To honour the car which was launched at the Paris Motor Show in October 1975, TLF joined other Esprit owners for a celebration of the model at the prestigious Concours of Excellence at Hampton Court Palace. Surrounded by acres of stunning grassland with deer wandering through the trees, the Lotus Esprit once again commanded attention, holding its head high among some of the rarest and most celebrated cars in the world. Few models can boast such a lasting impact on both motoring enthusiasts and popular culture, and the Esprit’s presence at this prestigious event served as a reminder of its enduring legacy.
To illustrate the evolution of this iconic model, SE High-Wing owner Roger Makhlouf curated a remarkable display that traced the Esprit’s journey from its earliest form to its final incarnation. The carefully selected line-up spanned over a quarter of a century of engineering and design excellence, beginning with the original 1976 Series 1 and culminating with the powerful 2002 V8. Each car on display represented a milestone in the Esprit story, capturing not only Lotus’s innovative spirit but also the changing tastes and demands of the supercar world.
The full line-up of exhibitors included:
- S1 Display Car, “Wet Nellie” – the most famous Esprit of all, immortalised in The Spy Who Loved Me
- S2 JPS – showcasing the legendary black-and-gold John Player Special livery
- S2.2 – marking the introduction of the 2.2-litre engine
- Essex Esprit – the exclusive turbocharged variant with striking livery
- S3 – refining the shape and dynamics of the early models
- Turbo Esprit – a turning point in performance and desirability
- Turbo HC – the high-compression evolution of the Turbo
- SE High-Wing – a bold statement of late-80s supercar design
- Sport 300 – one of the rarest and most celebrated Esprits
- GT3 – lightweight and agile, embodying Lotus’s “less is more” ethos
- Sport 350 – a limited-production performance icon
- V8 – the final evolution, blending power and refinement
This exceptional collection offered enthusiasts the rare opportunity to see the complete progression of the Esprit lineage in one place. From the clean, wedge-shaped lines of the Giugiaro-designed S1 to the muscular presence of the V8, the display told a powerful story of design, innovation, and performance.
We invite you to explore the gallery below and relive the atmosphere of the show. Click on any image to view the full collection and experience the Esprit’s journey through time.
