1993 Lotus Carlton Number 874 RHD

Highlights

• Extensively restored in 2022 by Lotus Carlton specialist Agamemnon
• Only four registered keepers with current one since 1998
• Factory standard Carlton in good overall condition
• Car will be sold with a new MOT
• One of only 320 RHD Carltons built

The Appeal

The Lotus Carlton was born in an era when Vauxhall and Ford were scrabbling to build high-performance halo cars to help shift units of their humdrum Sierras and Carltons. These were the getaway cars of the '80s, and it’s fair to say the Lotus Carlton was the absolute best of them.

Just 950 were built, of which only 350 were Carlton-badged RHD examples. Each one had a lengthy gestation before it even reached the lucky buyer. The cars were fully built at Opel’s Russelheim works before being sent to Hethel. Once there, they were entirely dismantled before being rebuilt with Lotus’ 3.6L twin-turbo version of the 3L straight-six, now good for 377bhp. It took 130 hours to build each Imperial Green car, which likely explains why they cost £48,000 (£106,000 now) - roughly twice the price of a 3L GSi. Today, these purposeful and brutally quick cars are rightly revered as one of the greatest super saloons of the era. They represent the final hurrah of a certain type of analogue, rear-drive saloon, one subsequently neutered by rising insurance premiums.

This late model Lotus, car number 874, has had just four keepers in its 33 years. It was restored in 2022 by model specialist Agamemnon and presents well in photos. Their headlining needs attention, but the interior is otherwise well kept and appears to be factory standard. The last MOT ran to June 2026 and contained no advisories.

With few built and many hidden away in collections, this car's arrival on the market is notable. Definitely one not to miss for those nostalgic for an era of ram raiding, tyre smoking, and just simply enjoying raw, brutal, unapologetic power.

History and Paperwork

• First registered 20th May 1993
• Four registered keepers
• Current keeper since September 1998
• Car number 874
• Original UK market RHD Carlton
• Last MOT ran to 9th June 2026 with no advisories
• Various old MOTs
• Various invoices including early in car’s life
• CD of restoration photos
• V5C
• Summary sheet stating car has full service history (not verified)
• Restored by Agamemnon in 2022 with invoices shown totalling over £8,000
• Factory handbooks

Service history (further details in photos):

• 02/00 - 87,616 miles - AJEC Racing
• 11/98 - 83,438 miles - nash of Cardiff
• 01/98 - 74,982 miles - Fox Group Vauxhall
• 07/96 - 61,301 miles - Fox Group Vauxhall
• 02/96 - 56,538 miles - Fox Group Vauxhall
• 09/95 - 48,798 miles - Monorep Vauxhall
• 03/95 - 38,419 miles - Monorep Vauxhall
• 10/94 - 29,965 miles - Monorep Vauxhall
• 05/94 - 20,570 miles - Monorep Vauxhall
• 11/93 - 8,572 miles - Monorep Vauxhall
• 07/93 - 2,170 miles - Vauxhall Technical Centre

The Condition

• Well presented in correct Imperial Green metallic with few signs of age
• Due to age and mileage paintwork shows some light age
• Bodywork in good order with straight panels and well kept body kit
• Factory standard five spoke alloys refurbished in 2015
• No structural advisories on last MOT
• Black leather factory standard interior, including wheel and stereo
• Headlining in poor condition as shown
• Carpets through cabin and boot areas present well and are generally clean
• Space saver steel spare wheel included

Every Lotus Carlton was built in fetching Imperial Green, which on this car has worn very well and shows few signs of age. The bodywork and body kit are in similar order. The factory alloys were refurbished in 2015 and present well in photos.

The full black leather interior was the height of luxury in 1993. Here it remains factory standard, including the radio cassette with its CD multichanger in the boot and the switchgear and wheel. Aside from the headlining, which should be an easy fix, it is well kept with only light age to note.

The Mechanics

• 3,615cc 377bhp twin turbo straight six petrol engine
• 6spd ZF manual gearbox
• Restored in 2022 by model specialist as detailed in photos
• No advisories on last MOT

Thanks to its Lotus-tuned 3.6L twin turbo straight six, the Carlton had the pace to match the pumped-up looks. The engine was a bored out version of the standard 3L GSi engine, each one mated to a ZF 6spd manual gearbox sourced from the ZR-1 Corvette and driving the rear wheels.

This car’s history reveals that it was extensively restored by model specialist Agamemnon in 2022, since when it has covered few miles. The last MOT revealed no advisories.

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