Lotus Europa 1966-1975 & tuning & conversions etc
Discussion
lovely pictures.
I just came across this race car when I was looking for some special old TVR
I just came across this race car when I was looking for some special old TVR
said:
Europa-clone it was entered in a separate Sports GT Challenge race on 15th October 1988. The driver was Richard Gamble, the car was entered as a Lotus March Europa, powered by a 3.9 Rover. He finished third in the race
here's the vid of it running after the first fire up, with no editing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S3lDFA3xsU&fe...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S3lDFA3xsU&fe...
Thats mine in the motor start up video. Thanks to Neil for providing support and photos for the day of fiddling to get the lovely little Vegantune Twin Cam running again. Bought in 1979, I spent the next 7 years on and off rebuilding it and eventually in 1986 finished it with the idea of sprints and hillclimbs, mot'd it and put it on the road for 3 months. It proved to be very fast on the track,sharp handling, although in need of a rear sway bar, and slightly stiffer spring rates. Acceleration despite the 4 speed box was excellent, Vegantune having rated the Twin Cam at 160BHP and the very light body and alloy cage (legal at the time) making the power to weight ratio very good. As a comparison, the 911 I had at the time couldnt even come close for acceleration ! However life moved on and I put it into storage shortly after (unfortunately it had to sit outside under a cover for a few weeks) and it has been there unmoved until 2007 when I winched it into my trailer and moved it to my own garage. Been meaning to get it running for the last 7 years and a couple of weeks ago decided to try. So took out the 4 gal tank, hosed out all the foam which had turned to mush, oiled the top of the pistons, cleaned out the pump bowl, dismantled carbs and checked all jets, passages etc were clear, fitted new plug, spun it over with the plugs out until the oil pressure rose, and then with a bit more fiddling and messing, got it started, and running as sweet as ever. Only for a few seconds though as the radiator has leaked out most of the coolant over the years.
I've now started a "when I can" programme of cleaning, repainting and repolishing components, and hopefully by the summer I may have it driving again.
I've now started a "when I can" programme of cleaning, repainting and repolishing components, and hopefully by the summer I may have it driving again.
Edited by Joelism on Monday 29th December 13:09
Edited by Joelism on Saturday 14th November 12:56
In about 1973 I helped a friend of mine who had a Lotus garage in South Wales to renovate a Lotus 47 that had a V8 engine in it. It had been in South Africa where it had been raced, one thing I remember it was the first time I had seen rose mounted suspension. One story was that Jochan Rindt had raced it at Kayalami. The garage owner was planning to race it again, so did some formula ford race training to prepare he came back and said there was no way he was going to race as it was all too much for him. Not sure who then bought the 47.
cossied said:
In about 1973 I helped a friend of mine who had a Lotus garage in South Wales to renovate a Lotus 47 that had a V8 engine in it. It had been in South Africa where it had been raced, one thing I remember it was the first time I had seen rose mounted suspension. One story was that Jochan Rindt had raced it at Kayalami. The garage owner was planning to race it again, so did some formula ford race training to prepare he came back and said there was no way he was going to race as it was all too much for him. Not sure who then bought the 47.
was that by any chance this one? This would be nice with a fast V6 or even small V8, although that Vauxhall 2.0 16 valve XE 'red top' engine is also fun I guess, but just to be more different a bigger (not to heavy) engine would fit such wide body as well.
Lotus 'Banks' Europa S2 62 Style Wide Body 1969 plate so no road tax either, at least by us in NL.
nice car, I wonder what they ask for it, more here>
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C577855
Lotus 'Banks' Europa S2 62 Style Wide Body 1969 plate so no road tax either, at least by us in NL.
nice car, I wonder what they ask for it, more here>
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C577855
oooh
more pictures in this thread>
http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/lotus-talk-f50/not...
were also the restoration of the Lotus V8 car Type 47 GKN Special is spoken of with many pictures...
like>
but also the ready work, lovely done.
more pictures in this thread>
http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/lotus-talk-f50/not...
were also the restoration of the Lotus V8 car Type 47 GKN Special is spoken of with many pictures...
like>
but also the ready work, lovely done.
dinkel said:
GTRene said:
don't know, I know some early Europa weighted 610kg and some later 710<>730kg so not that much.
that V8 is even a bit more to the front/middle, so thats good...the weight? maybe in the 900 kg?
That's a 30% gain in weight!that V8 is even a bit more to the front/middle, so thats good...the weight? maybe in the 900 kg?
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