Lotus Europa

Are these really that cheap? Apparently a zetec bolts right up to the transmission. Someone please buy this before I spend the rest of my savings... http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/5013246756.html

In reply to fiesta54:

Well that's an S2, which was Renault-engined, so a Zetec won't bolt up to that bell housing. What you need is the bell housing from a Europa Twin Cam. There's a fair amount of home-brewed engineering required to complete the swap too, but nothing that hasn't been done before.

The real problem is even if you're capable of doing all the restoration work yourself, it's very rare for a Europa to bring more than $25k. They're just seen as the "ugly-duckling" of the vintage sportscar world.

I rocommend reading this whenever a Europa lust appears.

Had one. Still love them.

Ah... another "free range Europa"... luring the lustful into the deep...

Very tempting

fanfoy wrote: I rocommend reading this whenever a Europa lust appears.

Thanks for bringing back the nightmares! J/K, I'd like to own another, but I definitely won't do another project(not just Europa, I just don't have the right combination of desire/talent/tools/money/patience to complete something like that), so if I buy another Europa it'll be one that runs/drives fine and doesn't need any significant work.

It's sold

fanfoy wrote: I rocommend reading this whenever a Europa lust appears.

This only made me want one more

markwemple wrote: It's sold

Thank god...dodged that one

When I started down the Europa Love, I bought a die cast JPS Europa

Now that I have one (albeit shelf-size), the want is less.

All I can see is this

fiesta54 wrote:

fanfoy wrote: I rocommend reading this whenever a Europa lust appears.

This only made me want one more

Getting to sit in one, thanks to an accommodating owner at Lime Rock Historics last year - will make you want one even more. Providing you fit. At 5'10 and with a 170-185 lbs slight build, the interior is a cozy fit for me. If you're much taller or larger, be sure to try one on for size before committing to buy.

In reply to Ian F:

At 5'6" and 150 lbs I found I had to slide the seat nearly all the way forward to reach the pedals and not be doing the "Italian driving position" with the steering wheel. FYI theres no way to get in the car with the seat slid that far forward. Oh, and I still only had a a couple inches of headroom with a helmet on. But damn those seats were comfy...

petegossett wrote: But damn those seats were comfy...

Yep - I noticed that too. Would probably need to get out and stretch every couple of hours, but otherwise I could see spending time that and it not being torture.

My day-dream for a project Europa is to get one sans engine and drop in a (B5)A4/Passat FWD 1.8T/5 spd. MS the EFI system for simplicity and it should be a fairly straightforward engine that would provide plenty of power and offer an relatively easy A/C.

I have sat in two, steered one of them while it was being pushed around a building (moving a shop).

I had the epic want, was offered one of them for a reasonable price.

Decided NO.

I am 6'2" and 147lbs. I barely fit.

As far as crash protection, you might as well be a motorcycle.

You sit so low that no SUV/Truck driver would EVER see you.

They just feel a bit... flimsy.

They are not mechanically durable.

Do I want one, yup.

Am I gonna get one? NO

(bought something else British instead)

The 2nd one, which I was offered (an S2), is in the process of having a 200hp Duratech installed

I have autocrossed FSAE, 2 XP cobras with about 500hp, and other assorted insanity. I see it as a bigger gut check.

In reply to Apexcarver:

Lack of crash protection essentially describes most British cars. Of course, the fact you're sitting in a fiberglass tub hanging on the outside of the main frame essentially means you are part of the side impact crush zone. Not that Spitfires or Minis are much better, but at least the aforementioned tub is metal.

I drive my Spitfire as if I were riding a motorcycle. I assume nobody sees me. In many ways, that is one reason I would like to have more power in the car - right now, it really doesn't have enough power to get out of trouble when necessary.

So at 6'4" and ~200 lbs. I can forget about fitting in a Europa, even though I fit in my bugeye. Granted, I look over the windshield, not through it.

In reply to markwemple:

Maybe. Europa seats are more like open-cockpit race seats than normal car seats. Your torso is bent at 2 different places(so you can fold up & fit inside ). It's possible you'd fit fine.

Although shoe size is another variable that hasn't been discussed yet.

I'm a size 11 shoe. FWIW

You do pretty much lay down in the car. You would have to try one on. (trust me, you put it on like a pair of pants)