Deja vu all over again: here on craigslist is the ninth Lotus Europa we’ve seen at Barn Finds this year, making us the halfway house for adoptable Europas. This one is a 1972 Series 2 with an asking price of $8000 or possible trade “but not for a project”. Our seller gets a “man of few words” award for his ad – he’s brief with the facts, and he only posted three photos. We do know that the car is located in Knightsen, California, it’s a project, and it was found in a barn. It’s apparently still in a barn, given the flooring. We’re also told its seats and console have been refurbished; the tires and wheels are new but the original wheels come with the car; and it doesn’t run. And that’s it! The rest of this essay requires conjecture or history. We have Pat L. to thank for this tip.
The body is fair, but it’s fiberglass and without an in-person inspection, bad gaps and crazing will be hard to find. Speaking of which, gaps were never great at Lotus – witness the driver’s door in the first photo – so if you want to own one, practice a forgiving eye. This car probably has the Lotus-Renault 1.6-liter in-line four-cylinder motor, mounted mid-ship. (Twin cams were available in 1972 but the rear of the body has cut-down sail panels whereas these are the “I can’t see a dang thing” type.) This motor was from Renault’s R16 hatchback, altered with a higher compression ratio, dual valve springs, larger inlet valves, and twin carburetors. The R16 wheezed along with about 65 bhp, but Lotus managed to boost that to 82 bhp. The transaxle is a Renault four-speed. Remember, the transaxle helps carry the suspension. So that’s fun.
Someone felt compelled to send the exhaust tip through the back body panel. I don’t understand why this is so popular with Europa owners, but I’ve now seen several examples with butchered back panels. The chrome bumper looks straight and there’s no missing trim on the trunk. But a non-running Europa is a can of worms: there’s so much that can go wrong with even the best Europa, and when you can’t drive it or even start it to take stock of all those components, you could end up buried. That might explain why our seller no longer wants “projects”. Meanwhile, good Europas go for mid-teens, leaving very little headroom for brakes, transmission, suspension, gauges – and is that driver’s window stuck? – electrical and bodywork/paint. What do you think this one is worth?
Love the cars but no pictures and no information leads to no interest from me.
Got the Error, no page found on the way out of this one.
Typical Europa gaps. White is the most unforgiving color when dealing with gaps. Old saying in the body world is “block it like you’re painting it black, and gap it like you’re painting it white”.
I believe ALLRenault-engined Europas ran the exhaust through there from the factory. Which would explain it…..
Great cars, miss my S2 terribly.
cheers,
bt
Sorry, there is nothing about this car that remotely interests me.
I believe you’d think differently if you got to drive one.
Just what do you drive,a newer 4 door automatic 4 cylinder
generic blobmobile?
Over 6′ need not apply.
would be nice to see the interior at least…new wheels and tires + new interior seems somewhere around 8000 is not bad. Not running?…why?…electrical? mechanical?…engine turns over?…compression?…oh,…brakes? need to justify the 8k.
BTY, the exhaust and window are factory…Let’s not knock the things that are OK…
I know the window is factory, I am speculating whether the motors have failed, which they do.
Parts on a Lotus failing. Nah, never. Too too funny !
I had a early one myself, wish i still had it, this could be a great deal if you can handle the white.
Typical Craigslist add….no info or good picts by seller
OldRanger, why do you think ANYONE cares how you feel about a particular car? This isn’t a poll, its a post of a car for sale. Something accretive to add to the conversation about Lotus Europas? Awesome! Type on! But honestly, do you think we groove on what you like or dislike?
Or, am I wrong? Is it all about you after all?
bt
Old ranger could be an edsel ranger collector
Old ranger could possibly have 10 ranger pick ups
Old ranger possibly loves Tatra ´s
Old ranger could be a young ranger
And old ranger quite possibly has a reason to dislike these unreliable cars !
But one thing is clear ,
He is entitled to his opinion and his comment
And so are you but you didn’t need to attack him
Claudio, my point was very simple given that this is a site about cars. The comments usually impart some knowledge about the car posted, some experience with it (good or bad!), but at the very least the comments should have some contributory value for readers. I have to believe that we read the comments to ….Learn something about the car in question?
His comment was as irrelevant to a reader as “I prefer to wear mismatched socks”, or “I truly think I’m Santa”. Neither of which contribute anything about the car.
bt
Correct Bill Tebbutt.