New member and new car. (Europa)

[egoman]

My sisters boyfriend said to me "have you ever heard of a lotus car"?
Well of course I have ; why do you ask? He says the boss has one thats going up for auction due to its storage not being paid for. OK then I will put up a bid of 900$ max. 3 weeks later I get a phone call saying that I am the new owner........for 500$. Paid the man and kicked the wife out of the garage.Now I need to do something with it.

[...m...]

...wow, that's awesome!..

[EliseAtLeast]

You lucky $**^%$

[egoman]

We can determine how lucky I am at a later point in time. I will post the serial # and you guys can tell me what I have.My vehicleident # 1221r. My unit# 711081221r. The engine# 2396 and the trans# 0511.

[lotus69f2]

Whatcha got thar seems to me to be a gen-u-wine Lotus Europa S1. I am by no means an authority, but base my opinion on the door handle. If so this is a rare bird indeed, and a mighty pain in the *ss to restore.

I genuinely hope that you bring it back to the original condition and enjoy the process and the car as well. But be warned. $500 seems like very little for a Lotus and it is. But restoration costs will set you back a lot of $$$.

If you are up for the job let the games begin.

You will find the following very helpful:

Lotus Europa Central -- Home Page

lotuseuropa : A Mailing List Lotus Europa Enthusiasts

Bryan's Europa Site

r.d. enterprises ltd. Home Page

[RoadDad]

If you don't want to do the work yourself and want (read that as can afford) to have a very professional restoration done contact Randall Fehr Randall Fehr Restorations - Classic Lotus Specialist.

Either way (you do it or it is done for you), as Kyle states, be prepared to shell out some $$$$$$$$$$ for the restoration.

[RoadDad]

The more I look at that car the more it looks like a Type 65 (US Federal equipped Europa Series 2). They were made in '69 & '70, used a 1565cc Renault engine and were raised to meet the US headlight height requirements of the day.

But it may be a Series 1 (Type 46) but the (missing) front blinker position is making me think not.

EDIT: Here's a picture of a Type 65


Type 46 (Series 1)


Type 54

[DeanG]

Welcome, good luck & try Lotus Europa Central -- Home Page

[lotus69f2]

Originally Posted by egoman

We can determine how lucky I am at a later point in time. I will post the serial # and you guys can tell me what I have.My vehicleident # 1221r. My unit# 711081221r. The engine# 2396 and the trans# 0511.

That chassis number dates the car as a '71. (I was writing my prior post as you were making your # post).

According to the Lotus Europa Registry the unit number for late S2 should read 71mmdd1221r. Are you sure you didn't miss a digit? Your car is not registered, but the one immediately before is - 1220r. THe last one in the registry is 1287r (they all have r at the end) making your car one of the last hundred or so made. Lotus Europa S2 Registry

As Roaddad mentions it is a Type 65

I am sure the registrars would appreciate the addition of your car to the regisstry - jerry@lotus-europa.com

[RoadDad]

I guess I could look at the numbers, huh?

[lotus69f2]

Originally Posted by RoadDad

I guess I could look at the numbers, huh?

Yeah, but it only works well when your on the net and can acces the data. I'd like to have the eye to be able to discern the subtle differences between the various models.

[RoadDad]

Originally Posted by lotus69f2

Yeah, but it only works well when your on the net and can acces the data. I'd like to have the eye to be able to discern the subtle differences between the various models.

The more you drool on other people's cars, the more time you spend wiping off the cars before they see... eventually all the wiping and intimate contact makes it easier to see and remember the differences.

[ABorkat]

Originally Posted by egoman

Paid the man and kicked the wife out of the garage.

That's a shame! Now where's your wife going to live??

[Roger]

Welcome and good luck!

[cabc26b]

Congratulations ! You got a deal. But keep in mind , you can easily find your self upside down in a S2 europa. I probably only recovered the cost of my paint job on this S1 ( my favorite of all the europa's pure Chapman enclosed undertrey windows that don't open...on a road car...)

For those in need of an S1 spotters guide - the quick external differences are - front fender profile and setting of headlamps , the rocker panel area not having the lip, rear end cap design/ Carello tail lamps lights , no nostrils, fixed windows, push button doors ( these were carried over to some of the early type 54's)

Have fun with the car, properly set up they are a hoot to drive once up to speed.

G

[lotus69f2]

Originally Posted by cabc26b

Congratulations ! You got a deal. But keep in mind , you can easily find your self upside down in a S2 europa. I probably only recovered the cost of my paint job on this S1 ( my favorite of all the europa's pure Chapman enclosed undertrey windows that don't open...on a road car...)

For those in need of an S1 spotters guide - the quick external differences are - front fender profile and setting of headlamps , the rocker panel area not having the lip, rear end cap design/ Carello tail lamps lights , no nostrils, fixed windows, push button doors ( these were carried over to some of the early type 54's)

Have fun with the car, properly set up they are a hoot to drive once up to speed.

G

Thanks for the spotters guide. It is very helpful. It is the appearance of having a push button door that made me think S1, but looking at your S1 the differences are much clearer.

[kestrel74]

You'll get to LOVE these guys also:
Dave Bean Engineering, Inc. The Official Vintage Lotus Car Parts Distributor

[kestrel74]

And pics of Mine:

74 Zetec Europa For Sale

[shay2nak]

love the color! congrats