1998 Lotus Esprit V8 Turbo by Autoart

Lotus always made fun, quirky, light and fast cars. They weren't always known for their reliability though, earning the acronym 'Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious'. The most recognisable Lotus was the wedge shaped Esprit that changed little in silhouette over nearly 30 years. In 1996 the 3.5 twin turbo V8 was released, pumping out about 350bhp.

Autoart released the 1998 model in 1:18 and 1:43 scale. The smaller one is still officially available from their site for $40. The real beauty is the 1:18, complete with pop up lights, a carpeted interior and small hinges for the hood and trunk. It's discontinued but goes for about $100 on eBay.  The dashboard features lovely woodgrain and switchgear that can be easily read. The engine bay does have a very detailed motor but like the real thing, it is hidden under stylised meshes and a red cover. One issue I've found is the spring-loaded headlights do not quite sit flush.

The yellow with black interior is quite possibly the best of the lot but the red is also quite rare. This one came in for a few repairs from another collector - Rubab Momen of DCCCB. The black one is coming soon for my own set and features a tan interior, which unfortunately looks a little like plastic.