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Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: jbcollier on Monday,January 14, 2019, 11:00:30 AM

Title: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: jbcollier on Monday,January 14, 2019, 11:00:30 AM

Early S1s on the factory floor:

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-XXVpHP3/A

Early S1/prototype out and about:

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-FX6Z4fQ/A

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-kwjW2LJ/A

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-PrSWhv7/A

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-MLxJfGv/A

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-P3JZRdN/A

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-dCwbXs5/A

In first photo you can see the outline of R16 park/signal light units which may mean this is a prototype.

Note the one-piece door windows, black on the insides of the door, no badging at the rear, oddie fasteners at the front and rear.

Photos came from ebay auctions that were unfortunately too rich for me to get the originals.

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: 4129R on Monday,January 14, 2019, 11:11:39 AM

 Your 4th photo, Draycott Avenue SW3 is where I used to work in 1975. My immediate boss had a 1972 Elan +2 which he occasionally lent to me, and his boss has a 1971 Ferrari Dayton Spyder which he sold for £15,000.

I first recall seeing an S2 in 1970. I cannot recall seeing any Europa of any description before 1970.

Happy memories.

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: lotusfanatic on Monday,January 14, 2019, 01:31:32 PM

Yet more fantastic photographs!
I’m quite sure that is ‘P5-103’ a right hand drive prototype.

Mark

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: BDA on Monday,January 14, 2019, 01:51:49 PM

More interesting pictures, JB! Love the hat on the guy on the left in the last picture! No chance he keeps it on if he goes for a ride!

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: 4129R on Monday,January 14, 2019, 02:29:08 PM

It looks like they are building Elan +2s on the right of the production photo.

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: literarymadness on Monday,January 14, 2019, 05:23:41 PM

Great photos JB!!!  Really is hard to believe the Europa was designed over 50 years ago.  Such a pure and clean design.  When I bought my Europa, I was torn between an an S1b and a TCS.  Wound up with a TCS.  Love my car but it makes me wonder...

Wesley

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: 1970EuropaGuy on Monday,January 14, 2019, 06:12:38 PM

Fantastic photos. I sure love the clean lines of the S1, might have to purchase one some day.

Originally I wanted a TCS but I love the S2 that I bought, that little bit cleaner look is great.

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: jbcollier on Monday,January 14, 2019, 09:21:23 PM

Two more

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-Fm7JKBD/A

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-7XCtb2X/A

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: Certified Lotus on Tuesday,January 15, 2019, 03:30:33 AM

The contrast of the cars on the street vs the Europa is amazing. It’s like a spaceship from the future landed amongst them.

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: lotusfanatic on Tuesday,January 15, 2019, 04:07:51 AM

I agree!

back in the late 1960s, the contemporary cars must have appeared so staid and stodgy when compared to the futuristic Type 46 Europa....

However, when compared to today’s leviathans (BMW Mini v classic mini is an example) the Europa looks like a toy as it’s so diminutive!

Mark

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: lotusfanatic on Tuesday,January 15, 2019, 05:05:10 AM

I’ve watched the photographs as they reached the end of their auction on eBay, it would be nice to get copies - fingers crossed!

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: jbcollier on Tuesday,January 15, 2019, 06:55:13 AM

So far I have "won" two of the auctions.  £50+ for a 3.5" x 5" photo is steep ask.  I hope whoever gets the others will share hi-rez scans online.  So far I have been posting the ebay scans.  I'll post hi-rez scans when I receive them.

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: lotusfanatic on Tuesday,January 15, 2019, 11:25:13 AM

Thanks JB!

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: jbcollier on Tuesday,January 15, 2019, 12:02:46 PM

Two more:

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-tdLbHR4/A

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-pQMHRM4/A

(look to be outtakes)

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: RobynS on Tuesday,January 15, 2019, 01:08:21 PM

Its still on DVLA database

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: 4129R on Tuesday,January 15, 2019, 02:19:39 PM

Quote from: RobynS on Tuesday,January 15, 2019, 01:08:21 PM

Its still on DVLA database

But not being used on the road since before March 1983.

For those of you watching in black and white, the car is registered yellow.

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: lotusfanatic on Tuesday,January 15, 2019, 02:51:14 PM

The car is in the UK and I believe that it is due to be restored soon

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: Nockenwelle on Thursday,January 17, 2019, 02:23:35 PM

That are truly fantastic pictures, many thanks for sharing. What a beauty the early Europa is.

Quote from: lotusfanatic on Monday,January 14, 2019, 01:31:32 PM

I’m quite sure that is ‘P5-103’ a right hand drive prototype.

I also think that 'KPW618E' is the white RHD prototype. There is a letter of Richard Mann published  on 'Europa Central' that names it as one of them. The car even appears in this movie about race car manufacturing ('Look at Life - 1967 - Racing to the start'):

https://youtu.be/jBWuymZ4gaI

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: buzzer on Thursday,January 31, 2019, 08:39:34 AM

Some great pictures.  Interesting point about it being a prototype the registration plate (E) is for 1967 and S!s started in 1966 so was it an early S2 mule or test car? Also note the bulge under the rear valance was that for a spare?

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: Nockenwelle on Thursday,January 31, 2019, 11:04:09 AM

The 47 was launched late in 1966 and the I think the S1 early in 1967 so the E reg might still match. See this document for more details on the prototypes:
http://www.lotus-europa.com/mann/mann.pdf

The bulge on the rear underside is just a part of the GRP body that covers the rear lower chassis hoop on the S1.

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: jbcollier on Thursday,January 31, 2019, 03:27:46 PM

The first 47 was a converted Europa prototype.

Title: Re: Period photos of S1s being built and a prototype
Post by: Bodzer on Thursday,January 31, 2019, 11:21:48 PM

Thanks JB for the great photos. It was interesting reading about the Else Europa. It looks like atleast one went to the States. I believe that only twelve or so were built. I only know of 4. Gary’s one catalogued here, Steve Jarvis’ well documented one, mine and one that came up for sale on eBay about two years ago.