In the UK you will find prices ranging from around £3,000 to maybe £10,000. The lower end of this scale will probably get you a complete car, but not much else; if it runs you are lucky, but do not expect great things - the bodywork is likely to need major attention and the engine may need a rebuild. Prices at the bottom end have been affected in recent years by demand for the cars' ZF gearboxes for historic rallying. The upper end of this scale will give you a car that has not been used much at all - very low mileage and in pristine original condition.  Cars like this are very rare, and top prices paid have realistically been around £8-9,000, with a couple of exceptions taking the price well over this level.

That leaves a lot of mid-ground, and it is here that most people will be looking.  About £7,000 is the right price for a truly good car - possibly the subject of a complete rebuild - that will not need any work, yet in which you will be less frightened to exploit its capabilities - after all, the last thing you would want to put on a £9,000 car would be stone-chips!  £5,000-7,000 is the area where you will find most cars, and if you know what to look for you should find a cracking example for this sort of money.  Generally in good condition and covering all sorts of specifications - original standard, modified, restored but used, etc.  Watch out for over-priced cars, though - a bit of body filler and paint may be deceiving!

Below £4,000 is where you need to be more wary - do not expect to drive away a car and not have to work on it for a year or so.  For this sort of money (especially) you need to know exactly what you are buying and what gremlins come with the car.  If you have any doubts, walk away.

Competition-prepared cars fall into a completely different price structure depending on purpose and condition - contact the club for advice.

If you are serious about buying a Sunbeam Lotus, join the club and receive further information, including our buyers' guide that contains further tips on what to look for.