The Lotus Europa was a mid-engine GT car built by British automobile manufacturer Lotus Cars. The original Europa and its variants were produced between 1966 and 1975, with the Europa 2 materializing about mid-way. These were distinctive sports cars, though I wonder how easy it was to see out of the back while behind the wheel. This ’72 Europa S2 has been in storage for a few years and will need some mechanical TLC to get it back to fighting strength. Located in Discovery Bay, California, this cool ride is available here on eBay where the opening bid of $8,500 has yet to be cast.

Europa S2s were simply an evolution of the original Europa (sometimes referred to as Series 1). Except for versions that were “federalized” for the U.S. market, the mechanical changes were few. But opening windows were added along with adjustable seats, full carpeting, and a few other amenities. The biggest change was a switch from fully bonded construction to using bolt fasteners to attach the fiberglass body to the backbone steel frame, which was seen as a huge step forward. For the S2s that were destined for the U.S., they got a bigger Renault (instead of Lotus) motor (1,565cc) and lower front fenders to accommodate stronger bumpers.

This long-stored Series 2 looks good or at least good enough. The motor turns by hand, but a tune-up and fluids flush will be needed as a first step to get it going again. The seller confirms that the factory Renault motor is under the hood and the car will come with a few extra parts and a service manual to get you started.

While the seats have been reupholstered, the buyer will want to put in a new carpet set. We’re told interested parties have questioned the condition of the windshield, but the seller indicates there are no chips and cracks, just dirt and cobwebs. So, the machine has not been detailed. If you were looking for a solid example of one of these cars to work on, could this be it?