Restoration of 2358R

[Certified Lotus]

My Europa chassis got some fresh air and sunlight this weekend! Although it was pushed around due to needing to move it for some work on a Elan S2 I just bought, I heard vrooom vroom in the background.......

[brucelotus26r]

I don't know if you got your gas strut for the engine cover yet but today working on my Europa I was thing the 20# struts are a little light and maybe I should have gone with something stronger?

[BDA]

It's nice for your frame to get some fresh air! It looks pretty. Too bad it's going to be covered up! But then when you put your freshly painted body over it, covering it up won't be a hardship.

I hate seeing pictures of your garage... it makes me so jealous! But then I was already jealous of your first Elan and now you have a second! Geez, Certified! It keeps getting better for you! Good for you!

[dakazman]

 Certified, BDA always says exactly what I was thinking.    Just imagine,
    the phone rings !!!
    It’s the body shop   ...yeah ,,, yeah
    Please come and inspect your car  ... it’s finished!!!
    Coming soon in your future  ! Then...The real work will start.
Dakazman

[Certified Lotus]

Thanks guys.

Bruce I have not bought the struts yet so good advice on getting the higher rated ones.

BDA, I bought the S2 to restore a little nicer and then sell it. It’s a true survivor car with everything mostly original. Need to pull the diff and rebuild as the last item and then she goes on the market.

Dave, nice dream but my body shop guy is having some medical problems and it might be a while longer before I get it back. But I’ve got an S2 to work on!

[dakazman]

 Certified,
   Sorry for the setback, I hope your body man has a speedy recovery.
Dave

[Certified Lotus]

Dropped off the engine deck cross bar for the gas struts so it can be installed before final painting. Dave was in the paint booth applying a couple of coats of primer on my Europa    next comes blocking and filling the pin holes. Getting closer. I’m glad I shaved the front and rear side markers, I like the way it looks.

[BDA]

Finally some visible progress after all these months!!! 

I know you're anxious for the return of your new yellow body! That is now a palpable eventuality!

[surfguitar58]

Looking good Certified! 
Tom

[Certified Lotus]

Thanks guys. I also dropped off an original Lotus color paint chip sheet from 1971 so the yellow paint can be matched exactly. Dave said he had never seen one in all these years and was amazed I had one that wasn’t faded.

[BDA]

I was led to believe that providing the paint code was all you needed. http://lotus-europa.com/colors.html

[4129R]

I was led to believe that providing the paint code was all you needed. http://lotus-europa.com/colors.html

The paint shop I use is owned by ex Lotus employees.

They sprayed an Elan yellow, but when the yellow arrived, ordered to paint code, it was too orange (a bit like the Lotus badge)  so they sent it back. They then sprayed the Elan in a lighter yellow which looked really good.

I made sure they used the same yellow when they painted 4259R, my #5. It looks really good.

When I can get my Land Cruiser to start, I can pick it up and take in 4483R to be painted in JPS livery.

My other toy is sky blue and marigold. Replacement front and rear clams from the factory were a paler blue than the original, so even the factory can have a variation in colour.

[BDA]

I guess it's always best to check before spraying the car. When I had my car in the paint shop, I didn't think that anybody would know what a Lotus paint code translated to for modern paints. I found a car with a color I liked ('95 Corvette white) and they painted my car that color.

[Certified Lotus]

With modern technology the scanners they have at automotive paint suppliers can match any paint chip you have as long as it’s 2 square inches. I trust this process much more than a paint code that someone suggests from paint that is 50 years old.

[Certified Lotus]

Update from the body shop. Got the primer all on, putty coated pinholes, got it all blocked down, next 3 more coats of primer and block down. I will be working on the doors, hood, engine cover.