Hello, everyone!
I've been reading here for several months and decided it's time to come out of the darkness.
Your Europa enthusiasm has been infectious and has re-kindled my interest.
I am the original owner of 743496R, which I purchased new in April, 1974, from Tom's Pit Stop which was located in Scotch Plains, NJ.
The distributor was Lotus East - Dutchess Auto, in Millerton, NY.
My Twin Cam Europa Special has Chassis #73053496R, so I guess that's a build date of May, 1973 ?
While looking for other info, I came across my log book, which made me chuckle.
The car was picked-up 4-17-74 with 80 (transport) miles on the odometer.
The first fill-up was 12.4 gals of premium gas for $6.80. ($0.55/gal)
One year's Liability, Collision, & Comprehensive insurance was $241.50.
By the end of the first month, I had 4100 miles clocked, and by the second month, I had driven 6811 miles.
This is amusing to me because I lived 1.5 miles from where I worked a 60 hour work week, so the miles were accumulated while joy-riding in the evenings or Sundays.
Gas mileage for the first 9,311 miles (3 months) averaged 29.22 mpg, which is interesting since I always drove it hard.
The Europa was taken off the road in January, 1975, (15,516 miles) to begin installation of a turbocharger and single Weber 45DCOE.
It was a tough learning curve, as the few people who knew wouldn't talk, and the many people who talked, didn't know!
There were mis-steps along the way, but they all contributed to my trial & error education.
For example, the stock cast-iron exaust manifold didn't like the exhaust temperatures involved. ...A fabricated steel manifold glowed bright orange after a hard run, indicating 1800*F.
Two intake designs, another exhaust design, back to a single Stromberg, an intricate vacuum-operated turbo by-pass, boost-retard ignition, optical ignition conversion, sunroof, etc, were all done along the way.
Building boost on a freeway on-ramp, or coming out of a curve, made the trials and tribulations justifiable!
The Europa was parked a few years later, and has been awaiting revival. ...Sadly it lost its indoor storage, so it suffered some weathering.
Life got in the way and has kept me from bringing my old friend back to life. ...I'm not sure if I should sell it, or keep my wish to revive it, alive. ....I'm certainly not a purist, so accurate restoration is not considered.
While looking through my papers, I found some brochures & articles to scan, if anyone is interested.
I'm also curious how many forum members are original owners of their Europas ? (New thread?)
That's enough rambling from This Old Fart.
~~~Bruce (in Bridgewater, NJ)
