Kansas man goes cheap supercar shopping and ends up hitting the jackpot
Published on Feb 09, 2026 at 2:30 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Feb 04, 2026 at 9:45 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Kansas YouTuber and automotive nut Tyler Hoover, aka Hoovies Garage, went cheap supercar shopping and ended up hitting the jackpot with a stunning British classic.
Hoover had visited Barrett-Jackson and was looking for a bargain that was at least under $50,000, potentially even lower than $30,000 if possible.
This was all about getting into ‘cheap supercar ownership’, and there was a wide array of cars on show for Hoover to buy.
In the end, he settled on a classic design from an iconic manufacturer, and given how gorgeous this sports car looked, it’s hard to argue with his choice.
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How Hoover found and chose his cheap supercar
In his video detailing his purchase, Hoover walked around the auction tents and showroom and spotted all sorts of tempting supercars.
Some cars were mocked-up movie replicas, and others, like a Rolls-Royce Wraith, cost up to $100,000.
A Honda/Acura NSX also caught his eye, but it was priced at $150,000.
But it was the bright yellow Lotus Esprit V8 that took Hoover’s fancy, and it was at the right price for him.
This was a 2001 model that he was able to buy for just $41,000.
So not under his $30,000 target, but well under the top $50,000 budget.
The car in question did have some slight issues; however, they were not enough to deter the YouTuber from buying it.
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How good is the Lotus Esprit V8 that Hoover bought?
Incredibly, this example of the British sports car had done just 37,000 miles in total.
It had some minor early-life Carfax damage, which took place on the car’s A-pillars.
But for $41,000, when they can sell for upwards of $200,000, this is a real bargain supercar.
Hoover loved the redesigned look of this 2001 model, which was much more streamlined than the earlier wedge-shaped versions.
The Espirit also had pop-up headlights, a classic feature of the 1970s to the 1990s.
As one of the twin-turbocharged V8 models, it’s also a lot rarer than earlier four-cylinder models that came before it.
Despite further issues he found with the car, Hoover is still very happy.
While repairs could cost a few thousand dollars, it’s a clean, low-mileage, and mostly solid example of the Esprit.
Plus, the British classic looked very cool in its bright yellow.
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a leading heritage steam railway in England.
