Top Gear’s unique 007-spec Lotus Exige is for sale

“Crisp brakes, instant torque, gearlever flicking easily between second, third and fourth, plus a chance to indulge the tingling, feelsome steering every few seconds? Yes, please.”

Top Gear’s Ollie Marriage there, heartily recommending a blast in the Lotus Exige Sport back in 2016. But not just any old Exige. Rather, a uniquely specified ‘Copperfire Red’ Exige with golden-coloured detailing… and skis bolted to the slatted rear deck. As you do.

This one-off was a homage to the Lotus Esprit briefly featured in the 12th James Bond film, 1981’s For Your Eyes Only. It’s the less famous 007-spec Lotus, but given it would’ve taken Norfolk a lot longer to suss out a fully-functioning Esprit submarine for TG to take snorkeling, we were happy to make the pilgrimage to Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy in this example. You can read the complete story by tapping these rather natty blue words.

Or, you could buy the car. Yes, this exact car. See, after its starring role in a Top Gear feature, AU65 CVB was shorn of its ski-carrying equipment and sold by Surrey-based Lotus specialists Bell & Colvill. Four years later, and two subsequent owners later, its current kepper has decided to move the car on, with 14,300 miles under its golden wheels. We reckon at least 2,000 of those are our miles. Check out the ad here. 

The price, to sit where Ollie sat, marvelling at the Lotus’s deft handling and delectable gearshift – while paying tribute to the most pun-tastic Bond of all – is some £47,500. It’s one of the higher-mileage Exiges out there, too. But still. Not many other folks are going to have a car painted ‘Copperfire’…

Wonder how much it costs to get the skis fitted again?