www.adrianmugridge.co.uk

Lotus Esprit GT3

Lotus only made a few GT3s, between 1996 and 1999, mainly in orange, yellow, blue and silver. The GT3 graphics were an option, as were leather seats and A/C. Mine has the graphics but not the A/C or leather. 

The car has a 2.0 litre turbo engine with a chargecooler ( this is what Lotus call an intercooler ) and delivers 240 bhp with 210 lb/ft of torque. 0-60 is in about 5 seconds ( depends which car magazine you read ) and the top end is 164 mph.

My model is a 1997 which I bought with only 4700 miles on it 5 years ago from Christopher Neil Limited in Northwich, Cheshire. It’s now got 65500 miles on the clock as, until recently,  it was my daily transport to and from work. It’s been fairly reliable, but it has been on the back of a low loader a number of times. 

The colour is called Chrome Orange and as you can see the interior is all black apart from the backs of the body hugging seats ( no rake adjustment, only forwards and back ) and around the gear stick.

The brushed aluminium gear knob looks great but has a major disadvantage; it’s very susceptible to the temperature. In summer, leave it direct sunlight and it will burn your hand off and in the winter it feels like a block of ice on a cold morning. So, to keep it warm in winter, my mother-in-law knitted me this rather natty knob cozy !

In April 2003 I added a rear wing ( Sport 300 type ) and I think it really finishes the car off ( I should have done it ages ago ).  I get even more attention than before !!