Wheeler Dealers presenter Mike Brewer has admitted he once crashed a historic Lotus Esprit while filming the iconic classic car restoration show.
Mike made the admission on social media site X when asked by a viewer whether he had ever been involved in an accident on the show.
Mike will get behind the wheel of a vehicle twice in each episode to give the car a spin before and after a restoration has been completed.
Amazingly, Mike admitted he had been involved in a minor shunt while test-driving the gorgeous Lotus Esprit model.
Mike and former presenter Edd China restored the model back in series three which first aired more than 15 years ago in 2008.
The car made a return to the franchise four years later in 1981’s For Your Eyes Only.
During the show, Mike described the Esprit as his “boyhood dream” and was thrilled at being given the opportunity to work on one.
Mike picked up a used model with no valid MOT certificate for just £3,600.
The Esprit he selected had a small hole in the exhaust pipe and the rear shock absorbers were damaged.
The interior also needed some work but Mike saw the potential, describing the machine as “mega” after a test drive.
After spending a further £800 back at the factory, Mike and Edd sold the model for £6,200. This secured the duo a profit of £1,815.
Values have risen significantly in the past decade and a half but Esprit models are still relatively affordable for collectors with some models able to be picked up for just £25,000.
However, used car specialists at AutoTrader have some models listed for between £50,000 and £75,000.
