1978 Lotus Esprit S1 21k mile TIME-CAPSULE, garage-find

This is a 1978 Lotus Esprit S1, 21k mile time-capsule, garage-find. The car last drove 3 and a half years ago and has sat since in the previous owner's garage along with his Jaguar XKE. The previous owner lived on a farm in rural North Carolina with a long gravel road/driveway that was too harsh to drive his sport cars on to get on & off the main road. In 2014 he drove it to a local car show 4 miles down the road, drove it back and decided to park it. The car drove perfect. It sat until I was able to purchase the car from the seller. The car presented today is exactly as I bought it. As you can see the car is absolutely remarkable condition for its age.

The car has an astonishing 21k original miles. The body on the car is near perfect. The paint is near 9/10. It had one previous repaint done to the highest quality. Very few flaws if any. All gapping/panel fit is factory perfect with the exception of the driver door latch. The only thing I tinkered with the car was I tried adjusting the drivers door latch and accidentally let the mounting bracket with nut drop behind the post & I'm too lazy to fish it out. The latch is sitting next to the rear fuel tank and when the next owner takes the tank out for flushing, he can reattach the door latch. The paint truly is stunning. The rubber molding trim that runs along the outside of the body has detached in a few places but can easily be re-glued.

The interior on the car seems to be 100% original and still in excellent shape. The original fabric in the interior is in remarkable shape too. The radio is still original. The headliner is perfect and original. All the door panels are mint. The leather steering wheel shows very little wear. Gauge cluster looks great. Dash is mint along with the fabric. Next to no fading on the black fabric either. The front trunk looks to be near factory new. Looks like the spare wheel still has the original tire still mounted on it. The engine compartment is very clean and tidy as well. All windows are original Triplex XXX windows including front windshield and all side windows. The car was fitted with very rare & desirable Italian Gotti wheels. The underneath all looks great. The next owner can get it running in no time, probably in a day. It's sad that I don't have the time or space to do it, but that fun can be for the next owner. Overall the car is a remarkable example of a rare early S1 Esprit. This was the very first series of the Esprit and purists consider it the most desirable. Being an S1 in ultra low mileage in a remarkably preserved condition, it leaves this car with big potential for it's next caretaker. Please feel free to ask any questions. I have a free and clear title. Priced to sell.