New Owner

[Certified Lotus]

My first Europa!  During my teenage years I had a poster hanging in my room that had three cars on it; A Porsche 911, Ferrari 308 and a Lotus Europa.  It said on the bottom of the poster, Decisions Decisions.  I promised myself I would own each of these cars before I was too old to drive them. Well, I've own a couple of 911's, I'm too smart to own a Ferrari (the maintenance and part cost's are obscene) and to date I've own an Elise, two Exige's (track cars) and two Elans (a '64 S1 and a '69 S4) that I have restored frame off. Figured it was time to own a Europa.

If your interested, you can read my detailed rebuild threads on the S1 and S4:

Elan S1
 
http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/lotus-elan-f19/elan-rebuild-story-t34178.html
 
Elan S4
 
http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/lotus-elan-f19/elan-rebuild-story-chapter-t35194.html

My acquisition is a 1972 Twin Cam with 5,370 original miles.  Yes, it needs attention....... but I have a full shop at my house and time on the weekends to get the work done. Looking forward to learning all there is about Europa's.  Hope this community is willing to help!

[jbcollier]

Congratulations, looks pretty good to me, maybe just recommissioning?

[BDA]

Certified Lotus

Join the addiction! Your car looks great! Tell us more about it!

[EuropaTC]

Wow, that's low mileage, it wouldn't surprise me if it's one of the lowest mileage cars on the scene. A great opportunity to restore or mostly re-commission to factory spec.

Anyway, welcome to the forum. I'm also on Lotuselan.net and recognise some of those pictures, mainly from how neat and tidy your workshop is !

Brian

[Certified Lotus]

Thanks for the welcome! This Europa (2052358R) has a bit of a story. The original owner was drafted into the Vietnam war and killed. His father gave the Europa to his best friend (in 1987 with 5115 miles) who was into mini's (had eleven of them). He never really drove the car (less than 260 miles in 29 years) just stored it to remind him of his friend.

In 2002 he tried to start it and it would not run. Brought it to a shop and had them rebuild the engine. Also had brake boosters replaced. Mileage at that time was 5,367. The owner drove the car back to his storage area and parked it, starting it every couple of months to keep the fluids circulating.

In 2013 he had the carbs rebuilt and a compression test done. Mileage was 5370

Last month he decided to sell the car locally in MN and I found the ad. Reached out and had a conversation, bought the car from photos and had it delivered via motor transport this week.

Typical of a car stored so long in a garage, surface rust, faded paint, some spyder cracking, all rubber seals, moldings and bushings need replacing. Shocks need replacing after sitting for so long and the windshield has a big rock smash (from the last time he drove it on the road). Front Brakes are seized. Wooden Dash is cracked in many places but the crash pad looks like brand new. Left door needs new hinge as the door hangs when opened. Exhaust header is very rusted and the muffler is shot. Shift linkage needs everything refurbished.........finding a gear is a hunt. The left fuel tank leaks. I may just replace both for peace of mind.

The twin cam engine starts right up and no smoke. All the original parts are on the car. Including the period cassette player.

My intent is too restore the car to original (except use adjustable coil spring shocks to lower the front end). It will be my fall and winter project.

I live close to RD Enterprises (Ray knows me well) and have bought parts from Ken at Dave Bean. I see that Banks Europa in the UK is the major source for parts in Europe.

I've already sourced a windshield from Pro Source Glass and RD has the trim (although not the same dimension as OEM). Might as well replace the dash while the windscreen is out and I see that CG Autowood makes nice reproductions.

The car looks to be resprayed yellow as there is over-spray on some of the moldings and the rear deck lid is a different color yellow. It was originally white? The paint code on one of the plates is L07. Any idea what that refers to? Why this car was repainted with such little mileage I have no idea. The second owner say he got the Europa this color. Had the rear deck re-enforced as it cracked and then repainted to match (not really matching). I have heard stories about early Elan's being repainted coming off the boat in the US because the paint would blister on the fiberglass from not being cured. No idea if this is same with Europa's?

Although I am very familiar with Elan's I am beginning to realize how different the Europa is. Open to all suggestions and advice on the restoration of my 72 Europa.

[TCS4605R]

L07 is the paint code for Lotus Yellow.

Tom
74TCS - 4605R

[jbcollier]

Make sure Prosource is supplying you with a Pilkington windshield, not the ill-fitting Chinese knock-off !!!

[Grumblebuns]

Another welcome to the forum. You have the perfect car for restoration in my opinion. A low mileage, stored in a garage for 30+ years, pretty much everything original car. The critical items seem to be in great shape, engine, tranny, body and paint. All of the items that need attention should be relatively easy to fix, except perhaps the windshield. The nose high attitude of the car was pretty much standard for the twin cams. Nothing shorter springs and shocks can't fix.

I'm not surprised how much deterioration a car can accumulate just being stored in a garage. Like yours, when I moved my TCS from the back of the garage to the front for it's refurbishment, I saw what neglect had done to a very good original paint job plus I have surface rust on most unprotected metal surfaces and this is in So Cal. I'm looking to reading on your progress as you start your restoration.

Joji Tokumoto
Fallbrook, Ca   

[E Paul]

Whose car was that? It looks an awful lot like a old friend of mine's. The mileage sounds right too.
Paul

[Certified Lotus]

Thanks again for all the responses and welcome to the Europa forum. Tom, So now I know the original paint code color is yellow. I wonder why so much overspray on some of the rubber moldings? I can't find any sign of body damage.  Brian, had to smile at your comment regarding my shop, it's usually a bit disorganized with some major project going on, but I'll take the complement! Paul, the car was owned by Jeff in MN. Joji, this will be my third Lotus restoration. It's always a surprise what needs to be replaced, no matter how much I think I know. JBCollier, thanks for the warning on the windscreen glass, will make sure to specify.

My big question of the day is where to find the windscreen trim surround. Seems RD and Bean have a copy that isn't the same dimension as OEM and it doesn't have the silver foil wrap. Anyone know if the OEM trim is still available anywhere?

[BDA]

I think it goes into and out of availability. I remember that was an issue when I was planning my rebuild. In fact, Sports Car World was making chrome plated ABS corners for the trim that was available at the time (if you're interested, I have a set). Given the years that have passed, I would suspect its no longer available. I don't remember where I got mine, but it was probably Bean or r.d.

[jbcollier]

Original trim is no longer available.  Banks makes/has made re-pop corner pieces and you use stick on chrome trim for the straight pieces.