Lotus Esprit

1988 to 2004 · Coupe

Over the past 12 months, 12 have sold publicly at a median of $64,791. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $81,800. Across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $15,250 to $94,000, depending on mileage, color, and history.

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Shifty Estimate

$81,800

Medium confidence · $31K to $94K

Median · 12 mo: $64,791
Sales · 12 mo: 12
For sale now: 3

Collectible

Sold$87,000 · Bring a Trailer · Sep 2026

The market

Every recorded 1988 Lotus Esprit sale, by date and price

Sep 2026 · Bring a Trailer

$87,000 · 11,000 mi · New Lotus Yellow (B36)

See this car

Sold Bid to, not sold

25 sales · 9 unsoldmedian $65kupdated Oct 2026

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Latest results

The newest 1988 Lotus Esprit sales with photographs

Sold $94,000

2004 · Black (A02) · 18,000 mi

Aug 19, 2026 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $68,200

2001

Aug 13, 2026 · Mecum Auctions

Sold $77,000

2002 · New Lotus Yellow (B36) · 27,000 mi

Aug 4, 2026 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $55,000

1999 · RED

Jun 27, 2026 · Barrett-Jackson

Sold $85,000

2001 · Calypso Red · 10,000 mi

Jun 25, 2026 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $33,500

1994 · Calypso Red · 93,000 mi

Jun 21, 2026 · Bring a Trailer

Every S4

Sold prices, last 12 months · Oct 27, 2026

Every S4. Sold prices, last 12 months · Oct 27, 2026
	Esprit1988 to 2004	S4s1995 to 1996
Shifty Estimate	$81,800	$38,000Low confidence
Sold median	$64,79112 sales	$38,0003 sales
12-month move	Too few sales to call	Too few sales to call
For sale	3	None

Other Esprit generations

Specifications

Engine: Inline-4 Turbo, 2.2L
Power: 215 hp
Torque: 220 lb-ft
0 to 60: 6.1 s
Top speed: 150 mph
Transmission: Manual
Drivetrain: RWD
Designer: Giorgetto Giugiaro

Common questions

How much does a Lotus Esprit cost?

What is a 1988 Lotus Esprit worth today?

The Shifty Estimate is $81,800. That sits above the $64,791 median of actual sales because the median counts every car that sold, including high-mileage examples, while the estimate describes a clean, low-mileage one bought today. We rate confidence medium: 12 public sales in a year is a thin market, and the spread between them is wide.

How many Lotus Esprit have sold?

Shifty has 25 public sales of the Lotus Esprit on file. The earliest was on Nov 9, 2018.

What is the most expensive Lotus Esprit sold?

The highest public sale on file is $94,000, on Aug 19, 2026, with 18,000 mi.

What has a Lotus Esprit sold for at auction?

The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:

$87,000Sep 15, 2026New Lotus Yellow (B36) · 11,000 mi
$77,000Sep 3, 2026Calypso Red · 26,000 mi
$94,000Aug 19, 2026Black (A02) · 18,000 mi

How many Lotus Esprit are for sale right now?

Shifty tracks 3 listings of the Lotus Esprit for sale right now.

About the 1988 Lotus Esprit

The Lotus Esprit remains one of the most distinctive supercars ever built, with Giugiaro's razor-sharp wedge design aging remarkably well across its 28-year production run. Starting with the naturally aspirated 2.2-liter four-cylinder in 1988, the Esprit evolved through turbocharged variants that delivered genuine supercar performance. The later V8 models from 1996 packed Lotus's own 3.5-liter twin-turbo V8, producing 350hp and transforming the car into a legitimate Ferrari rival. With just over 10,000 total examples built, the Esprit offers exclusivity that modern supercars can't match. Early turbo cars are particularly sought after for their raw character, while V8 models represent the pinnacle of the line. Bond film appearances cemented its pop culture status, but it's the pure driving experience, lightweight construction, precise handling, and that unmistakable silhouette, that makes the Esprit increasingly collectible as analog supercars appreciate.