Restoring my Lotus Europa Special
Discussion
As the Walrus said the time has come......
I own a 1972 Lotus Europa Special. I parked it in my garage in 1982 and left it for fast motorcycles.
Due to the passage of time and several rather severe accidents I have been advised by a doctor not to ride a bike again, so my attention is returning to the Europa.
I know I can get most of the body/chassis parts from Banks Engineering with no problems. The engine/gearbox situation seems rather different. Can anyone advise me where I can get Twin Cam engine parts? The gearbox has been rebuilt before I parked the car but they are known to be fragile. Can anyone advise me as to a replacement?
Thanks in Advance
Trevor Cooke
I own a 1972 Lotus Europa Special. I parked it in my garage in 1982 and left it for fast motorcycles.
Due to the passage of time and several rather severe accidents I have been advised by a doctor not to ride a bike again, so my attention is returning to the Europa.
I know I can get most of the body/chassis parts from Banks Engineering with no problems. The engine/gearbox situation seems rather different. Can anyone advise me where I can get Twin Cam engine parts? The gearbox has been rebuilt before I parked the car but they are known to be fragile. Can anyone advise me as to a replacement?
Thanks in Advance
Trevor Cooke
Quorn Engine Developments used to be THE place for the Lotus Twin-Cam, and they still do parts although I don't think they do engine rebuilds any more.
http://www.qednet.demon.co.uk/#
I think Burton's still do Twin-Cam parts as well.
http://www.burtonpower.com/
http://www.qednet.demon.co.uk/#
I think Burton's still do Twin-Cam parts as well.
http://www.burtonpower.com/
Ask here under "things in common" these guys know everything there is to know about the Lotus twincam and anything about older cars like yours.
http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/index.php
http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/index.php
Are you also aware of the Spyder Engineering product range for the Europa?
If you're worried about the gearbox, they do a conversion kit for the Renault Fuego box, as well as replacement chassis and various suspension components.
If you're worried about the gearbox, they do a conversion kit for the Renault Fuego box, as well as replacement chassis and various suspension components.
Do keep us all informed on your progress - You might inspire me to get on with mine! I can't recommend Richard Winter enough, he painted my Twink (in my profile you'll see him lowering the body onto the new chassis) and his work is without fault.
Anything he doesn't already do he'll just make - I remember asking him for gearstick pivot blocks and he didn't do them, a week later he called and said he'd just done a batch and my call was the excuse to program his new CNC Mill !!!!!
Tony
Anything he doesn't already do he'll just make - I remember asking him for gearstick pivot blocks and he didn't do them, a week later he called and said he'd just done a batch and my call was the excuse to program his new CNC Mill !!!!!
Tony
Again thanks to Sam 68, I went onto the Spyder web site and the Fuego gearbox looks very interesting. I am contemplating putting it in and keeping the original in running condition.
72twink I see from your profile that your Europa Special is a JPS like mine. Mine has an oatmeal interior, the 5 speed gearbox and the Sundym windscreen. It has done 44,000 from new all driven by me, yes a one owner car that is 36 years old.
72twink I see from your profile that your Europa Special is a JPS like mine. Mine has an oatmeal interior, the 5 speed gearbox and the Sundym windscreen. It has done 44,000 from new all driven by me, yes a one owner car that is 36 years old.
Trev
If yours is a one owner 36,000 mile JPS it will be worth top money. It stands you at nothing in real terms now so def worth spending good money on to restore you won't lose a penny. Try and keep it as original as possible but agree some improvements especially the gearbox worth doing as this was the cars weakest point. I had an end of line 75 white Eoropa Special in 81 with 7,000 miles on it, sold it with 12,000. Crazy thing was I bought it with the reg "7 FLY" on it and sold it with it on thinking like the owner I bought it off that the plate had to be sold with the car!
If yours is a one owner 36,000 mile JPS it will be worth top money. It stands you at nothing in real terms now so def worth spending good money on to restore you won't lose a penny. Try and keep it as original as possible but agree some improvements especially the gearbox worth doing as this was the cars weakest point. I had an end of line 75 white Eoropa Special in 81 with 7,000 miles on it, sold it with 12,000. Crazy thing was I bought it with the reg "7 FLY" on it and sold it with it on thinking like the owner I bought it off that the plate had to be sold with the car!
Perhaps also worth posting this in General Lotus here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
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