Although it can’t go underwater, there are many cool upgrades.
We are used to seeing super-powered muscle cars and exotics at Jay Leno’s Garage. But this time, we get to see a very special Lotus. In 1976, the Esprit was introduced with its futuristic wedge-shaped design. A year later, it was featured as James Bond’s submersible spy vehicle in The Spy Who Almost Loved Me. Detlef Claudius also fell in love with the Esprit, purchasing it brand new for $14,550. The car is still his 41-year-old ownership, but, as the video below shows, there’s more to it than that.
Claudius, aside from his love for the Esprit and being an avid tinkerer, is a Lotus guru. He’s also a skilled fabricator and mechanically inclined, so this car shows off some of his knowledge. While casual observers may see a 1970s Esprit, Lotus experts will notice the 1980s-era body kits. The turbocharged four-pot turbo-2.2-liter turbocharged engine is another 1980s transplant with just 7,000 miles. The car actually has 19,500 miles. Claudius’s son Jason attributes this to his father keeping the car apart for modifications and repairs. We really like him.
The engine and body kit are only the beginning. You’ll find personal touches such as the boot lid handle, seatbelt surrounds and engine cover that Claudius made from aluminum all over the car. Claudius also redesigned the interior of the Esprit. Under the trunk lid, a hydraulic power brake system and upgraded electronics are found. We don’t have enough space to list all the details, so we’ll just leave it at the video.
Although the original Esprit was not a powerful car, the turbo swap on this car produces about 300 horsepower (224 megawatts). Although this isn’t an enormous number, the Esprit’s power-to-weight ratio of around 1,000 kg (2,200 lbs) makes it a grin-inducing car.
These older Esprits are not very often seen out and about. This car deserves our attention and we are glad that Leno is showing some love for classic Lotus.