1:43 SCALE

THIS MODEL IS BOXED IN MINT CONDITION.

FULLY CERTIFIED LIMITED EDITION

Lotus announced the Esprit S2 in December 1977 and the first cars were delivered to dealers in June 1978. However, the first S2, chassis 400G (G being Lotus' code for UK market vehicles), was actually built in April 1978 and allocated to the engineering department for testing and development before being road registered in June. It was then reassigned to the company's PR guru, Don McLauchlan, was road tested by both Autocar and CAR magazines, and used it for promotional photography. The publicity image of this car, with Lotus founder Colin Chapman seated on the edge of bonnet in front of the black and gold Team Lotus twin-engined Cessna aircraft 'G-PRIX', has become iconic. The S2 featured an inch wider track, larger tail lamps with integral fog-lights, Lotus designed alloy wheels, vertical air intakes behind the rear side windows and a wrap around front spoiler, as well as numerous detail modifications to the interior, dashboard and engine. It entered the market priced at £11,235.52, including £800.26 VAT, and was the firm's most prestigious model until the Esprit S2.2 was launched in January 1980. Lotus sold YVG 789S to a private owner and records show that it was re-registered as YKO 48S and painted red in January 1990. However, it has not been heard of since the mid 1990s and is modelled here as it was when being used for Lotus press and publicity duties in 1978/9