Lotus Europa project - cheap !!!

[Pop Chevy]

I found a Lotus Europa S-2 project car. Been setting a long time. As usual it was someones project that they took apart and started to work on. The engine and trans were supposed to be rebuilt, but now the engine is stuck.The frame is totally junk even though I found a good frame and suspension in Ga. The body shell is decent and stripped of paint but still intact. Interior is gutted. I want to make a race car out of it with a spyder frame, but the Wife sez I have too many cars now ! It aint worth arguing about ! The body/frame is setting on a pallet on my trailer. Anybody interested for $1500 ?? I got a clear title. Make a great race car !

[LAJ]

Is it on ebay too??

[Pop Chevy]

Not yet. If you want pics let me know.

[Earley Motorsports]

Do you know what year it is and is it the Renault motor?
Thanks, Graham.

[rave motorsports]

I've been looking for one for awhile. Toying with putting a Stroker Vw air cooled mounted mid engine in it. I have a Porsche 914 transaxle for it. Send me pictures if you got em.

[Pop Chevy]

Sorry, it's a 1970 S-2 with the original Renaut R-16 motor. I myself would put a 4AGE in it ! I'm told it's pretty easy. I'll get some pics tomorrow.

[Pop Chevy]

I went out ,braved the cold and uncovered the car. Here's some pics.

what's not shown is the dash w/ complete set of guages with wiring still hooked up and steering column, both tail lights and headlights, both bumpers,compartment tray, both trailing arms(rusty) and misc small parts. I also found a brand new Spyder frame for $2900 ,sure make a fun track or race car!

[Gary_T]

As a teaser of what you could end up with:

Cosworth BDD, 5 spd Fuego tranny, full cage, full interior, Motorsport Elise wheels, Mallock sports racer front brakes, better part of a decade of work, more $$ than I'd like to think about... and still only 95% done ( of course).

Gord L from up here has a full, new, frame kit for that S2. His was rotted, so drew it up, and had a couple extra ones cut/broke at the same time.



Good luck with the sale - fantastically fun little cars!

[Hawke]

Or it could look like this. S2 with 1600 cross flow - twin Webers. Lowered 2". A night at the drags. Not the favorite place for a Lotus - 12.1 ET not bad for a 40 year old car.

[Greg S.]

If that's 1/4 mile, that is impressive!

[Hawke]

Yes, it was a 1/4 mile. These little things can get going when you warm them up. Remember, they are only 650 kg, and don't have much frontal area.

Sort of works against you if run into a tree or a big 4x4.

[B17overhead]

The fellow wanting to put a stroker VW (boxer?) in a Europa should look carefully at frame pics. The rear splayed spine frame comes to sort of a Vee behind the driver, so a flat 4 may not be an easy fit w/out frame mods to clear the low valve covers. These stock-framed cars like inline 4's and even V-6's which put the heads+exhaust above the frame rails on each side.

Some British aftermarket frames are configured for transverse 4's, so I'm sure you could find a frame or modify a conventional one to work.

[formulasuper]

The fellow wanting to put a stroker VW (boxer?) in a Europa should look carefully at frame pics. The rear splayed spine frame comes to sort of a Vee behind the driver, so a flat 4 may not be an easy fit w/out frame mods to clear the low valve covers. These stock-framed cars like inline 4's and even V-6's which put the heads+exhaust above the frame rails on each side.

Some British aftermarket frames are configured for transverse 4's, so I'm sure you could find a frame or modify a conventional one to work.

Or, the Subaru Boxer engines are being used to replace VW flat 4's in some replicas like the Porsche 550 Spider, etc. 170 hp or up to 305 with turbo.

[brownsa]

Subie motor can go way more than 305. My SOHC 2.5 at 17lb makes 350+HP on small turbo, over 500hp on larger turbo at 22lb. And you get 500ftlb torque. I cannot imagine what 300+ hp would do in a Europa, I'd worry about the frame.

[Pop Chevy]

price dropped to $1000. I need my trailer back !

[Purple Frog]

Sent you a pm.

[Pop Chevy]

I'm down to $750 on this lump. I hate to part it out but guess I will if I have to, then just burn the body shell.

[racerdad2]

PM sent

[dc]

I'm down to $750 on this lump. I hate to part it out but guess I will if I have to, then just burn the body shell.

I think this little Europa needs to be donated to ApexSpeed to be a project car.

[provamo]

don't burn it man!

[B17overhead]

Yeah, don't do that; it will stink up the air for miles around if you burn it.

Seriously, somebody must want it.

I see it has remains of some yellow paint. That might make it more desirable for someone who wants a yellow one if it was the original color. Yellow is a VERY pretty Europa color!

[Pop Chevy]

Yes, the original color was yellow. I just put it on Craigslist, I was hoping someone here would put it on the racetrack. Make a great vintage racer.

[Brian]

The bodyshell is the only part that is worth anything, the rest is old triumph. I had one for a while, it just sat in the garage and I traded it for something that I don't recall. The S2 is the pretty one with the high buttresses behind the rear window. The Renault stuff is junk, the rear differential can't support the thrust of the axles being used as upper A-arms (like the Lotus 18), so you really need to get the frame with the upper a-arms and I would put a Ford something with a Hewland behind it. They are very hard to put a useful roll cage in, you either have to be stupid brave and hopeful or build a substantial tube frame for it.

Brian

[Earley Motorsports]

Chip Foose did one of these on Overhaulin and it came out really nice. Just a pity it is too far away. Be ideal with a 20 valve Toyota in the back. Good luck on the sale Pop.

[Pop Chevy]

Brian, the body IS an S-2 . I was going to use a Spyder chassis which is much better all around and you can put a full cage in them. I also have some Toyota 4 AGE parts laying around, the trans would be o-k for a mild engine. Parts for these things are fairly cheap, I could buy a 5spd for about $500. I was planning on about 10k or less to build a really neat racer, however I DO like to build things.

[Brian]

I know it's an S2, I had one! Pretty little car. The problem with the transaxle isn't the power of the engine, it's side loads from the tires take out the differential bearings - the Spyder chassis solves that problem.

Brian

[dc]

Don't know why I want this pile of parts so badly...


Bad timing.

[DanW]

Don't know why I want this pile of parts so badly...


Bad timing.

Because its a Lotus, and its such a sorry looking thing that needs a home, like a raggedy puppy at the pound on its last day.

[racerdad2]

I passed on a Europa at twenty. Wanted one ever since. Not exactly built for 6'1", but have always loved them. It was sky blue. ....

[Gary_T]

I built a banks twin-link rear suspension copy for mine. Quite easy, bolts to the original chassis. That takes away the side loads on the tranny. Put a 6 pt cage in as well - that was not so easy, but I have better ideas now that I've done it once.

As I mentioned above, a friend up here has a new, in-parts, chassis sitting around, as well as a bunch of gordini engine/gearbox bits.

Mine arrived with bodyshell, chassis, and 7 rubbermaid tubs holding everything else (inc engine, gearbox, and all suspension). It's jut a big jig-saw puzzle, someone must need a challenge!

[Pop Chevy]

So far on craigslist I have one kid/guy that wants to put the body on a JEEP ! and one that wants to put it on a VW chassis !!!!! Eeeyuck !

[Gary_T]

Have you tried on the yahoo group europa list?

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/lotuseuropa/info

I'd hate to see someone butcher it onto a VW or Jeep...

[provamo]

i regret regret regret selling my running S1 project when i needed to make rent in the city LOL

[Dick R.]

Have you tried on the yahoo group europa list?

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/lotuseuropa/info

I'd hate to see someone butcher it onto a VW or Jeep...

Also: http://www.lotus-europa.com/forsale.html

We sold an original owner 73 Europa parts car (Hurricane and big tree ) in about 4 days. Unique circumstances and we got very lucky (right place right time).

[Pop Chevy]

I had a Lotus 61 project that I regret selling, I had a 78 Lotus Esprit that I didn't regret selling, I drove it for about 6 yrs (when it ran), I will probably regret selling this one because of what it could turn into. However, it looks like I have a buyer coming up from Va. and he wants to restore it original ! God bless him ! That's gonna be a huge job. Thanks guy's , I will send him those links.

[Pop Chevy]

To anyone interested, the Lous sold and unfortunately it's not going to be turned into a racecar. It is to be a restoration project.

[Terry Hanushek]

Restoration > burn the chassis.

It's good to hear that it found a home. There haven't been that many Europa race cars so it might be better if it ends up as a need street car.

T

[racerdad2]

Good news. Another car saved from the crushers, recyclers, burn pit or wacky car guys !