A STUNNING classic James Bond style car is up for sale after being abandoned.
The Lotus sports car has been sitting empty, covered in moss, in an old barn for years.
Its original owner parked their 1982 Lotus Esprit Turbo for the final time back in 1995.
He had snapped up the car in 1990 but abandoned it to focus on training dogs at a nearby kennel.
But the owner has now put his restoration project up for auction with Charterhouse Auctioneers.
And, the right buyer could see the fixer-upper fetch thousands.
From the outside, the vehicle might not look like anything special – but its interior is still in good nick.
Photographs show cream leather upholstery on the seats and center console.
The model may remind some of Roger Moore’s famous motor in The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only.
Auctioneer Richard Bromell said: “The owner worked as a gamekeeper and his interests moved away from cars to training dogs, so he put it in the barn next door to his dog kennels and never took it out.
“It has not left the barn or been cleaned in 30 years.
“Some talk about patina adding value, but I’m not sure by this they mean the green moss, lichen and slime which has grown on this Lotus for the past three decades.
“It was not easy to get into the barn through the brambles and while walking around the car, I must admit to putting one leg into a badger sett as I was not looking where I was going.
“It is going to be a challenge to get the car out as it is cocooned in the barn where brambles have grown up along there.
“But after a very thorough clean, you should be able to get the car going again on the road.
“The Lotus Esprit is a pretty rare and cool car, which makes this such an exciting find.”
The car has a pre-sale estimate of £10,000 and the sale is set to take place on March 26.
This comes as a legendary 1980s Ford stunned car enthusiasts after selling for £20,000 above its hefty guide price in a shock auction result.
The rare 1987 Ford Capri 280 Brooklands went under the hammer at the NEC in Birmingham.
Fetching an incredible £63,000 including fees, despite being guided between £35,000 and £45,000.
“This 5,565-mile 1987 Ford Capri 280 Brooklands was offered with a guide between £35k–£45k. Sold for £63,000 inc fees.
“I did think this guide would be far from the high point of Brooklands pricing, but the result was strong,” said a spokesperson from Luden Automotive.
