Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Alan K on Saturday,October 03, 2015, 05:59:48 AM
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Hi all,
Just getting around to introducing myself after joining Dec 2014.
Although it's been many years and many cars since my last Europa (1972 type 65) I have never lost my love of them and have always retained very fond memories (S2's particularly). Of all the cars that I've owned over the years nothing has come close to the sheer delight of driving them and cornering in a Europa has been the benchmark by which I have tended to judge all others. There are lots of winding roads in my area and it's on these that the Europa excels.
I'd always talked about getting another and have looked at many cars over the years, but have always been put off by my other half who decided that I should get something more practical!
After travelling the length and breadth of the country looking at Elans. I travelled to Paul Matty Lotus dealers in Birmingham in May 2014 to purchase an Elan+2S and finished up coming away with a 1969 Europa S2 (54/1984).
The car was originally Colorado Orange but was painted Black in the 90's by a PO. The car had covered just 261 miles after undergoing a full engine and gearbox rebuild and had a few cosmetic and detailing issues that have now been put right.
They say you look back at the past through rose tinted glasses, and whilst I admit that owning a Europa is not without problems, driving the car again has only reinforced my happy memories of this vastly under rated and beautiful car.
The biggest problem with the Car: People nearly falling into the road staring at it as I drive by, or tailgating whilst taking pictures on their smartphones.
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Alan,
:Welcome:
Post some pictures when you get a chance. You'll find some really helpful people on this forum.
Hope you like the forum stickers Brian sent you.
Joji Tokumoto
Fallbrook, Ca
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:Welcome:
I hope your other half has gotten over her shock! Please post some pictures!
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:lotus:Welcome Alan :Welcome:
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Hi Alan and another :Welcome:
Yep, back in the 60s with all the other "futuristic" cars around the Europa just blended in but now it's all change and they aren't the car to drive if you want to sneak past quietly. Kids at bus stops are the best, staring and pointing at something they've never seen the like of before.
I think Paul Matty has a good reputation as a seller and I expect your car is very solid. Let's get some photos up !!!
Brian
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Thanks for the warm welcome. I received the stickers today. They are great.
Re the other half. Although I'd gone to buy a beautiful fully restored Elan, whilst we were looking at it she said: "since we arrived, you haven't taken your eyes off the black Europa, so why don't you just go ahead and buy what you really want!" The rest as they say is history.
I've tried several times to post pictures (JPeg's) but after uploading, just get a blank page with the following header: http://www.lotuseuropa.org/LotusForum/index.php?action=post2;start=0;board=1
Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?
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You may have reduce the picture size.
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I've reduced this picture size on this one to 504Kb. Fingers crossed.
This was taken at a local show earlier this year. I hadn't seen another Europa in the area for years and just after parking up, the Twink arrived. Really highlights the front end changes between the models
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Same day same show
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Nice. I am glad the photo upload worked for you. I noticed that all Euro-version has single wiper arm that I am looking for my S1.
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Beautiful ride, Alan! Your other half sounds like a keeper too!
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That's a little gem, I can see why you bought it. It looks stunning.
And the missus was right - buy what you know deep down you really want. If you'd bought the +2 you would have been having "what if" moments every time you saw a Europa. And if the rose tinted specs turn out not so rosy, you can always swap it for another toy later on, can't you ?
Brian
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Welcome to the forum, Alan. Your Europa is gorgeous. Cheers
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:Welcome:
Love the black paint also, I'm going to keep ours yellow (original) but there's something about a black S2... It would be my second choice for sure! Or second Europa, hmmm... ;D
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:Welcome:
Great picture. Before looking at it I hadn't fully appreciated the differences in the noses.
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Welcome!!, Very nice Europa!
And I'm with Mark on the difference in the noses -
The TC looks, well, rather huge, compared.
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Thanks for all the positive responses. Really appreciate it. Great site!