RE: Lotus Europa: Spotted

[Esceptico]

Plug Life said:

Holy mother of all buttresses, that's a strange-looking car.

If you are young it probably seems odd. If you grew up in the 60s/70s and remember them it looks good. At least to me.

[kambites]

It does look odd but that high back end gives it a remarkably big boot for a small mid-engined car.

[MikeGalos]

Shame it doesn't have its rear corner badges. (I believe on that year they should show the three World Manufacturer Championships) since they visually break up the buttresses.

As to the 5'8" height limit. Not true. I'm 5'10" and had no trouble getting in and out of my 1967 Europa S1A when I had it. It's certainly not much more difficult than getting in and out of an Elise.

[Tickle]

Such a different looking car, ugly to some but I love them.

[CanAm]

Leggy said:

Was my favourite Corgi car as a kid. Still have it. Surely a bargain and probably a lot less to maintain than the Espirit.
How cool are the snorkels on this from FoS....

Edited by Leggy on Sunday 18th March 16:18

To be pedantic, that is actually a Lotus 47 (with an FVA engine?) rather than a a Type 46 (Europa) with the Renault engine.

[Matt97]

I really like the Europa, I took this photo in a closing down Citroen garage of all the places! What makes it even more interesting is I believe this is quite a rare 47F of which only a very few were built.

[P5BNij]

Although launched in 1966, I don't think they became available in the UK until about 1968/69 when the Series 2 appeared. I'm guessing the one used by Linda Thorsen in 'The Avengers' must have been a very early Series 2 with electric windows...?







George Best had one in 1970...









I wonder how many ended up like this one...

[Stridey]

Always loved them, back when I bought my first sports car (a Sptfire) these weren’t that much more second hand. Just out of reach. And even if I had bought one it would have been long gone now...maybe one day.
The new Europa (a rather posh Elise) also tickles my fancy.

[KP328]

The guy that lived opposite our house had one. When i got back from school i would sit at my bedroom window and wait for him coming home from work, he would always accelerate hard at the start of his drive and get the back end sliding slightly, sounded good to.

[P5BNij]

Oulton Park Gold Cup, 1969...

[P5BNij]

Matt97 said:

I really like the Europa, I took this photo in a closing down Citroen garage of all the places! What makes it even more interesting is I believe this is quite a rare 47F of which only a very few were built.

Was the garage in Brum Matt...?

Just found these...

[MikeGalos]

P5BNij said:

... I'm guessing the one used by Linda Thorsen in 'The Avengers' must have been a very early Series 2 with electric windows...?

It appears (on edit) to be what's sometimes referred to as a Series 1B. That's used to refer to a few cars during the transition between the S1A and S2. You'll note that while it has the electric windows of the Series 2 it also has the pushbutton door locks with molded in handles of the S1 and the badges of an S1.

Edited by MikeGalos on Sunday 18th March 18:41

[Agent57]

Where's the front indicators on that blue one?

[MikeGalos]

Agent57 said:

Where's the front indicators on that blue one?

Dim bulbs built in to the headlight assembly. The famous blister turn indicators came in on the Series 2. The Series 1 and the Type 47 didn't have them.

[P5BNij]

MikeGalos said:

P5BNij said:

... I'm guessing the one used by Linda Thorsen in 'The Avengers' must have been a very early Series 2 with electric windows...?

The Orange one is a Series 2. A Series 1 would have fixed windows. A Series 1A would have removable plastic windows. There are also differences in the nose and, of course, a very different interior.

Note, though, that the red one has the more shield-like and portrait orientation buttress badges and so is a Series 1. (likely an S1A or the sometimes recognized, sometimes not S1B which can refer to a few transitional cars using a mix of S1 and S2 parts). The Series 2's badges were rectangular and landscape orientation.

Edited by MikeGalos on Sunday 18th March 18:37

Thanks Mike, duly digested

Le Mans, 1967...



Brand new S2s being delivered...



A Type 47 up the chuff of an Elan, looks like Brands Hatch...





French publicity shot, 1969...



Hethel...



Period promotional job c.1972...



London Racing Car Show, January '67...

[E30M3ZONE]

I love these. At 6'4" I was never going to get in one though I did try when a local chap was selling his in the early 1980s.....

Another local chap had one in the early 1970s which I used to see on my way to school. Then one morning it was wrapped around a telegraph pole. He must have been really trying and in town also! The telegraph pole is still there. Car was as a very light purple just like the matchbox version if anyone remembers that.

[Jual Mass Flywheel]

E30M3ZONE said:

I love these. At 6'4" I was never going to get in one though I did try when a local chap was selling his in the early 1980s.....

Another local chap had one in the early 1970s which I used to see on my way to school. Then one morning it was wrapped around a telegraph pole. He must have been really trying and in town also! The telegraph pole is still there. Car was as a very light purple just like the matchbox version if anyone remembers that.

As posted above..................................?

https://thumbsnap.com/Igsdg0BY

[Will94]

If you haven't already read it, LJK Setright's article on the Europa (from 1967, I think) has some interesting engineering details (and, naturally, some allusions to Greek mythology).

I doubt people would tolerate writing like this nowadays, but I find it fascinating.

http://www.lotus-europa.com/literature/setright.ht...

[V8 FOU]

Timely / Ironic.
I'm recomissioning mine. It's a TC (or at least was). Gold leaf colours. With a Zetec injected engine etc. Gonna be a laugh with about 200bhp and around 700kg.
Spyder chassis and suspension - all away for powdercoating at the mo'.
Upgraded brakes too!
Will be for sale.......

[deltashad]

When I was about 12 I used to cycle from Pencoed to Bridgend on weekends to get up to mischief with my cousin.
A guy lived close to him with a yellow Europe. We would flip past his house, he was always tinkering with it. Number plate TAD 47.
He replaced the chassis, fitted electric windows. But was suffering from fibreglass cracking. Nothing serious but was his next project.
I fell in love with that car. At the time you could buy them for 2k.
Always promised myself one.
I never did it. But I managed an elise.
A few really tasty cars mean something special to me and this is one of them. My wife and I visited UK in the summer and lovely yellow Europa was racing at knock hill. I was totally smitten. Money no object would be in my dream garage.