The Lotus Europa was a mid-engine GT sports car built in England. Several variants were produced between 1966-75, including this Series 2 edition from 1971, which was an evolution of the Series 1. The seller has owned this one since 1978 and had begun a restoration but it will be up to a new owner to complete the work. We’re told everything is present and the car resides in a garage in Underhill, Vermont. It’s been offered here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $3,600 and will be sold with a Bill of Sale.
Lotus had a reputation in Europe and other parts of the world for building both sports and race cars. As Grand Prix racers were moving to the mid-ship placement of engines, Lotus developed the Europa as an enclosed, 2-seat mid-engine sports coupe. Despite a long production run, only 9,200 units were built in total, and the Series 2 update of the car accounted for about 3,600 of them.
The Series 2 was modified in small numbers to be “federalized” for the U.S. market, and we assume the seller’s car is one of them. In addition to converting to left-hand drive, this also meant adjusting the European cars to U.S. safety and emissions standards, which were tighter than other parts of the world. The car got its power from a 1,565 cc Renault motor that was rated at 80 hp.
This Lotus has had the same owner for 43 years and was driven for a while before going into storage. At some point, though we don’t know how recently, disassembly of the car began for a restoration. Even though it may not look like it, we’re told everything is there and original. Previously registered in Vermont, the title has disappeared over the years and the State does not replace titles on cars older than 10 years. The Europa is said to only have 28,500 miles on the odometer.
When this car is put back together again and made road-worthy, it could be capable of 120 mph, according to published road tests back in the day. That includes doing 0-60 mph in 9.3 seconds and the quarter-mile in about 16.7 seconds, yet still capable of 30 mpg. What’s not to love!
Not a lot here to make a purchase decision on. Everything critical to buying this car is so far untold and unphotographed. Steel frame good? Engine good? Transaxle good? Who knows…
Special John never played with it….be worth millions then….
Friend of a friend had the same car in black years ago. I was excited to get to go for a ride in it! That didn’t last long.
Biggest plus is quirky styling, or maybe fuel economy. Basket case with no title-that’s what’s not to love.
A sorted Lotus Europa delivers more performance per $ than today’s supercars. You have to like cornering, and holding momentum as part of your driving skill, or you may not find the car interesting, especially since it isn’t going to accommodate your beer gut the way your full sized pick-up or golf swing seems to.
This one looks to be pretty good and might be a great deal provided all the bits you don’t or can’t see are there, in restorable condition etc.
The barn looks good, but the stack of stuff holding up the front end suggests this is not the best situation, especially since its unknown how long it has been since the bits were removed. I mean, where are the seats?
Come on Barn Finds- give sellers a bit more support and demand they show the spare parts pile.
I had a 69 for a few years. Where is a photo of all the parts? The interior looks pretty bad, with the engine in the middle why is the front end jacked up. Too many questions.
Twin Cam Weber head car?
Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious.
Having owned a ’73 Twin Cam Europa, I might be a little biased. These are a ton of fun to drive and would consider another one but sadly, at the moment, there is “no more room at the inn”. Chapman’s theory was about being light…and the Europa is certainly no exception. These corner like they’re on rails!
If you ever read the story on Colin building light F1 race cars because his cars were under powered and figured we will make his cars lighter. Frames cracking and breaking, one race broke in two pieces and the driver didn’t know why car was jumping out of gear. Body rivets were suppose to on every two inches Colin eliminates one of the rivets. So I hope is road cars were built better than his race cars. However Colin was a brilliant race car designer.
I believe the saying was “The only properly finished Lotus is the one Jim Clark is currently driving.”
Cheers
This would still have the Renault 4 versus the Lotus twin Cam (which was a ford block with Lotus twin cam head). Body looks rust free(ha, ha, its fiberglass). Need to see frame condition to really decide if this is worth it. Price seems OK, if frame is salvagable.
Vermont usually doesn”t issue titles for cars over 15 years old but in the last few years has made it poss8ble to obtain one. That being said, I have sold a number of cars sans titles to people in many states and as long as the last valid registration was in my name, nobody had a problem registering them. I know this will generate some disagreement but that’s been my experience.
An Army buddy bought a brand new ’68 in Germany for American market, as he was going to ship in home after his tour. I got to drive it, and as mentioned by others, it handled like a full-bodied race car. Especially in all the twisty-bits out in the countryside. I was nearly 6’4″ at the time and fit just fine. Just couldn’t wear shoes…feet too big for pedals. As much fun as it was, wouldn’t own one here. All our side-streets have those damnable “sleeping bobbies” which would wreck the undercarriage. Plus, far too many people “Park by sound” and would truly screw up fiberglass body.