People are sure funny. Here’s a collection, here on eBay in Hendersonville, North Carolina (home of Johnny Cash!), of a huge collection of Lotus Europas and parts. You’d think that at least one of them would be running, wouldn’t you? But no—we’ve got four cars stripped down completely.
The inventory includes three 1974 and one 1973 Europa. The good news is that the green and yellow-striped ’74 Europa appears to have been painted and is ready to go back onto an assembled rolling chassis with 1.6-liter Lotus-Ford twin-cam power. Its Type 74 frame has been galvanized, and there’s a clean title. The engine comes compete with dual Weber carbs and a five-speed transaxle.
You would think, having gotten that far, the owner would have simply assembled the green Lotus and driven off into the sunset, but something intervened. Meanwhile, some work was done on the other cars. The other ’74 comes with a grey epoxy-painted and correct form with front suspension installed, and steering assembly/shift linkage rebuilt. It is rust-free and comes with a clean North Carolina title.
The red ’73 has a rough body, but comes with a bare black epoxy-painted frame, as well as both doors and assorted parts—engine covers and front storage cover. Then there’s an unpainted ’74 with a frame needing some work. It also has both doors and covers. No title.
The current bid for the whole collection is $5,100, but the reserve isn’t met. There is a huge parts accumulation that goes with this lot, including three more twin-cam engines and four transaxles—two four- and two five-speed units. One is missing its bellhousing. Three of the engines, including the one installed in the rolling chassis, turn freely. One is stuck.
Is there more? Of course, six fuel tanks, 10 Stromberg carbs, eight seats (four very rough), nine Lotus alloy wheels, two windshields, three dashboards with gauges, and three interior sets. Some 15 tote boxes are full of parts.
“The seller states that, to the best of his knowledge, there are assemblies and parts sufficient to assemble three cars. Four cars? Maybe.” Needless to say, “the operational status of all parts is unknown.” Delivery is a possibility, somewhere near the storage site in North Carolina, presumably.
The Man in Black lived in Hendersonville TN.
He was born in Kingsville, Arkansas, moved to Dyess, Arkansas, later moved to Memphis, and eventually wound up in Hendersonville, Tn.
What a big mess!!
And as usual nothing runs .
Just another Lotus looking to be put back on the road. Shocked to see one ready to at least drive home.
Someone needs to start an orphanage for these lost Europas. If there was law for car abuse Lotus would be at the top.
Yeah, you’re the type who wants a perfect car all assembled and ready for Pebble Beach, on sale 59cents.
Speaking of big messes. Hopefully sellers start working on cleaning up some of the spam on Barn Finds. To a Lotus fan, this is like finding a chest of gold coins in the basement.
Exactly this is barn finds, not the very delicate crowd of BAT. They used to be great years ago, this site is one of the few where you can actually find good projects. If you want things all sorted out and RTR go elsewhere.
I think it was a matter of buying any dilapidated Europa that popped up in his local newspaper classifieds over the years. Years ago they weren’t worth much of anything. Slowly their values are climbing. I get business cards from prospective buyers on the windshield of my delapidated Europa all the time.
TomP is your Europa a complete vehicle? When was it last started and moved?
I was an Elan guy. Europas were just too claustrophobic for me. They were all fun cars to work on in the 70’s. Parts were obviously easier to come by then…. a little tougher now. The Lotus market is quite a bit different today.
These are the last of the REAL/ORIGINAL LOTUS froM the 6,7, Elite and Elan then the Europa, these are race cars that can be driven on the streets After they are very upmarket and much more civilised. Ya pays yer money and makes yer choice! BTW the FOCUS 2 litre fits right in and makes parts easy and cheap and faster!
Never knew that. Focus is very reliable and parts everywhere. The original engine in top tune obviously going to be faster. But getting one on the road if the engine and trans work is a financial hurdle, would be pretty irresistible. Fast and getting almost 40mpg if you’re not pressing to the floor all the time.
I own three Loti – not one is a Lotus Europa. That said – what does L.O.T.U.S. stand for – Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious.
But I like getting into rast trouble. But then I like Alfas too.
Wow
Never heard that before! (Yawn)!
Wow
Never heard that before! (L O T U S) (Yawn)!
Looks like a fun weekend project. I’m sure all the parts are present and accounted for, and bagged and tagged.
Had two running S2s that I was restoring or making into a Vintage race car until the race car chassis I’d been looking for popped into my life. Europas went to two buyers who liked them as much as I did. Neat cars and parts support is still excellent.
These are fast roller skates that get great gas mileage. They will always have a following and someone losing their mind over a light fast legal go cart. A high school classmate decades ago got into carting and I would see him around town. In 1990’s, his adult class of go carts were machines costing $10-12k built out. Which must be easily double now. But you can’t drive it on the highway legally. This you can. It’s a legal road cart. Carry groceries or a friend, but probably not both!!
Addressing the author’s 2 comments of “You would think,” No I wouldn’t. As a reader of Barn Finds, and a person who has several projects in the garage, I totally understand how a person can get into a situation like this. It is not unusual at all. Reading the comments here, at least some people “get it.” For many people, they just bought what they could afford and what was locally available before the internet and buying cars “mail order” style across the country. Then you couple that with inflated expectations on what it takes to complete a project versus the time other responsibilities in life leaves for the work, and you get unfinished projects. It is easy to sit at home and look at someone else’s projects and say “You would think” that they would have done what you would have done in their unknown situation.
It’s almost comical. The site is “Barn Finds”! That ALWAYS implies “needs work, lots of work…but it’s enough to bring back to life”. It’s not “Restored n Ready dot com”! It often seems like children and foreign trolls, but there are some motorheads who want to drop a hemi or supercharged V8 into everything they see mucking up Barn Finds. There’s almost no big motor swaps making sense for over a decade. Guys who dropped $25-200k in muscle rods found out nobody buying them second hand for even 20% of what they paid. And apparently they are still in denial. But I digress. If this was say, 3.5 Alfa Romeo GTV SPICA coupes in this condition equivalence, the valuation would be similar to this Lotus. Lotus advantage is interchangeable and serviceability designs, in display in the pics. I almost got the Lotus Flu looking at the pics. Perhaps I already have it. Good thing I’m not wealthy with a garage with space. I wouldn’t be able to resist.
Define “muscle-rod.”
Slimm… Our present race car build started in ’15. Long time friend helped by bending up all the roll cage tubes. Started full bore on the chassis to get it ready for the cage and paint. Hurricane hit in ’17 and all work stopped for two years. Back on it in ’20 and got it ready to take to friend’s shop to paint. Friend got sick in mid ’21 and died in November of ’22. Got ready to paint in my temporary paint booth outside but it got so hot so quick down here that I couldn’t do it. This project is the one I sold the Europas for. Can’t win sometimes.
Just looked at all the pics on ebay, read the post. 5 days to go, 21 bids: $10k. Easily $25k, but I won’t be shocked if it goes much higher. Anyone with deep pockets with one of these already will have to have it. The chassis design and fitment are truly pieces of engineering art unto themselves. He appears to have 4 chassis, so if body is one short, there’s a race car project bonus that could be completely Lotus minus that body, but perhaps a retro race body or one of the buyers’ design to run in classic and GT vintage racing. A second project driver with mix mash of parts and road worthy, plus 2 very original show cars. So in finished car potential, easily $140k. Maybe more than breaking even if planning well. A labor of love required, but not many car projects offer all the possibilities here. At least 2 cars possible if documented and done well will only appreciate in value, moreso than the bond and cd rates. Not a parts lot for tinkerers. A museum, vintage race team, Leno etc. I’m envious, even though I’m a Fiat Lancia Alfa guy; that chassis is I can see the foundation of GT racing dreams. I hope whoever gets it does a documentary. YouTube videos might help fund some of the work while being an exercise of Power To Weight Ratio design study, which Lotus has always had that understanding. It’s what Lotus stands for.
Being as all of the cars are apart, Its a prime opportunity for somebody to coma along, buy the entire mess, and upgrade he power plants to Toyota engines and trans instead actually making them reliable and competitive.
The show overhaulin did a lotus europa for jay lenos employee. It was modified nicely by chip Foose. Check it out really nice job
I own 2 Lotus – an Eclat and an Esprit S1. L.O.T.U.S. stands for Lots of Tickets Usually Speeding!!
As a by the way, according to the Lotus company, the plural of Lotus is Lotus.
This is an “eye watering” opportunity for anyone that has a love affair for style and performance. Proof positive there are still some deals out there and Barn Finds has hit the jackpot with these. At six foot and 225 (ish) pounds, it’s a stretch for someone like me, but… I may be willing to fund this with my grocery money, lose weight and “shoehorn” my frame into one. I’ll give this some serious consideration while I finish my donuts and triple mocha late… (Will power be damned).
Sold $15,600, 30 bids.