1971 Twin Cam Silverstone

[literarymadness]

Very early UK Twin Cam up for auction at Silverstone.  Looks like a high quality restoration. Originally Colorado Orange, a colour I am quite partial to, but it does look nice in what appears to be a correct shade of Roman Purple.

https://silverstoneauctions.com/events/2020-auctions/the-may-live-auction/the-may-live-auction/classic-cars/1971-lotus-europa-twin-cam

[4129R]

So if it fetches say £26,000 at auction, the buyer will have to pay £29,120 incl buyers premium and VAT on that premium.

No engine cover support struts.

[phil]

Would like to have seen a correct steering wheel, front spoiler, and perhaps some smaller speakers in the doors?
Just my opinion.
Phil

[BDA]

Very nice car. I'm not a fan of the color and there ought to be engine cover struts. It's every bit as nice as one on BaT recently that bragged about a $100,000 restoration. That's a pretty good price. Similar cars have brought much more over here lately.

[1970EuropaGuy]

How about the mirror in the engine compartment? Stainless steel or? Not a fan of the colour but it's very 70's.

[Bainford]

No engine cover support struts.

Would they be correct for an early car? I was under the impression they didn't show up until '74.

[4129R]

Would like to have seen a correct steering wheel, front spoiler, and perhaps some smaller speakers in the doors?
Just my opinion.
Phil

and the correct Dunlop wheels.

Roman Purple with gold pinstripes was not one of the TC colours in 71/72.

[gideon]

Harry Metcalfe talks about this Europa in his video about the auction

https://youtu.be/mD-bf7sIyDM?t=496

[SilverBeast]

Sold for £24,200.

I didn't think they had engine cover struts till the last year or two of production on Specials. This is a Twin Cam with the 4 speed gearbox, not a Special

[BDA]

IIRC, the struts, map pocket, biscuit interior, and maybe a couple of other minor upgrades were available in the last year - what was called the 1974 1/2 model when I bought mine.

That might has brought more money but I wonder if the purple color was an issue?

[4129R]

Sold for £24,200.

I didn't think they had engine cover struts till the last year or two of production on Specials. This is a Twin Cam with the 4 speed gearbox, not a Special

Plus 10% (+ 20%VAT) = 12% buyer's premium?
Charges
Like all classic car auctioneers, Silverstone Auctions charge what is known as a buyer's premium. Our buyer's premium charge for live online auctions is 10% of the hammer price for motor vehicles and 10% for automobilia. Buyer's premium is subject to VAT at the prevailing rate on the day of the auction.

At £27,104, that is a "full" price.

I just think the engine cover struts are a vast improvement over the single rod prop which lets the cover flex badly when open. 

[BDA]

I agree with you about engine cover struts! It sounds funny to say but after years of using that stupid prop rod and whatever long pole I had in my garage when the trunk was out, my struts transformed my car!

[SilverBeast]

My struts were shot when I got my Special.  I agree they make a massive difference.  So much so that I'd like to do something similar for the front bonnet too. I'm sure I've seen a car with hydraulic struts on the front bonnet too somewhere, on the site,  but can't find it again. I think it was just in a photo,  not detailing how it was done.

I didn't have the prop (stay)for the front bonnet and the one I got from Lotus Supplies is designed to pivot from the lhs not the rhs, so it pushes into the hole in the bonnet from the outside, instead of the inside. I don't really love how much the bonnet flexes about just propped.

[BDA]

I never saw the need for them on the front but here's a picture of one setup. I found it here (https://groups.io/g/LotusEuropa/topic/front_lid_hinge/72792605?p=Created,,,20,1,20,0::recentpostdate%2Fsticky,,,20,2,0,72792605).

[SilverBeast]

Thanks  BDA. I believe the one I am thinking of had much smaller struts nearer the hinge end so they were in the front (spare wheel/fans)  compartment, rather than in the plenum chamber.