First post from an old gearhead and Lotus Europa fan

[Tom Bartlett]

First time poster here. I have been lurking for a few months and appreciate all the information. I am a long-time Lotus admirer and builder of now three Lotus Seven replicas. Recently I found 3/4s of a 1967 S1A Europa buried in a Wrecking Yard and I quickly purchased it (with title).  The car was missing the engine and transaxle but came with a complete front and rear suspension. After trailering the remains to my garage, I cleaned it up and got it rolling.  I am attaching pictures  of my VIN 46/0468.
My interest in the car (and in all my projects) is to recreate the driving experience.  I have no interest in originality nor do I plan to sell or show the finished product.  Just enjoy driving it.
So This is my question.  I have located a Fuego transaxle, but it is two states away.  What is involved in mating it to the original Europa drive shafts (which were included with the car)?
Still having fun in retirement,
Tom Bartlett

[Grumblebuns]

Tom, nice find and welcome to the group. With S1s, the first question is how is the condition of the frame since it is a major pain in the ass to extract for replacement. The Fuegos had, if I remember correctly, NG3 transaxles and the only changes required to use with the stock Europa drive shafts is to change out the output shafts with the ones from a 336 transaxle. Since your Europa didn't come with a stock engine, this might be the time to go with an alternate engine conversion.

Joji Tokumoto
Fallbrook, Ca   

[Bainford]

Welcome to the forum, Tom. The picture of the Europa in the grass looks absolutely dire. Nice save, there. Looks like you'll have your hands full, but it's good work. As Joji mentioned, give the frame some careful inspection before sinking serious money/effort into the project. If the frame is soft, and given that it is largely unprotected 16 ga sheet metal it may well be, then the project takes on a new level of endeavour. Good luck, and keep us posted. Looking forward to seeing more. Cheers.

[BDA]

I guess it all depends on how motivated you are. If the frame is in bad shape (likely given where you got it), you can buy a new one or fix the one you have. From what I can tell, Banks sells S1 frames. Serge has rebuilt his frame (and has videos about it). Surely it's a lot of work, so like I say, it all depends on how motivated you are.

[jbcollier]

I don't think Banks does an S1 frame.  When I called, he said he could modify an S2 frame to suit -- which is what ended up doing myself with a moderate amount of sweat equity.  The biggest part of replacing the frame is glassing it all back in again.  The fewer the cuts and pieces, the easier it is so measure four or five times and cut once.  Unfortunately mine had been open at the front before for "repairs". Ugly, nasty work so I had more glassing to do than hopefully you will.  An S2 or TC is easy, peasy in comparison to an S1 but I really like the S1-s!  Yours is an S1a so I'm feeling woefully inadequate with my S1b ;-)

The nice thing about doing the frame on an S1 is that it feels like you are almost done once the frame is back in.  Considering what little else there is to do in comparison, it is somewhat true.

If you are just doing a driver, consider selling this one on and getting an S2 to "modify".  S2-s are common in comparison to S1-s and S1a-s are very, very rare -- just a thought

[BDA]

Yeah, Banks catalog seems a little ambiguous about their frames. There is one that has 'S1' in the description:

Spaceframe - (Banks) - bare steel - fits S1/S2 - 47R (so what this may mean is this is the one he can modify for you)

Of course there is no price listing so it's likely not to be inexpensive and I expect that you would order one and wait while they build it.

[jbcollier]

Banks can supply a regular S2 chassis but he can't make them.  Lotus shut him and others down a number of years ago and there is only one official manufacturer licensed by Lotus.  That's why he offers a space frame as Lotus never made a space frame for the Europa so he's free to do so.

As far as I know, the replacement S2 chassis that's available does not suit early S2s, nor conversion to S1 spec.  I'm not sure what you would need to do to make it work, might be moderately simple as it is just to do with the location of the rear mounting point of the upper a-arm.

[Europaforever]

Well done on rescuing the S1!

I went to the Brands Hatch Lotus Festival UK and for the first time in my life
saw an S1. It was on German plates and easily the nicest car of the show for me. I couldn't stop looking at it-
the slim steering wheel, those seats, one piece wiindows, the dial cluster BUT again, most people seemed to ignore the Europas
there. I know in the states they have a bit of a rep for being 'ugly' yet to me the S1, S2s are just about the nicest
looking car ever made. I measured the height of mine last night 38 inches- its lower than a GT40, one of the
first mid engine production cars, along with the muira, Lotus pedigree whats not to like!

My son has a thing about lime green cars and so I am going to be doing mine in Pastachio (S2), reminds me of lime green Muiras...

Rgds Mark

[BDA]

Banks can supply a regular S2 chassis but he can't make them.  Lotus shut him and others down a number of years ago and there is only one official manufacturer licensed by Lotus.  That's why he offers a space frame as Lotus never made a space frame for the Europa so he's free to do so.

As far as I know, the replacement S2 chassis that's available does not suit early S2s, nor conversion to S1 spec.  I'm not sure what you would need to do to make it work, might be moderately simple as it is just to do with the location of the rear mounting point of the upper a-arm.

Interesting, John! I would prefer a space frame anyway.

One of the downsides of the standard frames is the relative lack of access to the interior of it. I wonder if the action by Lotus to require a license to manufacture their frames relates to my frame. I have a Spyder frame that is not a space frame. It is an improved version of the original Europa frame. The front 'T' section is I think made of steel box sections and there are added access holes in the backbone. This was in the early '80s. I don't remember if their space frame chassis came later or if they were both available at then, but I'm wondering if they were producing frames like mine and Lotus shut them down pushing them to develop their space frames...

[cal44]

A type 46............DANG !!!!!!!!!
Also check on Yahoo Groups Europa.   Although that site seems to have turned into "what wax should I use?", there are some very knowledgeable guys that may know of, or have, some parts you need.
Did you find this in your state?  Inquiring minds...............
mike

[Tom Bartlett]

Thanks for the quick response, guys.  To Mike... I did find this in Florence, Alabama.  Luckily, the car appears to have been stored inside (it was last licensed in 1991) and only recently moved to the wrecking yard.  Even the upholstery was intact. The frame (at least what I can easily see) seems to have most of its black paint and no visible pits, just scratches.  I am wondering, though, if I need to either cut into the fiberglass tunnel or elsewhere to inspect the frame closer.  Or should I work up the courage and cut the frame out of the body to rust-proof the whole thing? 
On a side note, if any of you are passing through  Birmingham, Alabama in the near future, it is worth a visit to Barber Motor Sports Park (and museum) just for the Lotus exhibits.  I know the motorcycles are the main draw, but for a Lotus fan, it is spectacular.  Everytime I go back they have added more to their Lotus collection. From replicas of the Mark 1, 2, 3, & 4, to a Mark 6, Elevens, Fifteens, Seventeens, Nineteens, and Formula Juniors and a Type 47.  Plus the 1963 SCCA-winning Seven. I'm attaching one poor photo taken with my cell phone.
Kindest Regards,
Tom Bartlett

[BDA]

To cut it out or not to cut it out....You could maybe drag a camera down the backbone (use your imagination since you probably don't want to actually drag it) while it's taking a movie. That looks like a great project!

I concur with your assessment of Barber Motorsports Museum. It's fabulous!! The Lotus exhibit has grown since I saw it at the LOG in B'ham a few years ago, and if I remember, it was the largest single exhibit. Even though I'm not a motorcycle guy, I really enjoyed them in the museum. Who knew there were so many ways to build a motorcycle? And the aren't covered with bodywork (most of them anyway). It really is something not to miss if you are nearby!

Good luck and keep us up to date!

[cal44]

Tom,
I would use the camera on the flexible shaft.   Even if you have to rent one in place of buying one.
We use them on pipelines and they work great for inspecting interior welds and stress cracks.

I wouldn't cut unless you see some red flags.   Ifin' it's popcorn fart dry you are some lucky fellow.
I suspect the more you get into the project and if rust is not an issue, you may find yourself doing stock restore as these are not a common car, especially here in the States.  And the parts aren't costly........Nice find.

mike

[jbcollier]

You can rent the cameras.  You can also just reach your in from the front and start poking away with an ice pick -- remove the front bonnet for easy access.

It's the front section that rots first.  Water gets trapped inside the body and rots it away.  Water comes through leaking windshield, door and wiper seals, muddy boots and, mainly, from the rear of the car and flows forward (once the frame is sorted, seal that up and drill drain holes where the rear Y sections meet).

[Serge]

Hi Tom,

That S1 is a really nice find!

I'm currently restoring an S1 myself, and from experience I can tell you, it is worth it to cut it out, just to inspect it. I've yet to see any S1 chassis that isn't rusted.

This is how mine looked when I took it out, and it didn't look to bad while in the body. Haico had the same issues as me. They all rust on the bottom of the T-section.

http://sleurs-motorsport.com/?p=233

http://sleurs-motorsport.com/?p=358

The inspection camera is a good idea, you can start off with that, but if you have any doubt, cut it out.


Kind regards,

Serge