Colin Chapman was a fascinating gentleman. Ever an innovator, he was never afraid to push the engineering boundaries. This approach brought him great success on the track and spawned a series of exciting sports cars that produced surprising performance levels. This 1974 Lotus Europa is one such car, and it is a two-owner survivor that needs little to lift its presentation to a higher level. The first order of business is to find it a new home, with the seller listing it here on eBay in Morristown, New Jersey. They set their BIN at $38,500 but leave the option for interested parties to make an offer. Our own Russell Glantz has an excellent eye for a classic and spotted this British gem for us.

The Lotus Europa first appeared in 1966 and remained in production until 1975. This car rolled out of the company’s factory in the tiny English village of Hethel, Norfolk, in 1974. It presents well for its age, with the seller stating they believe that most of the Lagoon Blue paint is original. There is evidence of some touch-ups, but it is fair to class the exterior as survivor-grade. The paint retains a good shine, with only a few flaws and defects. The same is true of the panels. There is no evidence of prior panel repairs, with the gaps remaining tight and consistent. The seller supplies some underside shots revealing spots of surface corrosion on the frame. It would be worth negotiating an in-person inspection to confirm that there are no deeper issues. Rust can develop on the frame around the body mounts, and repairing such faults is pretty labor-intensive. That’s a task most owners would prefer to avoid, so a bit of effort now could save a world of pain later. The trim and glass look excellent, and there is no damage on the distinctive alloy wheels.

Lotus produced 4,950 examples of the Europa powered by the legendary mid-mounted 1,558cc DOHC Lotus/Ford four, and many believe these were the ultimate version of the badge. It pumps out 113hp, which feeds to the road via a five-speed manual transaxle. Those raised on a diet of throbbing V8s may find the power output underwhelming, but the Europa proves that it isn’t what you’ve got but how you use it that counts. The key to the car’s success is the Chapman mantra to simplify and add lightness. In an era when an entry-level Corvette used a 350ci V8 to cover the ¼-mile in 16.2 seconds, the Lotus twin-cam launched the 1,664 lb Europa through the same ¼ in 15.9 seconds. The Corvette’s V8 ran out of breath at 117mph, but the Lotus would do the same at 124mph. The term “giant-killer” could have been invented specifically for this classic. The seller confirms this two-owner survivor runs and drives extremely well, with the engine producing plenty of power and the transmission shifting smoothly. It is a turnkey proposition with no mechanical needs.

This Europa’s interior remains presentable if considered purely as a driver or survivor-grade vehicle. It has some shortcomings the buyer may wish to address, and none will break the bank. The seatcovers are pretty stretched, and replacing these would be wise to improve the presentation. That exercise will lighten the wallet by around $600. The headliner is sagging badly, requiring some TLC. I believe the cloth is glued to a foam backing, so almost any upholsterer should be able to address the issue relatively cheaply. The rest of the interior looks pretty good, with no significant deterioration on the remaining upholstered surfaces, the dash, or the pad. This Europa appears to retain its factory AM/FM radio, and I can’t spot any aftermarket additions.

I’ve always found it sad that a great innovator like Colin Chapman should find himself entwined in the controversy surrounding the collapse of the DeLorean Motor Company. It tarnished his reputation among many and overshadowed his phenomenal success in the world of Formula 1. However, his legacy doesn’t rest there, but in cars like this 1974 Lotus Europa. Its styling divides people, but few can argue that it punches above its weight when the rubber meets the road. This one looks like a gem, but I believe the BIN figure might be slightly high. Considering its interior trim needs, the seller may need to consider lower offers. If a classic British sports car is on your Wish List, maybe contacting the seller to make a respectable offer could be the ideal starting point in transforming the dream into a reality.