resolved and the Esprit's dramatic styling was suitably updated for a new decade.
It wasn't until 1995 that the mechanical specification came in for change; when the S4 was replaced by the S4S power jumped to 300bhp, with 290 lbs./ft. of torque on tap. To achieve these figures, Lotus made changes to the cylinder head, enlarged the inlet ports and fitted an updated ECM and Garret AiResearch T3/60 turbocharger. This added up to serious on road performance, with 0-60 mph dispatched in a mere 4.6 seconds on the way to a top speed of 168 mph – impressive numbers in anyone's language. Equally impressive was the handling, with a 0.91g figure achieved on the skidpan. The S4S was distinguished by the larger rear wing from the Sport 300, new OZ five-spoke alloy rims and Brembo brakes, having the distinction of being the end of the line for the four cylinder Esprit. Despite its age, The Autocar magazine loved the new Lotus, concluding with the comment: "...the Lotus Esprit S4S is, for the moment, the most complete British sports car – period."
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
Production of the S4S was very limited, with a mere 145 being delivered of those just two are understood to have been delivered in this color way, a rich dark 'racing' green paint (code 804) and with a warm biscuit hide interior (code XX10), and riding on alloy rims, it looks every bit the archetypal British sportscar. Manufactured by Lotus Cars Works in September 1995, the Esprit S4S was originally imported to the U.S. and its tags confirm it to have been officially federalized.
The car was acquired from that original owner in 2011, by a noted collector and enthusiast and immediately subjected to a thorough professional recommissioning at a cost of some $10,000, for which receipts are on file. After that it was used enthusiastically on a series of fast road tours, including the popular Texas 1000 and NorthWest Passage 1000 Mile Rallies organized by Rich and Jean Taylor's Vintage Rallies company, completing these events without issue. Testament to how well these cars stand as a design icon, the car was invited to the 2012 edition of The Quail - A Motorsports Gathering in their Supercar Class.
Bonhams offered the car here 8 years ago, when it transacted for only the second time in its career. Returning here for sale today, at the time of cataloguing it has covered a modest mileage of 27,256, being less than 1,000 a year. Not surprisingly the car interior of the car is extremely clean throughout, from its updated Momo wood rimmed steering wheel and faux wood door trims to its full leather trimmed cabin, and the external paint finish remains very tidy for its age.
Further, since it was last seen by us, the seller reports that the Lotus has been treated to more than $20,000 of expense devoted to comprehensive mechanical servicing as well as the new process of dry ice cleaning to bring it into 'tip-top' condition underneath and on the technical side.
A provenance report from Lotus has been added to the file, which includes the original owner's books, window sticker and service records as well as CarFax. All in all, this must be one of the best that exists today.
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