Optional extras for the S1

[LotusEuropa]

Hi together,

Reading through some old articles and road tests regarding the S1, they often mention e.g. a second fuel tank or carpets as optional equipment. Do you have any information about optional extras for the Europa S1? Are there any brochures or other official documents from Lotus with a list of optional extras and prices?

Regards

[jbcollier]

Not that I'm aware of.  I have heard of a couple of cars with twin tanks but they seemed to be one-offs rather than official factory options.  Same with the carpets, the S1 interior is pretty bare so local distributors or dealers might try to spruce things up a bit.  Again, not an official option.

[LotusEuropa]

That's what I thought. Strange that the authors mentioned this. Lotus must have considered offering these options and told them about it, otherwise they wouldn't have written it in their articles I guess. I really like the possibilities you have to configure your car nowadays. Than the only choice you had with the S1 was the exterior colour?

[jbcollier]

And a (useless) radio.

[LotusEuropa]

But why can you find the carpets listed in the parts manual? http://www.lotus-europa.com/manuals/s1parts/b/b4.htm

Also, regarding the radio, do you know something about the original location of the loudspeakers?

[jbcollier]

The "carpets" listed in the parts manual were standard fitment and are felted sheets that were glued in place.  They also "sealed" the holes in the t-section though which the steering column, pedal push-rods, etc went through.

The speaker went in the "cubby" between the two seats.

[LotusEuropa]

Do you maybe have some pictures of this kind of "carpet" or a source for the correct material? I am restoring my car at the moment and just have the bare grp and chassis inside. This would be of great help. Thank you.

[jbcollier]

Period photos of the S1 interiors are very hard to come by.  I have a few though:







The interior is mostly bare finished fibreglass with a bit of "carpet" anywhere the chassis shows through.  The interior of the door compartment is lined in vinyl.

[Bryan Boyle]

Looks like they were using loop pile from the texture that you can see in the middle photograph.  I know that the original carpet in 444R (admittedly was a mid-run S2) was loop, but can't see Lotus changing styles/etc of something that incidental to the car. 

Just my observation from stripping more than one interior of these beasts.

[jbcollier]

This is for an S1, completely different beast.  Dim memory now but I recall it being more like felting.  In the car show photo, you can see it is already curling up off the floor and it looks very thin, no loop evident.

[Bryan Boyle]

This is for an S1, completely different beast.  Dim memory now but I recall it being more like felting.  In the car show photo, you can see it is already curling up off the floor and it looks very thin, no loop evident.

I'm aware of the series.  Was just my observation of 3 old photos, that's all.  In the end, does it matter (ie is this going to be judged at Ameila Island?) 60 years later?

[My S1]

In regards to carpet;

My 460202 has the original glove box bag.  After some soul searching I decided to go with a wool box weave that has a similar appearance but is thicker, tighter and will last forever.  I had the edging sewn on by a SF upholstery shop.

[My S1]

Does anyone know where the correct stop point is for the trailing edge of the floor mat carpet section?  In the photo of the original prototype it stops before the flip up plane to the seat bolster but on mine, TPO ran the carpet up to the bottom edge of the seat.

[314159td]

To be snarky, what do you think?

Go for the the option that costs (and weighs) the least without seriously angering the average customer.

[EuropaTC]

With a TC and it's opulent interior    I don't have a dog in this fight but given how low cost the S1 was meant to be, I'd guess on a cheaper carpet that the Elans of the period. The floor carpet looks very much like this material;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/146101989865?_skw=car+van+carpet&epid=2265602102&itmmeta=01JCFK5PFYATMPZMBT53X9GQ9A&hash=item22045b71e9:g:DO8AAOSww~VnDU1E&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKm0d0znBYGWDVsFQJGVvU%2FvT%2F7m5R8r1OZKlzBhPMh0gQlc%2F26QUgBSMbFY1h7Nl0Vf0imNKNxRFPagTRdxCANyM%2BOkdTo89kh%2Bx3Lg%2BBt7RutUhuwFk9cKNrlMBkB7VceWVd%2FD5aNu4RFBS6DkYDzk%2B3zdfEeJMthd9MWKXXFieT88CD9H3WBLiRHDiU3msSFcZA%2B8KcbWvEZ6lloyQ8ZfgwRtLovoh9LR1RLa0opdxIwOWKT1y6WKqD8cgg2Tjxc%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9jolvPjZA

It's a thin almost velvet texture on the surface with a foam backing, easy to cut & glue down and doesn't fray at cut edges. You can also mould it to shape very easily with a hot air gun.