Lotus Europa Special - Bonhams Auction Paris 10th March 2021

[Lotsof 3146 R]

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26926/lot/165/?category=list&length=96&page=1

I have to be the first to say “sans cendrier” sacre bleu!

[BDA]

Gee, it looked good till you told me that! 

[Richard48Y]

"The ultimate Lotus Europa"
Hmmm, maybe for marketing hype, but I would disagree in the real world.
Seems several owners here have far exceeded the stated specs, even my humble TS headed example once reassembled.

[literarymadness]

Sold for $30,000 including buyer's premium.  Without seeing it in person, it seems low for a Euro JPS.

[Bainford]

Sold for $30,000 including buyer's premium.  Without seeing it in person, it seems low for a Euro JPS.

Well, no ashtray, so...

Actually I'm not sure it is a JPS. No medallion on the dash, but the dash has been replaced, so it could have gotten lost. Also, I'm still trying to work out if true JPS cars were delivered with biscuit interior. I believe the original specification for JPS was black interior, though deviations from that specification are certainly plausible. 

[SilverBeast]

To be fair I can't see where it says it's a 'JPS', it just says it's a Special finished in the JPS colours, like a lot of the Specials were. The Specials were offered with the biscuit/tan (I can't remember the official name) interior. The carpet looks like it might be original to me (with the rubber pad on the floor and the side of the tunnel next to the pedals).

[Lotsof 3146 R]

An interesting online auction, much not sold - compared to bringatrailer the description was limited, as were the photos. Even the report emailed didn’t give much info.
Bonham maybe able to put on a top level live event for “investment automobiles” but there online formula did not have the live blog and limited bidding.
In that environment I think the lotus Europa special did well, but it certainly did not reach its potential.
PS. What’s the difference between a black five speed special and a JPS ?

[literarymadness]

I went back and looked at the ID tag. The original color was Lotus Yellow and the Vin identifies it as a ROW (Q code vin) TCS. Does anyone know if they made an ROW JPS?

[SilverBeast]

PS. What’s the difference between a black five speed special and a JPS ?

I think it's just a plastic badge,  and the "newer" Specials had the options of a map pocket, beige interior and hydraulic struts on the engine cover?

[BDA]

Right. The plastic number badge was the only difference. I think those options for the TCS came after the JPS run.