1977 Lotus Esprit

When the production Esprit arrived at 1975’s Paris Motor Show, it stood in marked contrast to the bug-eyed Europa. Finally, here was a Lotus that led the way not only in how the rear mid-engine coupe drove but in how it grabbed the spotlight. Underneath its fiberglass body panels sat a steel backbone chassis. Initially, the 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder from the Europa and the Eclat supplied power to the rear wheels via a Citroën-sourced five-speed manual.

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