1995 Lotus Esprit S4S |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1995 Lotus Esprit S4S

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Mileage~79,229
TransmissionManual
Engine2.2L
LocationRochester

AUCTION CLOSED

1995 Lotus Esprit S4S

Introduction

Dom Ginn

Professional Consigner

A special iteration of the legendary Lotus Esprit, known for its blend of supercar performance and classic British sports car design.

The Esprit line itself, first introduced in the 1970s, has always been synonymous with sleek, wedge-shaped styling, and the S4S model, in particular, brought significant improvements to both its aesthetics and performance. The design of the Esprit S4S maintained the sharp, angular lines of the earlier Esprits but added subtle refinements like a more aerodynamic front splitter and a rear wing for better downforce. Inside, the car featured leather upholstery and modern amenities for its time, with the main focus clearly on performance. At the heart of the Esprit S4S is a 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with impressive performance figures. Given the car's lightweight chassis, this power output allows for exhilarating acceleration, with a 0-60 mph time of around 4.6 seconds. Driven by the rear wheels, a five-speed manual gearbox gives the Lotus a raw and engaging driving experience that enthusiasts seek.

This UK RHD example comes to market from ~1.5 year ownership. It has had ~£7,000 expenditure in recent years, is finished in a smart one-of-one colour combination, and has just had 6 former keepers. It presents well, and importantly has the performance to match too.

This listing was written from information supplied by Dom after meeting Daniel the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I tried to talk my dad into one years ago with the intention of taking it off his hands when he got bored. Alas, he never fell for my plan!

From a bedroom poster car to trying to convince his dad, the Lotus Esprit is one of those cars Daniel had desired to own from a young age. Fast forward many years to the beginning of 2023, and Daniel could finally tick the car off his bucket list as he became the proud owner of this desirable Lotus Esprit S4S.

Being a fan of the model, he has taken price in his ownership and similar to the former keepers, has spent money on the car as needed. This has included a mechanical overhaul by Esprit Engineering including many parts changed due to age, new injectors, a/c sorted the very rare OZ Futura split-rim wheels refurbished with Radinox outer lips from Germany and new tyres, headlight gears replaced due to a winking eye too! Unfortunately, after much thought on the practicality of owning the Lotus amongst other vehicles, along with not using it to its full potential as often as he’d like, Daniel has made the decision to part with the 90s classic. He will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Daniel

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The Esprit retains the sharp angular lines but is slightly more refined on the S4S for a more modern, sleek look.

Wheels and Tyres

Fitted with OZ Futura wheels, these are in excellent condition and have been refurbished in the current ownership using Radinox outer lips. The Continental tyres are new and look in excellent condition.

Please see the image gallery for a closer look at the wheels.

Bodywork

Walking around the Lotus, you will notice that the panel fit is excellent, with equal gaps around the doors, bonnet, and engine cover. The iconic pop-up headlights are working correctly, having been refurbished in current ownership, and being the S4S, this also comes with the super smooth rear spoiler.

We’ve highlighted our observations in more detail through our high-resolution images and videos. Please take the time to review all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the car’s condition for yourself.

Paint

Finished in solid black, the Esprit presents well. There are a few stone chips and a few minor marks, as you would expect, but they are minimal and in keeping with the mileage.

The images have been taken from various angles to show the car as you would see it in person. Please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos to form your own opinion of the paint’s condition.

Glass and Trim

All of the windows appear in good condition, with no noticeable scratches. The seals also look to be in good condition, with no real signs of age.

Both the front and rear lights are in good order, with no damage to the lenses.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Luxurious magnolia leather is a one-of-one colour choice coupled with the black exterior of the S4S.

Seats and Carpets

The magnolia leather seats hold you nice and snug, though there is a minor amount of colour wear to the driver's bolster. Both door cards are in good condition, with no real scuffs to point out.

The beige carpets are clean and well-presented, with no particular signs of age on the driver's heel pad. Looking up, the headlining sits nice and tight around the sunroof, and there is no staining. Please see the interior gallery for more detailed images.

Dashboard

The black and magnolia leather-clad dashboard is in good order with no splits or cracks. The dark wood fascia has a high-gloss finish to match the door card trims, and the instruments all appear to be in good condition and are reported to be working correctly. The odometer shows a reading of ~79,229 miles.

Please see the interior gallery for more high-resolution images.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The original leather steering wheel is in good condition with a small amount of shine to the rim, and the gear knob has some minor patina in keeping with the mileage covered.

Please see the interior gallery for more detailed images.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine performs superbly, pushing out ~300BHP and a massive ~290lb-ft of torque.

Engine and Gearbox

The 2.2-litre engine fires up without hesitation and comes to a smooth idle with no warning lights displayed or issues reported. The car received an overhaul by Esprit Engineering in February this year, which included many new parts, as detailed on an invoice in the paperwork section. In 2022, the Esprit had the timing and auxiliary belts replaced whilst also replacing some broken exhaust manifold studs.

The gearbox has a smooth change with no untoward noises from the transmission, and as you can imagine, it pulls exceptionally well through the gears. It is also worth mentioning that a new clutch was fitted at 63,890 miles. Watch the video to see the car in action.

Suspension and Brakes

On the road, the Esprit handles like a Lotus should, with precision steering going exactly where you point it. The front suspension was treated to uprated bushes and new coil springs in 2020.

No knocks or bangs are coming from either corner of the car, and it comes to a stop in a straight line with no juddering through the pedal.

The Drive

What's not to love about driving this iconic Lotus Esprit? The handling and performance provide you with an extremely rewarding driving experience.

Then you have the looks! Pop-up headlights, smooth, sleek lines which never fail to draw attention, as Daniel confesses, “often being stopped when filling up with fuel for a chat or the odd photograph”.

Electrics and Other

The switchgear in the Lotus appears in good order with no signs of excessive wear to the lettering and, importantly, the air conditioning blows cold with it having been overhauled in the current ownership.

An Alpine radio cassette is fitted and connected to a boot-mounted CD multi-changer and a set of Kenwood speakers. Another helpful addition is the rear parking sensors.

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History and Paperwork

Coming to market from ~1.5 year ownership, just 6 former keepers, and recent expenditure of ~£7,000, this Esprit S4S is seeking an enthusiast owner who will use and enjoy.

Plenty of invoices are present with the Lotus, along with a well-stamped service book and the all-important Certificate of Provenance, complete with a covering letter from Lotus. Several previous MOT certificates tally up with the mileage covered. In recent years the car has had ~£7,000 spent which includes a thorough check and refurbishment of the engine as needed, this included new injectors. Other elements like the wheels have been refurbished, and a total overhaul of the air-conditioning so you can actually use it. The previous history, stamped book and MOTs provide a view that this car has been cherished over the years.

The Esprit has a valid MOT, which was carried out on 03.09.2024 and passed with no advisories.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We’ve summarised our view of the car based on the information provided by the seller above. However, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the vehicle in high-resolution detail. This has been done so that you can make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So, please sit back, have a cuppa, and take your time to review everything in this listing to make your own assessment of the vehicle’s condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time—we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there’s anything you’re unsure about, no matter how small, please ask the owner in the comments section below before placing your bids, as bids can’t be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the vehicle—just like in a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
03.09.2024	MOT	79,199
13.02.2024	Service	77,543
23.08.2023	MOT	77,223
14.09.2022	MOT	76,754
13.09.2021	Service`	76,676
16.10.2020	MOT	76,526
23.09.2019	MOT	75,340
30.06.2018	MOT	75,258
18.01.2018	Service	75,322
15.06.2017	MOT	75,169
11.06.2016	MOT	74,718
30.05.2015	MOT	74,424
30.06.2014	MOT/Service	73,344
17.05.2013	MOT	73,162
27.02.2012	MOT	71,796
15.03.2011	Service	68,315
14.03.2011	MOT	68,315
17.03.2010	MOT	65,523
05.06.2009	Service`	63,890
20.04.2009	MOT	63,657
28.04.2008	MOT	60,069
11.04.2008	Service	60,018
04.04.2007	MOT	57,351
26.04.2006	MOT	52,841
24.06.2006	Service	52,385
26.04.2006	MOT	52,841
15.04.2005	MOT	49,038
29.03.2005	Service	48,912
30.03.2004	Service	46,125
08.07.2003	Service	43,797
30.04.2003	MOT	43,335
16.07.2002	Service	41,048
12.04.2002	MOT	39,875
02.05.2001	MOT	34,992
16.02.2001	Service	34,518
02.03.2000	MOT	29,602
23.04.1999	MOT	26,349

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Key Details

ModelEsprit S4s
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date04.05.1995
CC2,174
Mileage~79,229
ColourBlack
Interior ColourCream
Interior TrimLeather
Chassis #SCC082910SHA64047
Engine #LN910950428899
MOTExp - 13.09.2025
HPi ClearYes
Former Keepers6
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~1.5 years
Key FeatureBeautifully presented one of one colour combination
Auction ID2176

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All Images

All Videos

Vehicle Location

Rochester

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Auction Closed

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This car didn't meet its reserve price and may soon be available as a private sale - please contact us for more information.

Ask Questions

Seller : DesperateDan

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8 Comments

David F

2 months ago

Hi Dan,
Nice car, I would like to look at the previous Mot History but I need the Reg number please.
What’s the reason your selling your boyhood dream as you have only had for 18 months approx?
Cheers David

DesperateDan

Seller

David F

2 months ago

Good morning David
I think all the old MOTs are in the pictures and if you use the current reg it takes you as far back as 2007 and on the previous reg says plate not found. That plate can be found on early MOTs pictured I think M458MYL.
As for why am I selling it I have to admit to questioning my decision on a daily basis. The truth is I don’t get to use it as much as I want due to work the majority of the miles I’ve done were in 2 days where I drove from lands end to Ness Point through the night total 460 miles for charity add the milage there and back home think it was close to 900miles.
Hope this helps any other questions please ask.
Regards
Dan

FrenchJags

2 months ago

Can I arrange to view the Esprit please?

DesperateDan

Seller

FrenchJags

2 months ago

I believe you need to arrange this through Trade classics. I will try and contact them tomorrow to check.

Adam Purrier - Trade Classics

Admin

FrenchJags

2 months ago

Hi Frenchjags – no problem with viewing. Please send us an email to hello@tradeclassics.com and we’ll take it from there. We just need to get you set up on the system and supply some photo ID and get your availability. Cheers Adam, Trade Classics.

FrenchJags

2 months ago

Hi, Very interested in your car, can we have a chat on the phone about it? Thanks Jonathan

Kulraj Salh

Admin

FrenchJags

2 months ago

Hi FrenchJags,

Please ask any questions about the car here, and the owner Dan will reply in due course.

Best,

Kulraj – Trade Classics

DesperateDan

Seller

FrenchJags

2 months ago

Good evening Jonathan
As mentioned unfortunately I can’t give out my number. But please feel free to ask any questions and I’ll try my best answer.
Regards
Dan

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