RE: Lotus Europa: Spotted
Discussion
foxoles said:
Bought mine back in 1984 from ChrisNeils in Northwich - 2 year restoration and kept it for 28 years. At 6' had no problem getting in or out, even now at 58, it's just technique. Regret selling it, but fancied trying an Elan.
Here she is:
Lovely! Out of interest, how does the drive compare between this and an Elan?Here she is:
I sold my s2 in January this year. I have always wanted one.
I bought it a couple of years earlier as a restoration project. I parked it in a friends barn. It was in need of complete restoration - but importantly, for me, it hadn't been modified.
Having bought it sight unseen I was glad that I could fit in it. I'm 6ft, size 11 feet, 48in chest, and weigh rather too much. I realised the steering wheel would need to be swapped for something smaller and I would need to wear racing boots just like when I had Caterhams.
I was passing Paul Mattys at the end of last year so dropped in. They had a lovely s2 in stock at the time. It had a smaller wheel, I asked Paul if I could sit in it. Of course I could. I took my shoes and coat off and got in. The small wheel was perfect. I was delighted. Then I tried shutting the door. Then I realised I would have to sell the car.
I should have remembered an old Motorsport review, from memory they wrote that "the interior is so snug that there was surely no need for seatbelts".
I bought it a couple of years earlier as a restoration project. I parked it in a friends barn. It was in need of complete restoration - but importantly, for me, it hadn't been modified.
Having bought it sight unseen I was glad that I could fit in it. I'm 6ft, size 11 feet, 48in chest, and weigh rather too much. I realised the steering wheel would need to be swapped for something smaller and I would need to wear racing boots just like when I had Caterhams.
I was passing Paul Mattys at the end of last year so dropped in. They had a lovely s2 in stock at the time. It had a smaller wheel, I asked Paul if I could sit in it. Of course I could. I took my shoes and coat off and got in. The small wheel was perfect. I was delighted. Then I tried shutting the door. Then I realised I would have to sell the car.
I should have remembered an old Motorsport review, from memory they wrote that "the interior is so snug that there was surely no need for seatbelts".
suffolk009 said:
I sold my s2 in January this year. I have always wanted one.
I bought it a couple of years earlier as a restoration project. I parked it in a friends barn. It was in need of complete restoration - but importantly, for me, it hadn't been modified.
Having bought it sight unseen I was glad that I could fit in it. I'm 6ft, size 11 feet, 48in chest, and weigh rather too much. I realised the steering wheel would need to be swapped for something smaller and I would need to wear racing boots just like when I had Caterhams.
I was passing Paul Mattys at the end of last year so dropped in. They had a lovely s2 in stock at the time. It had a smaller wheel, I asked Paul if I could sit in it. Of course I could. I took my shoes and coat off and got in. The small wheel was perfect. I was delighted. Then I tried shutting the door. Then I realised I would have to sell the car.
I should have remembered an old Motorsport review, from memory they wrote that "the interior is so snug that there was surely no need for seatbelts".
Should try a TC. I'm 6' and size 10's - no problem.I bought it a couple of years earlier as a restoration project. I parked it in a friends barn. It was in need of complete restoration - but importantly, for me, it hadn't been modified.
Having bought it sight unseen I was glad that I could fit in it. I'm 6ft, size 11 feet, 48in chest, and weigh rather too much. I realised the steering wheel would need to be swapped for something smaller and I would need to wear racing boots just like when I had Caterhams.
I was passing Paul Mattys at the end of last year so dropped in. They had a lovely s2 in stock at the time. It had a smaller wheel, I asked Paul if I could sit in it. Of course I could. I took my shoes and coat off and got in. The small wheel was perfect. I was delighted. Then I tried shutting the door. Then I realised I would have to sell the car.
I should have remembered an old Motorsport review, from memory they wrote that "the interior is so snug that there was surely no need for seatbelts".
Best buy mine, then!!
V8 FOU said:
Should try a TC. I'm 6' and size 10's - no problem.
Best buy mine, then!!
Are the doors on the TC different? The problem wasn't my 6ft or size 11s. The problem I had was that with the door closed there wasn't enough room for my shoulders. Best buy mine, then!!
It's a common problem for retired rugby player types who want to drive Lotus Europas, Elans, MG Midgets, even Ariel Atoms with those sculpted seats are impossibly narrow and very uncomfortable. When I drove Caterhams, I just sort of squeezed in and spilled out over the sills like a muffin - I couldn't close the fabric doors!
Will94 said:
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...
Me too! Thanks for the link.I doubt people would tolerate writing like this nowadays, but I find it fascinating.
http://www.lotus-europa.com/literature/setright.ht...
alolympic said:
foxoles said:
Bought mine back in 1984 from ChrisNeils in Northwich - 2 year restoration and kept it for 28 years. At 6' had no problem getting in or out, even now at 58, it's just technique. Regret selling it, but fancied trying an Elan.
Here she is:
Lovely! Out of interest, how does the drive compare between this and an Elan?Here she is:
I had a very brief drive in an Elan Sprint last year which belongs to a friend of a neighbour, I'm barely 5'3'' but it felt 'just right' even though I only took it up to the end of the road and back. The cockpit felt tiny though compared to my Cooper S! I've sat in but never driven a Europa which felt very nice comfort wise, sitting in it for about ten minutes my immediate thought was ''I could seriously get used to having this''.
I wonder if the red car was Ronnie's...
I wonder if the red car was Ronnie's...
foxoles said:
alolympic said:
foxoles said:
Bought mine back in 1984 from ChrisNeils in Northwich - 2 year restoration and kept it for 28 years. At 6' had no problem getting in or out, even now at 58, it's just technique. Regret selling it, but fancied trying an Elan.
Here she is:
Lovely! Out of interest, how does the drive compare between this and an Elan?Here she is:
Well at least mine should have! I ran mine for 2 years and never saw another and maybe only once or twice on the road in the last 20 years, v rare car & one that I was lucky to own (1973 Europa twin cam special - Lagoon blue) 
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