This is a unique Lotus, which was especially built for Colin Chapman himself. He has chosen the colour combination of sage green with a green full leather interior, and used this car from 1980 until 1982. There is a copy of the first registration in name of Lotus Cars in the file, and also a picture of the car in front of Chapmans house. In 1982, he donate the car to his friend Gerard "Jabby" Crombac, the founder of Sport Auto and the author of the official Colin Chapman Biography. The story went as follows : after hearing that Crombac had been sacked by FIA President Balestre from the FISA’s Technical Commission for having supported Colin Chapman’s claim that the twin-Chassis Lotus 88 F1 didn’t contravene the Technical regulation, Chapman and his sponsor David Thieme of Essex Motor Sport invited Crombac for dinner at the famous Rampoldi restaurant in Monaco on the eve of the 81 Grand Prix. Colin Chapman fished into his pocket and produced a set of keys: “Here is my own car, this is the least I can do for you” he said. Crombac was delighted but surprised to see he was holding a set of keys for a Cessna twin-engined aircraft... ! The car was officially handed to him at the British Grand Prix and Essex Motorsport took care of custom duties and licensing in France, temporarily in the name of its chauffeur. It was used regularly since by Crombac, mainly for longer trips to the UK and to the Lotus factory. Jabby Crombac owned the car until his demise in 2005.

The car is still in good and original condition, well maintained and ready to drive. It comes with a huge history file, with many photographs, letters from Lotus Cars, complete service history and original handbooks. This is a car for the true Lotus enthusiast, and a valuable addition to any important collection. Lotus built approx. 1550 examples of the Eclat, but there was only one which was owned by Colin Chapman. It played a role in the F1 turmoil from the eighties, and was then in the possession of one of the most important motorsport journalists from that era. As said before, this is a unique opportunity.