A CLASSIC Lotus sports car found in a barn after more than 30 years has sold an auction in Cirencester.
The 1975 Lotus Europa Special, which fetched £12,600 at auction, hadn't been driven since its road tax expired in 1990.
It was discovered locked away and hidden from the world by valuer Liz Poole.
The car - which had just under 70,000 miles on the clock - was one of the standout items at this month's Cirencester sale at The Cotswold Auction Company's Love Lane salesroom.
Auctioneer Lindsey Braune said: "The Lotus Europa was a particularly collectable edition, and the buyer now intends to restore her to her full glory."
The sale, which took place across Tuesday, September 9 and Wednesday, September 10, also featured a variety of unusual Chinese antiques and luxury watches.
A mixed lot of Chinese and other oriental antiques, including a gilt-bronze money toad with red enamelled eyes and two 20th century Famille Rose 'abstinence' plaques, sold for £15,000.
One of the most interesting items was a 19th century Chinese porcelain Famille Rose gourd-shaped abstinence plaque, which sold for £6,500.
These plaques, inscribed with the characters for 'abstinence' in both Chinese and Manchu, were used during the Qing dynasty to indicate a period of ritual purification.
Abstinence might include refraining from meat, alcohol and sex, and not eating strong-tasting vegetables such as onions and garlic, for several days.
Two Chinese jades, one of a dragon and the other with auspicious peaches and bats, sold for £2,700 and £1,950 respectively.
Luxury watches were as popular as ever, with a Rolex 18ct gold Oyster Perpetual Day Date wristwatch selling for £10,500, and a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner hammering down at £8,000.
Lindsey Braune said: "Chinese antiques performed well this month, with the abstinence plaques proving to be hot sellers.
"Rolex watches are always popular with collectors, and we had two very fine examples, including the iconic Submariner."