1972/73 Lotus Europa Special
Discussion
I wanted a Lotus Europa since I first saw one as a small boy in the early seventies. I finally have one and love it to bits, although circumstances might force its sale, alas. I hope not. [EDIT: not!] [EDIT again: not not! Boo hoo.] The car has its little ways, but is astonishingly quick and satisfying to drive on country roads. Its knocks spots off other Brit sports cars of its era.
Edited by Breadvan73 on Friday 9th March 21:17
Thank you for your kind words. The colour scheme of gloss black with gold coachlines reflects the John Player Special racing livery used by Lotus after moving on from the Gold Leaf red, gold and white cars, which also look good. The JPS Europa Specials commemorated the Lotus dominance of Formula 1 from the mid sixties into the seventies (Lotus won its last championship in 1978 - I have a black and gold team pitlane jacket from that year, but only wear it when I want to look extra daft). I think that my car pre dates the numbered sequence of 100, but the records are a bit vague on this. I keep an unopened pack of JPS smokes in the glove box for set dressing. This is, by the way, the sort of car which you can drive wearing gloves without feeling like a knob. Tiny shoes are essential as the pedals are small and very close together.
You have to reverse to get into the car and it is hard to get out of it in a dignified way, but once inside it wraps itself around you, and it is easier to see out of than it might appear. In town, buses, SUVs and pushbikes can't see it, so you have to proceed with caution. I always put the lights on and might put a bike flag on it if I can think of a way to attach it.
The car has a heavy clutch and the gear change takes some getting used to (the Renault five speed gearbox lives behind the engine, at the tail end of the car, the engine being mounted longitudinally behind the cabin and ahead of the rear axle). the brakes (discs on the front, drums on the rear) are very effective, but you have to be careful on a wet road to avoid locking up with heavy braking. The handling is flat and neutral, with no dipping or rolling. You can feel all four wheels as you corner. Anyone who has driven a Caterham will know the feeling.
The Lotus-Ford twin cam "big valve" 1.6 litre engine with two twin choke Dellortos produces 126 BHP, and the car weighs about 700 kgs, so it is very sprightly.
Here is a mad clip from a schlocky 70s heist caper which features a JPS Europa Special doing some nutter driving, and hiding from villains in a big Jag by going into some long grass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WIItyV6hXA
You have to reverse to get into the car and it is hard to get out of it in a dignified way, but once inside it wraps itself around you, and it is easier to see out of than it might appear. In town, buses, SUVs and pushbikes can't see it, so you have to proceed with caution. I always put the lights on and might put a bike flag on it if I can think of a way to attach it.
The car has a heavy clutch and the gear change takes some getting used to (the Renault five speed gearbox lives behind the engine, at the tail end of the car, the engine being mounted longitudinally behind the cabin and ahead of the rear axle). the brakes (discs on the front, drums on the rear) are very effective, but you have to be careful on a wet road to avoid locking up with heavy braking. The handling is flat and neutral, with no dipping or rolling. You can feel all four wheels as you corner. Anyone who has driven a Caterham will know the feeling.
The Lotus-Ford twin cam "big valve" 1.6 litre engine with two twin choke Dellortos produces 126 BHP, and the car weighs about 700 kgs, so it is very sprightly.
Here is a mad clip from a schlocky 70s heist caper which features a JPS Europa Special doing some nutter driving, and hiding from villains in a big Jag by going into some long grass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WIItyV6hXA
Edited by Breadvan73 on Friday 18th February 10:59
Regrettably, I think that you might struggle to fit into a Twin Cam or Special, and be able to extend your legs. The S1 and S2 cars have more legroom (EDIT: wrong way round! they have less), but are a tad underpowered. They have higher rear fins behind the cabin, which improve their aerodynamics, although even the revised shape is super slippery and sticky.
Edited by Breadvan73 on Tuesday 12th July 22:45
MPoon said:
What a beautiful car... I think I might have seen you driving through Angel on St.John st/upper street, last weekend? At any rate, what I saw was a JPS-livery Europa with a cream interior, exactly like yours!
That was very likely me, as I live near the Angel. If you see a quartz blue Interceptor II, that's me too. I shall probably be filling up the Lotus at the Upper Street Shell garage tomorrow morning. It runs on V-Power with Castrol Valvemaster/octane booster. The twin tanks are self levelling and you get about 25 mpg ish.I have fond memories of my uncle's Marinas. Lotus liked the door handles so much that they used the external ones for the Eclat.
Edited by Breadvan73 on Friday 18th February 19:27
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