Series 1 project in Alabama

[gideon]

My occasional craigslist trawl caught this ad for a Series 1 project in Alabama today:

https://bham.craigslist.org/cto/d/double-springs-lotus-europa-series-1/7047158933.html

The seller calls it a parts car.  I think it looks like a viable project for restoration.  The rolling chassis appears to be complete - how many projects come with that stage already done?

[BDA]

At $1000, that looks like a good deal but there are lots of expensive parts he doesn't include.

There must be a story behind this car since it's titled from Wisconsin and is in Alabama...

[Chuck Nukem]

Thanks for posting. I reached out. I have an S1A like this and my frame/body are pretty trashed. I have all the components needed to make a complete car.

[BDA]

Sounds like a match made in heaven, Chuck. Good luck!

[gideon]

That does sound like a fortunate solution.  Let us know how it goes.

[jbcollier]

That is not an S1 chassis.  It has been fitted with an early S2 chassis.  The chassis looks to be missing some S1 bracketry (seatbelts, etc).  Nothing wrong with that but worth knowing.  Also the body has been cut to remove the old chassis out the bottom.  Who knows what will need sorting there.  Good deal for $1K.

[Rosco5000]

Man that is too bad it is on the wrong coast from me, I would love to have an S1.

[Chuck Nukem]

Well gentlemen it was a long trip, but I brought her home at 4:00 am this morning! Big thanks to Tom for entrusting this car to me! Gideon thank you for posting this!!

The good:
The body is in great condition. It has the typical cracks, but is largely original. It weighs about 1/2 of what my other S1A shell weighs! This feels as light as my twin cam shell.

The frame is indeed the original S1 unit. The frame has been sandblasted and painted. There was a repair on the T section which will need to be completed, but otherwise it looks to be in great shape. The suspension is restored and like the PO mentioned.

Came with quite a few bits. Between this and my other S1A I have all the parts, so I can copy and replicate what is necessary to make two complete cars.

The bad:
Missing the tail lights!


I think I will start doing the bodywork on this car concurrently to the Twin cam...
 

[BDA]

Congratulations on your new Europa (how many is that now?)! It's interesting that the body is so much lighter than your other S1, but I'm not surprised that your TC body is lighter than your other S1 - it seems they got lighter the later they are.

Those Europas will surely keep you busy!

[surfguitar58]

Congratulations Chuck on another S1 saved! Send some more pics when you get a chance.
Tom

[jbcollier]

Pictures are gone but original S1 frames have the rear of the front lower a-arm pivots boxed in.

https://s250.photobucket.com/user/jbcollier/media/Europa%20finished%20frame/IMG_0641.jpg.html?sort=1&o=0

https://s250.photobucket.com/user/jbcollier/media/Europa%20finished%20frame/IMG_0640.jpg.html?sort=1&o=1

Sorry about the photo-bucket links but they were posted there before the site went nutso.

[Chuck Nukem]

Thanks for the pics JB. This is what will need to be re-repaired on the frame. The PO removed the lower section of the T for rust repairs. The frame clearly shows the 46 chassis number and it has the welded nuts for the throttle pedal adjustment.

[Chuck Nukem]

Congratulations on your new Europa (how many is that now?)! It's interesting that the body is so much lighter than your other S1, but I'm not surprised that your TC body is lighter than your other S1 - it seems they got lighter the later they are.

Those Europas will surely keep you busy!

4.5... Still haven't driven one except in my dreams!

[BDA]

All the more reason to get on the stick and finish at least one of those cars - so you can see what you've been missing all these years!

[Chuck Nukem]

I'm just glad to have one that finally has tires that roll and hold air!