Which Europa Would You Choose?

[Winter]

1972 JPS number 63 (of the 100) at speed (image courtesy John Watkins) in a Lotus Drivers' Club sprint at Wellesbourne circa 1983.  The side traficator is clear to see.  Anorakers might spot the black windscreen surround.  The windscreen was removed to seal a leak.  For several years the chrome-effect trim was not available, only a matt-black alternative.  It is now and subsequently, the trim was corrected accordingly.

[pete]

[Vipers]

Thanks for everyones feedback, after having a weekend of Europa research I think I will go and take a look at the Orange one for sale and see what I think but deep down I think I should hold out for a JPS which has always been my original plan, gutted that I missed out on this one which I found yesterday, seemed like a good price at £26,500 -

https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/lotus/1973-lotus-europa-special-jps/

This one is also available so maybe worth a look but doesn't give too much info.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1036513

[jonwat]

25 minutes ago, Vipers said:

This one is also available so maybe worth a look but doesn't give too much info.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1036513

They've made a right mess of the exhaust, need to check they've still got the boot floor, why the blue head & cam cover, otherwise looks ok. 

[Winter]

John's right about the exhaust.  And the nice-looking black one that went at auction might not be quite what its seems.  ?Originally Roman Purple.  There were only 100 numbered JPS Europas produced.  Not many of us still have one . . .

[Vipers]

Thanks again guys, that makes sense regarding the JPS at auction, I thought it was too good to be true, I guess the one with the messy exhaust isn't a true JPS also at that price?

What would you expect to pay for a nice, original numbered JPS Europa?

[tim_marra]

A genuine numbered JPS Europa should attract at least the same money as a similar condition Elan Sprint.

[Winter]

Noo Tim Marra, ooz thee dyurn? Arz Cumbrian an or.  Ar wuz born in Penrith, lived in Carlisle, Maryport an Wigton.  Me mam and dad went on frae Wigton to Silloth then Thurzbee. Me great aunt Ginnie lived in Whiteheven.  Bahree eh.

[pete]

Need someone from Norfolk to translate that😀

[tim_marra]

8 minutes ago, Winter said:

Noo Tim Marra, ooz thee dyurn? Arz Cumbrian an or.  Ar wuz born in Penrith, lived in Carlisle, Maryport an Wigton.  Me mam and dad went on frae Wigton to Silloth then Thurzbee. Me great aunt Ginnie lived in Whiteheven.  Bahree eh.

Gud marra. Thoo left uz, az still ere at yam

[PhilT]

On ‎29‎/‎10‎/‎2018 at 15:20, tim_marra said:

A genuine numbered JPS Europa should attract at least the same money as a similar condition Elan Sprint.

yep

[Oldtracker]

Is there a thread or site or reference book that discusses nomenclature?  I'm new to the Europa and need to know the jargon.  For instance, TC doesn't stand for twin cam does it?  

JPS = John Player Special, right?  

And "365" refers to ?  Production run?  You guys are like the French, they have a different word for everything.  I'm in US so I don't even speak English.  

[andydclements]

TC does stand for Twin Cam, referring to the Ford -based engine which uses an over-bored Ford block (the block used in Ford Anglia etc) but goes out to a bigger cubic capacity and uses a Lotus designed twin cam head.

Special refers to a further developed TC, it had a better flowing version of the head and (certainly for UK) gave a little more power (although it's not certain that the later TC didn't have much the same revisions so perhaps the Special wasn't that much of a power gain over late TCs). JPS was pretty much the black and gold paint job Specials, i.e they were liveried to John Player Special cigarettes.

Mine is a Special (but not JPS) and has a 4 speed transaxle, the 365 was the 5 speed option.

 

Before the TC & Special, they used Renault based (not modified) engines. The body of a TC/Special is different to a Renault powered one.

Edited December 11, 2019 by andydclements

[tim_marra]

The twin can first used the 336 gearbox (as used in the S2), then a 352 4 speed before the 5 speed specials used the 365 unit

[PhilT]

21 hours ago, Oldtracker said:

You guys are like the French,

Hmm, now how can I be polite about this  😳?

[Oldtracker]

Thanks for the information. 

[theelanman]

the S2 Else....

[JerryS]

This one:

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12722977

Edited December 23, 2021 by JerryS

[Vipers]

I bought this earlier in the year, still having some work done to it but I really like the look of this Banks Europa, mmmm, very tempting 🤔

[exeterjeep]

8 hours ago, JerryS said:

This one:

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12722977

The wing looks like a real boy racer add on,  I like the rear wing on the gt430, but not this on the back of the europa. Rest looks interesting.

[Vipers]

I agree, I would probably remove the wing myself.

[jonwat]

Those Dell'Ortos have been fitted without the ant vibration spacer between them & the manifold 

Are you looking for a road car or a track car, this is a track car.

 

 

[Vipers]

Hi John,

I seem to be collecting track based cars so this would fit into the collection nicely, love the Banks styling, well spotted on the vibration spacer though, if I manage to win the action I'll get that sorted.

Still not sure on the rear spoiler, maybe it will look better when you actually see the car.

Cheers,

Paul.

[jonwat]

On 24/12/2021 at 16:57, Vipers said:

Still not sure on the rear spoiler, maybe it will look better when you actually see the car.

Looks way too big for me, it would have to go but each to their own