Sometimes it’s the car that’s captivating, sometimes it’s the ad, and sometimes it’s both. The one is both. Here on Facebook Marketplace is a 1970 Lotus Europa Series 2 with stated low miles and receipts showing extensively rebuilt components, for just $10,000. This car is rare – only about 3600 S2’s were made. They are light, weighing 1600 lbs soaking wet. They are quick – note I didn’t say fast – and they handle like a cheetah across the savannah. They are weird looking; the styling is something we put up with to get the light/quick/nimble thing. Oh let’s not forget, this is an S2 with the high sail panels guaranteeing zero visibility out the back. But hey, that marks it as an early car which is desirable, though to me it just seems like a concerted effort to discourage would-be Europa owners. This car is black; lots of people like black! So far so good! And thanks to Rocco B for the tip.
The motor is a 1470 cc Renault in-line four-cylinder. Rather than the ordinary 52 bhp lump used to power real Renaults, Lotus refined the engine to boost its horsepower to about 80. It is mounted mid-ships; there is no rear subframe, which means the trailing arms are attached to the transaxle! Removing the drivetrain is a bit of a different experience. The four-speed transaxle is from Renault, with the gearshift located on the high-set console. The Europa S2 travels from zero to sixty in about 11 seconds. This motor has seen a lot of work, with receipts galore, here and here. You might wonder why the car, with only 47,000 miles, needed all this work. Hm. Lotus and Renault, need we say more? And by the way, never, ever trust the Renault water pump.
The interior is neat and tidy. Yes, those seats are snug. And also yes, one of those tiny knobs protruding to the left of the gearshift out of the console pad IS the choke. What fun! I have a Europa, and getting that knob out to meter the carburetors is no treat. The attractive wood dash festooned with gauges almost makes up for the lack of ergonomics. Almost.
Well, there had to be some bad news. The ad says, after the description of the title, “This vehicle has no significant damage or problems.” The seller says “in excellent condition”! Wait, what? I just can’t wrap my head around this definition of “excellent”. The buyer will be looking at major fiberglass repair, a new bumper, and who knows what went on underneath all that during the impact. (I’m not going to make a joke about maybe this was due to a collision with a squirrel, but ok, yes I am; the Europa is notoriously fragile.) I think there needs to be a price adjustment here; what do you think?
A little accident after all that money spent to get it running probably better than new and then. Sounds as though it probably scared them and get this off my property. Looks like it was a nice example of these little cars. I say scared I was 17 had a Mk3 Midget, late in the afternoon a 3/4 ton PU stopped short with no brake lights. By the time I reacted I was going under the back. Differential stopped me, hood was cut from rear step bumper to within inches of the windshield. Tore it up good, it got fixed and I have driven differently ever since. Still crazy just smarter at 70.
Hello Everyone! I bought this car come with as
extra set of wheels and parts for $6k. I have an extra parts car for the front nose swap. According to the seller has stated that he didn’t claim with his insurance and it has a clear title. The car is on the way to Northern California. I will have her back on the road in Springs.
Too much money for a wrecked car. Owned 2 S2s and dug up all sorts of suppliers of fiberglass panels, bumpers new and used etc. We do our own fiberglass work but if the buyer doesn’t it’s going to be an expensive fix. One of ours was destined to become a Vintage race car and you can be assured I wouldn’t drive one of these on the street.
That’s the problem with a car this low,& even more so being black-
people don’t see you.You need (at least) one of those off-road ATV flags.
I was driving down the highway in Eureka,CA years ago,when a
Europa seemed to just pop up out of the pavement,It was black with-
twin white stripes on top.
Had a 69 Europa new back in the day. Overheated all the time. Also had a black nose badge like this one. I was informed it was one year only as a tribute to the late Jim Clark. If you are in a crash the black badge might be for you.
Scariest ride I ever had was as a passenger in one of these on the highway. Looking out my window at the hub of an 18 wheeler wheel really puts the squeeze in your cheeks.
Anyone considering this has to be careful. If the car was insured with classic car insurance, they would have totaled the car and paid the agreed upon value – not a chance they would have tried to repair it. The owner always has the option to retain the vehicle and pocket the proceeds and try to sell the damaged vehicle for more money. The buyer might be in for a surprise after paying all the money for this and then repairs only to see the title come back branded.
If it were a twin cam, I’d say the price is right even with the damage. Being a S2 with a renault engine – well they’re great cars, and there’s lots of good here, but repairing that damage is $4000 without the bumper and paint. Probably close to $10,000 with, as black is hard to match. I’m a Lotus fan. I have three Loti, but not a Europa. I’m not looking to buy this one though.
Yes I want this car. But the cost is too much for the end results. If the frame and associated suspension and steering components, etc are still good I maybe would look closer. Interior looks great also but I would require a bit stronger engine just for the fun factor. IDK, maybe if it could be bought today for 7 to 8K?
Almost bought one with a Cosworth Ford engine that put out 180 hp. Backed out since already had one but still think I missed the boat not buying it. Bet it was fun.
It’s not dead. It’s just resting.
Pining for a fjord twincam.
You mean a Volvo engine?
Lots Of Trouble–Usually Serious
I had a 69 Europa, also black. This would be big money to fix the front unless you can do it yourself, posted a week ago. Nice interior and engine.
almost bought one in 72, girlfriend was almost 6 feet tall, when she sat in the car the salesman got a good look @ my pantyless sweetheart , that was the end of that !!!!!
I had a series 1 car in 1968. Renault engine with Weber card and exhaust header. Almost always won the local auto-cross events. Loved that car. We used Goodyear blue-streak racing tires on the street. It had clip in plastic windows, was very difficult to shift and the best handling car I ever owned! I am interested in this car but I believe it is a little too expensive. Plus I really prefer the series 1 styling, particularly the placement of the turn signal lights.
Well any new buyer should put the car up on a lift to check the frame as that is the most critical item. The radiator is on that side of the car (NO IT IS NOT CENTERED) so that might be damaged but this is is a very fixable project. The bumpers are not nearly as expensive as you might think as they are from a mass produced sedan from England and there are many to be had. I do not know what the shipping costs would be but they are available.
As for LOTUS and RENAULT both tend to make fragile cars that need attention. IF they do not get that attention they tend to break on the road or in your bank balance. I know I am in the process of restoring my 1969 S2 EUROPA that I have put over 200,000 miles on during my 40 year ownership. As for water pumps, I have had to replace the first on at about 150k which it not too bad. As for power this has the original 80 HP induction system. Porting and Polishing the head and putting on a Webber carb can get you another 20 HP as the engine was down graded from the ALPINE cars that used the same engine but Renault did not wish for there to be direct competition. I have the Webber and the proper intake system for it.
Fixing it is not that hard but it is and will be time consuming. There are numerous ways to go from replacement of front quarter sections to bonding the existing parts back together as they are all there. That is not as hard as it sounds but it is time consuming
YES they are low and you should assume that anything else on the road is trying to kill you. There is little to no crash protection unless you consider the 3/4″ Marine Plywood bulkhead behind the drivers seat and in front of the engine. That is far stronger than you might think.
I have reinforced my doors, hood and rear engine deck and added a second fuel tank on the passengers side. Each tank is 7 gallons which is enough because in daily usage I got over 30 MPG driving back and forth to work and I have seen as much as 55 MPG on long trips to and from Denver To Kansas City.
If you fit (be less that 6′ and 5′-8″ is about perfect and not overweight) this is not so much a car but a transportation device that you wear. Drive it with your toes and learn to feel what that suspension is telling you and what it will do will amazing you. With modern tires (which are getting hard to find because of the small size) it will handle with anything on the road even today. Back in the day these small four cylinder cars competed against 327 Corvettes in the SCCA and they regularly won.
The founder of LOTUS cars said that power will make you faster in a straight line but lightness will make you faster everywhere. He was correct. The EUROPA maybe just a bit on the too light side of the equation but to drive one is about as close as you are going to get to a formula car for the street. And yes they do not look like anything else but when you are driving one who cares.
Bruce you are right on, I have a TVR ( around the same vintage) with a V8 and at 6 foot 250lb I have to do yoga poses to get inside, and the same to get out. Had to modify the seats and postion just to make that work. My TVR is Light fast and nimble. Met Mario Andretti once at a charity event we started to talk racing ( yes I was being a Fan boy) and he said Sorry Ken I would never make a good race car driver ( he only came up to my armpit, Too heavy and too Tall, stick to stock Cars he said, and honestly ( Yes it was devastating but sometimes truth hurts) I am probably to big for stock cars as well.
Love the lotus, but I would have to lose 60 lbs and brush up on my Yoga. LOL
My best friend from high school was killed in an Europa. There is nothing between you and what you could hit or what could hit you. Like a motorcycle, with less visibility. Sorry, I have not forgiven that.
I have a friend that has three of these turds in his yard slowly becoming one with the earth. Slow, by today’s standards, ugly, unreliable, Renault power. What more do you need to know?
Yeah , but they handle great
Gi Glen
I am an expat Brit living in Spain where my hobby is classic car restoration. My last project was a Europa (I had 2 of them in my youth) and I bitterly regret selling it. Please ask your friend if he wants to sell one of his lawn art and give him my email. Thanks Richard. grichardnicholson@gmail.com
When I was 16, I really wanted one of these. Then, I squeezed into one. Nah.
“Room for your ***, and a gallon of gas.”
I tried to contact the seller. He seems to be hiding something as he will only text or accept “cash” only, no checks, etc. including a direct wire. Seems to me that Jimmyx may have hit the button. The sale may result in a “salvage” title that will certainly diminish the value considerably. After suggesting this to the seller, he did not answer any further inquiries.
Hello Everyone! I bought this car come with extra set of wheels and extra parts for $6k. She is on her way to California. I have few extra parts cars to swap the front nose. According to seller has stated that he didn’t report the accident to his insurance co. Therefore the title is clear. I will have her back on the road before springs.
Hi Tony, great price!! When i had my 69 i was very young, but 6′ 2″ and very thin i had no problem fitting in it. The interior and engine look great!!