1974 Lotus

Coupe

4 - Cyl.

Manual

4153 R

Gasoline

Driving this car will put a smile on your face. Quick and very manuverable but still pretty comfortable. Bang for the buck you can't beat a Europa, I'm reluctantly offering this one for sale. I bought this car not quite 2 years ago in the condition it is still in. I just have too much going on in my life right now to finish it as it deserves. Anyways---. The previous owner rebuilt this car's mechanical components nearly top to bottom. I have many, many receipts for everything from the simplest bushing and screw to a complete engine rebuild. If you search the archives on the Yahoo Group for the Lotus Europa I believe the whole rebuild was documented by the previous owner, Aaron Hines. In fact this is the car that he pioneered the brake master cylinder change with to a Nissan unit, thus eliminating the definitely trouble prone remote brake boosters. Why Lotus ever put not one but two brake boosters on a 1600lb car is beyond me anyhow. This is now a well accepted mod. This car also has a shift linkage mod (it shifts very precisely) and an intake mod ( Peter Baxter "high balance tube manifold"). Front end is lowered too as Lotus intended it to be. Probably other mods I'm not aware of. Things I remember receipts for: -engine rebuild by Stephan Lowe at S 2 Motorsports in Kings Mountain, NC. -intake manifold -complete rear suspension, bushings, u-joints, bearings, seals, shocks -complete front suspension, bushings, tie rods, shocks -shifter and linkage rebuild and modification -brakes all over -new alternator -Pertronix ignition -header and exhaust replaced -gas tanks cleaned and sealed -jeesh, I can't remember all of the many small items, and there were a lot of em -factory service book -many graphs and notes from the work performed This car drives really well. Everything works except the horn stalk stuck on me and the temperature sender is irratic. But all running lights, headlights,turn lights, back up lights, windows, wipers, gauges are good. It's a tight sweet ride. The engine pulls strong and revs freely, always starts. It does leak oil at the rear of the car. Makes a mess I live with, you might wish to address. Oil pressure is great. OK---the bad. Cosmetics are seriously tired. The mostly original "Sable" ( I think) paint is pretty much sunburnt to oblivion. This was a California car originally, then NC. Seen a lot of sun. The good part is the body condition---this Europa is remarkably free of stress cracks. I've not seen many un restored Lotus this sound. The frame appears solid too, just some light surface corrosion. The body definitely needs a full stripping but it would be a relatively easy repaint. Then again---it has an honest patina you might enjoy as is! Car is very dusty in most of these shots, though it's hard to tell. I made no attempt to tart it up. Chrome is still good driver quality All glass is good, windshield trim is poor, one piece is missing. Interior is a mixed bag. Dash top is OK, not split or torn, slightly wavey. The wood dash is needing refinished, you might save it, there is some veneer delamination on the end but it might glue up again. The finish is cracked and almost peeling. The headliner is fine. The door panels are fine. The carpet was replaced, needs cleaned and reattached, it should clean up well. The seats need the centers recovered. The seats are not broken down, sliders OK, not rusted. Center console is fine. By "fine" I mean good driver quality, not perfect. In short, this is a car you can drive now, have a hoot with and do the cosmetics later if you wish. I always recommend a personal inspection if possible, car is in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Please feel free to contact me, Doug 937 231 0193