New here

[4380r]

Hi, new here. This weekend I'm picking up a very nice 74 Twin Cam Special. Most of the fun has been taken out restoration-wise. The trans has been gone through, engine top/bottom rebuild, newly upholstered seats, larger upgraded aluminum radiator, all new suspension/brakes. New windshield, new wiring, everything actually works (at least for now), etc. etc. I will post some pix after I get the car home this weekend.

Not new to Lotus, so far I've owned 2 S2 Europas, another Twin Cam, a Turbo Esprit, 3 Elises and 2 Exiges. Sold the last, one of the Exiges, 2 years ago and figured I was done with Lotus as I began my glide path towards whatever is going to pass for 'retirement.' Stumbled across this car, and figured I'd go back to my first Lotus love, the Europa.

I've got a lot of re-learning to do about this car.

Todd

[cal44]

Welcome Todd.  Can't wait to see some pix and read some stories. 
Retirement just adds up to doing more around the house and not getting paid.............

mike

[Bainford]

Welcome to the forum, Todd. The nice thing about a Europa (or any vintage Lotus, for that matter) is that even if the fun of the restoration is taken away, a driven Lotus requires no end of tinkering to keep it in fine fettle. I'd say by the sounds of it, though, you already know this. Besides, the most fun part is driving it, but you know that, too. Glad to have you aboard, looking forward to pics.

Cheers 

[LotusJoe]

 

[EuropaTC]

Hi Todd, and 

Retirement ? What's that then ?  I'm with Mike on this, at least with work you get to go home and relax sometime.   In fact I'd go as far as to say that I just don't know how I ever found enough time to go to work, I seem to have so many things to do these days....   

Come on, let's see some photo's of the new toy then ?

Brian

[4380r]

Ok, these are pics from the seller. I'll be taking my own pics when I get the car this weekend. Obviously not a Lotus color, it's GM Indigo Blue. But I loved the color on that car the minute I saw it.

Todd

[LotusJoe]

  Very nice car. Looks like all you have to do is go drive!

[4380r]

Thanks, Joe. I HOPE it's pretty much ready to drive! I will be doing all the fluid flush/fills to set a baseline.

ONE thing is missing, so if any of you can point me in the right direction...the pics of the engine compartment...the trunk/tub is actually missing. It wasn't just removed for the pix.

I'd love to find a trunk/tub to fit a 74 TCS.

[EuropaTC]

Wow, that's a clean car you have there. It looks a great restoration and whether the color is a Lotus one or not, who cares when it looks so good ?

I wouldn't be surprised to find that all of the luggage boxes are the same for the S2 & TC variants so you might get one from someone breaking either model ?

Brian

[Murramor]

Thanks, Joe. I HOPE it's pretty much ready to drive! I will be doing all the fluid flush/fills to set a baseline.

ONE thing is missing, so if any of you can point me in the right direction...the pics of the engine compartment...the trunk/tub is actually missing. It wasn't just removed for the pix.

I'd love to find a trunk/tub to fit a 74 TCS.

There is a woman on US eBay who makes fibreglass parts for the Europa.  She often advertises a trunk/tub.  It looks very nice and I would buy one except that I live in Australia.  That's a very nice car you have bought!

regards
Ron Murrell
54/2384
Sydney

[cal44]

Todd,
these folks are in Washington state.  Hard to beat that price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Europa-Luggage-box-/281144467420?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4175841fdc&vxp=mtr

[LotusJoe]

Thanks, Joe. I HOPE it's pretty much ready to drive! I will be doing all the fluid flush/fills to set a baseline.

ONE thing is missing, so if any of you can point me in the right direction...the pics of the engine compartment...the trunk/tub is actually missing. It wasn't just removed for the pix.

I'd love to find a trunk/tub to fit a 74 TCS.

There is a woman on US eBay who makes fibreglass parts for the Europa.  She often advertises a trunk/tub.  It looks very nice and I would buy one except that I live in Australia.  That's a very nice car you have bought!

regards
Ron Murrell
54/2384
Sydney

Ron if you ever need anything shipped from the US let me know. My girl friend works for a shipping company that ships almost exclusively to Australia daily. Super good rates.

[LotusJoe]

Found the seller that Ron was talking about.

Luggage Box

$260.00 buy now. Shipping sucks at $55.00 but it's brand new.

[Bainford]

That's a very tidy Europa, Todd. It looks like a fine car. Well bought.

[4380r]

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions guys. I can say that the only thing the seller didn't go through is the shift linkage. Missing the reverse/5th detent ball, bushings in shift lever shot. Have the parts ordered and will get that straight over the weekend, before going to DMV next week to get tags.

I've sent an inquiry to the source for the luggage tub. The ad doesn't specifically say it will fit the TC. Given the various changes to the bodies through the various series, is the tub fitment actually a one size fits all?

Todd