I’m not exactly sure why this Lotus is parked in what appears to be a gym, but the seller claims it has been in climate controlled storage for most of its life. I’m assuming it was storage somewhere other than where it’s currently parked, but I guess it might have come in handy for some extreme Olympic lifts! It’s a John Player Special and is currently in pieces. Someone started fixing it up, but didn’t get far. There is a nice new dash, which the seller emphasizes is worth $500 alone! This actually looks like a decent project if you don’t mind tracking down lose connections and missing pieces, rather than fixing rust and corrosion. If this is your kind of project, you can find it here on eBay in Columbus, Indiana. Maybe if you buy it, they will even throw in a free gym membership!
Well you do have to be a bit of a gymnast to get into one of these cars!!!
yeah, but you wear it instead of driving it!
Not a quick and easy return to driver status.
I thought that there was some other badge which indicated the JPS edition?
The black/gold paint scheme is not the only thing different about those.
I have a 1969 that I have owned for over 30 years and I have well over 100,000 miles one it. Yes you do wear it, and if it fits it is wonderful but if not stay away. Do not every hang on the doors when you get in, just fall but backwards and duck your head.
You need to remember that many Harley Davidson Motorcycles weigh more than this car and it is one of the most fragile cars ever made so paranoia when driving is just a safety tip. I can be hot in the summer but warm in the winter. It is almost as basic as you can get. Almost anything will out run you from a stop light but almost nothing can touch you on a winding road.
The real thrill is the feed back thru the controls. So direct and balanced on dry roads. Wet is a totally different story and that is truly something to be feared. The front spoiler helps some but front end hydroplaning is a real and very fearful issue. It has happen to me more than once.
The Europa, the early Elans and Elites are feather weight cars that bring smiles to you is such abundance. I have owned classic Maseratis, Porsche front and rear engined, A Stevens Body Turbo Esprit, Alfas of many types but I hold on to the lotus because it is the most alive car I have ever owned. If you are less than 5′-9″ and you have a chance to drive one do yourself a favor and see how many smile per mile you get.
For what it is worth that is one of the better I have seen in a very long time.
I was going into a store from my 91 Lotus M100 Elan and a guy said he had a Lotus, when I asked what kind he said a Type 1 Europa, needed work and no title, I asked if he wanted to sell it and he said yes, just what I need, another project, not.
The e-bay posting says “sold”. As for Europas in general, the market may be thinner than the usual British sports cars due to the construction, Lotus reliability rep and the fact you may not fit in the car. I’m 5’10” and average weight, another inch or two and 20 pounds and I’d be outside looking in. A type 1 Europa with the bonded in wishbone, fixed windows and moveable pedal set is a whole world of work different than the more civilized JPS Lotus Europa Big Valve Twin Cam. As for “no title” I think there may still be a couple of states that allow you to register and license a car on a bill of sale. I’d like to know more about the one 55chevy found. It may be unfair to say that all early Lotus cars are “project” cars.