Photoshoppers and designer geeks: help for a Europa?

This car is a Challenger, and I therefore am unable to offer the kinds of perks that the Factory Five thread is offering. I will, however, offer honorary team membership, seat time at the Challenge, and a 6-pack of your favorite beverage.

The S2 Lotus Europa was not a very pretty car.

I'd like to change that, and have the fiberglassing resources to do so.

My starting point (for styling) is the Banks Europa:

Banks Build

They did a pretty good job of downplaying some of the car's issues (like the huge flat valance/ sail panel and big butt), but there are still a few things I don't like...

The vertical straight line created by the air intake duct is awkward and doesn't belong on the car. The front fenders are too flat, and should bump up following the curves introduced in the rear fender flares. The square headlights don't belong. I'm sure you can find other faults....

This car will be in full street trim, and will make the Challenge. Hopefully this year.

Thoughts?

Anyone interested in lending a hand with design?

I am no photoshopper but I know what I like and Europas are high on the list of what I like.

Thing found and inspiration...
I think these subtle side strips do a nice easy job of changing some of the cars lines.
http://cossdesign.com/LotusForSale.html

Though not everything is good here, I like the bugle in the rear fender combined with the angle inward of the rear-most sail panel.
http://speedhunters.com/archive/2009/08/10/random-snap-gt-gt-re-amemiya-lotus-europa.aspx

Boxed fender is always "winning"
I wish there was more to this picture.

http://www.palmerspeedracing.com/images/Lotus%20by%20Palmerspeed%20Racing/pages/31%29%20Lotus%20Europa%20Palmerspeed%20Special%2062%20Replica.htm

Will not hotlink but look here for bulgy fender and huge side vent. Also an cool "Gurney Bubble" which I would need to drive with helmet.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/albertsbite/3752429521/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/albertsbite/3753227750/in/photostream/

Many photos of inspiration..
http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/gallery/gallery_7.htm

http://www.xmission.com/~racergt/LotusAlbum.html

SVreX wrote: My starting point (for styling) is the Banks Europa: They did a pretty good job [....] but there are still a few things I don't like... The vertical straight line created by the air intake duct is awkward and doesn't belong on the car.

You could angle it backwards to match the door.

What will always stick out as "wrong" on the Europa, at least for me, is the way the top half of the door is done. Losing the backwards tilt and making it straighter, will, unfortunately, only accentuate the "breadvan" look. And while the version with square headlights isn't "quite there" what wrecks it on that Europa and on late '70s Camaros for that matter, is the look of putting "a square peg in a round hole". I believe the Europa COULD HAVE BENEFITTED from concealed headlights, but doing so would have raised it's price when new ("Bug-eyed" Sprites were originally supposed to have concealed lights ala the later Opel GT) or it might have made the Europa look too much like an Elan...at least from the front.

From your criteria, it looks like the xmission version is the closest, cheapest, most likely to be doable. Just my humble opinion.

Sorry, the xmission version is a total miss for me. How does that work as a full street trim car?

What about my criteria did you interpret that led you to that?

Concealed headlights are likely. I'm thinking something like the New Beetle, MINI, or late model Mercedes style.

jrw1621: I am also a big fan of the fenders on the palmerspeedracing car- that's one of my inspiration pics.

Thanks for the ideas, guys. Keep 'em coming...

The 62 (a 47 on steroids) is by far my favorite flavor.

Make it look more like this!

I thought you got rid of that thing. Glad you still have it.

How much wider (if any) is it going to need to be? I'll sketch something up.

Got rid of one, still have 2 more.

I'm traveling right now- it will be a couple of days before I can check the width.

Of the linked photos, this one looks so much better than a stock version. Could definitely be streetable.

I don't know... part of what I like about the Europa is how ugly it is.

I do what a project Europa some day...

My least favorite part of the Europa is the top line of the door glass and the upper rear corner of the door. It's a tough area to fix. I've always wondered it it could be downplayed with a creative use of paint or tinting.

I'd remove the bright trim from around the window and try to reshape it with a curve rather than a 90 degree bend. You could fill the outside top of the door with a fiberglass curve, hiding the upper corner of the glass.

You might also be able to round the pointy outside corner of the door top and fill in the gap in the body with fiberglass.

I don't disagree with you, Woody. The problem is the glass is curved to fit it, in a compound curve.

It would be a tough fix.

dyintorace wrote: Of the linked photos, this one looks so much better than a stock version. Could definitely be streetable.

That is beautiful!

I like it too.

It's actually a variation on the type 62 (same as the 2 silver ones Hasbro and I put up previously)

Just less aggressive spoilers, scoops, etc.

My '74 big valve didn't quite look like this...

I would look no further as life would be complete.

a coworker has pretty much offered me his roller europa for free. this thread is pushing me towards figuring out a place to keep and build it.

I like the look of them, but am tool big to fit in one. height, not width.

Ya'll need to be careful. These things are like tribbles. You start with one, and before you know it...

In reply to Dr. Hess:

haha, my co-worker actually knows of you. his name is Bill and was going to do a 4age swap into it. conversation started when he saw my grm/classic calendars in my cube office.

bluej wrote: a coworker has pretty much offered me his roller europa for free. this thread is pushing me towards figuring out a place to keep and build it.

Be wary of free Lotus'.

Why can't I get a free Europa?

modernbeat wrote: Be wary of free Lotus'.

hah, yes, i'm leary. waiting on him to bring in some pictures. anyway, /threadjack.

I was thinking that some naca ducting along the sail panels might help clean up that broad plane.

SVreX wrote: I don't disagree with you, Woody. The problem is the glass is curved to fit it, in a compound curve. It would be a tough fix.

I'm not talking about a radical structural change, just a little cosmetic trickery. The glass could remain intact, it would just hide behind a little more fiberglass at the upper rear corner.

I'll have to get a Europa and show you what I mean...