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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ lotus europa tc special same Era as 914
Posted by: 914world2014 Feb 8 2016, 05:12 PM
The lotus europa tc special was same Era as 914. Are you familiar with this europa.
Posted by: struckn Feb 8 2016, 06:25 PM
The lotus europa tc special was same Era as 914. Are you familiar with this europa.
Yes, the Europa was an excellent Sorts car. I had friends that had one and it's roof height was probibly the lowest of any car that I road in. You're almost laying down insde. So, dangerously low that most of the ones I saw had to put a tall whip antenna on the back bumper with a triagle Flag on the end to be seen and notget run over. I did a lot of Autocross racing in the ealy 70's and the Europa's often won Fastest time of the day.
I'd love to have one but I think I would prefer the Lotus 7 which when imported to the US as a Kit Car to avoid US Safety requirements I beleive.
All that being said, the 914 is a much better choice to have as you can drive them anywhere, race them, or just enjoy the amazing ride they give on a twisty back road with the Targa Top off. Truly a Street legal go cart ride and performance...plus it comes free with one of the biggest online Clubs in the World....914world.com.
Posted by: GregAmy Feb 8 2016, 07:13 PM
What's "TC Special"? I have a close friend with a JPS, John Player Special Lotus Europa, with the dual-port heads and DCOE carbs. It's an interesting car, drives OK but shifts like our 914s with the tail-shifters. The Ford 1600cc is an Ok engine but not, IMO, as torquey as my 2L.
I mean, they're good cars and very much in the spirit of Chapman's "add lightness" priorities. But you get tagged in one of those and you're in trouble (it's a Fiberglas body on a channel-frame; not much steel between the door and central tunnel.)
My buddy would probably sell his if someone's interested (he's got a 70s 911 Carrera replica that he enjoys driving now).
Posted by: poorsche914 Feb 8 2016, 08:04 PM
I owned a '74 Twin Cam Europa with 5-speed. When I bought it, it was 10 years old with under 35k miles and was falling apart. They are a very fragile car. Fiberglass body on a steel backbone chassis. NO side protection at all. Shifting was very loose.
It was more a go-kart for the road than the 914. After driving the Lotus for a month while my 914 was having work done, the 914 steering felt heavy compared to the Lotus 
Posted by: smg914 Feb 8 2016, 08:22 PM
I owned this JPS for 5 years. I sold it about 5 years ago to purchase my LE creamsicle. I loved it and in a perfect world I would have kept it but I wanted this LE and with the lack of money and space, the Lotus had to go.
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Posted by: rgalla9146 Feb 8 2016, 08:59 PM
World class handling, worlds worst quality.
Posted by: Series9 Feb 8 2016, 09:19 PM
World class handling, worlds worst quality.
I maintain one of those at S9. The guy who owns it pays big money for me to even touch it. If you think I cuss like a sailor in regular life......
He also has a Fiat X1/9.
Posted by: colingreene Feb 8 2016, 09:47 PM
need LotusJoe in here.
He knows some Europa stuff.
I think they are neat cars
Posted by: bretth Feb 8 2016, 10:06 PM
They are interesting cars but i cannot get into the shape of the rear half.
Posted by: PancakePorsche Feb 8 2016, 11:21 PM
Much more cramped inside especially for the tall than the 914, but equal in handling IMHO. Appointment in interior kinda primitive compared to the 914. Engine fire? say goodby. body burns like a gas dipped candle.
I dig the twin cam version. If I had the room I would have one. Very rare to see one on the road these days.
Some say too odd looking, but haven't we heard that before ?
Posted by: Tom_T Feb 9 2016, 12:30 AM
I owned this JPS for 5 years. I sold it about 5 years ago to purchase my LE creamsicle. I loved it and in a perfect world I would have kept it but I wanted this LE and with the lack of money and space, the Lotus had to go.
Hi Steve!
I saw Steve's JPS when he still had it, & it was just as nice as his 914-6 & Sahara Biege 73 2L!
For my tastes - I preferred their earlier Elan & later Esprit for styling reasons.
Cheers!
Tom
///////
Posted by: shoguneagle Feb 9 2016, 04:56 AM
Chapman always built his cars on the very edge of everything including weight and quality. These cars are nothing more than a disguised race car of the era and performed very well; maintenance costs another thing. I had the '77 Lotus Esprit until a few years ago and had friends with Elans which is one of the best Lotus made; another one which really made the name Lotus was the Seven. The Seven is still a very enjoyable road and race car which holds its own even today.
The Europa is very, very hard to get in and out requiring one to carefully climb in and then roll out on your hands. Great car for auto crossing and racing. Lotus had the reputation "if it broke, make it lighter; run it harder". Great innovation came out of the Lotus Works.
Dld you know there was one of these Europa's had a v-8 installed at the factory and sold to a customer; it was being restored about ten or so years ago. Great history behind Lotus both as a road car and in racing.
Posted by: 914world2014 Feb 9 2016, 09:27 AM
Chapman always built his cars on the very edge of everything including weight and quality. These cars are nothing more than a disguised race car of the era and performed very well; maintenance costs another thing. I had the '77 Lotus Esprit until a few years ago and had friends with Elans which is one of the best Lotus made; another one which really made the name Lotus was the Seven. The Seven is still a very enjoyable road and race car which holds its own even today.
The Europa is very, very hard to get in and out requiring one to carefully climb in and then roll out on your hands. Great car for auto crossing and racing. Lotus had the reputation "if it broke, make it lighter; run it harder". Great innovation came out of the Lotus Works.
Dld you know there was one of these Europa's had a v-8 installed at the factory and sold to a customer; it was being restored about ten or so years ago. Great history behind Lotus both as a road car and in racing.
I always wanted to get one of these, especially a JPS. I have a beautiful 914 LE, will see some day.
Posted by: cpavlenko Feb 9 2016, 11:09 AM
I did a complete restoration on a 74 Europa special. Had 19,000 miles on it when I purchased it. Ground up, it was powder coated and polished. Louie Unser did the build on the motor. went all out on this Lotus.
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Posted by: Cairo94507 Feb 9 2016, 11:14 AM
When I had my 2nd Six a neighbor around the corner had the JPS Lotus. He was a car nut too. We would take each other for rides and scare the crap out of each other. Both cars handled like they were on rails. He still has that JPS and one more, non JPS in his garage.
I can't wait until I get my Six back and take a ride to the old-old neighborhood and show it to him and check out both his cars.
We are both older and hopefully wiser now.....
Posted by: cpavlenko Feb 9 2016, 11:15 AM
More
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Posted by: malcolm2 Feb 9 2016, 11:26 AM
They are interesting cars but i cannot get into the shape of the rear half.
reminds me of the 914 "TRUCK" mod.
Posted by: cpavlenko Feb 9 2016, 11:29 AM
Well u get the ideal on restoration, for some reason I lost the completed pictures on my backup drive. when I have time I'll scan and update. The Lotus was very hard to get into, and out of. But once in it was a blast to drive. Sold it to the guy who I bought it from. The 914 is much easier to get in and out of.
Posted by: 914world2014 Feb 9 2016, 11:33 AM
Well u get the ideal on restoration, for some reason I lost the completed pictures on my backup drive. when I have time I'll scan and update. The Lotus was very hard to get into, and out of. But once in it was a blast to drive. Sold it to the guy who I bought it from. The 914 is much easier to get in and out of.
Nice restoration!! WOW. Would have bought it off you. Was it a 5 speed?
Posted by: cpavlenko Feb 9 2016, 11:35 AM
Well u get the ideal on restoration, for some reason I lost the completed pictures on my backup drive. when I have time I'll scan and update. The Lotus was very hard to get into, and out of. But once in it was a blast to drive. Sold it to the guy who I bought it from. The 914 is much easier to get in and out of.
Nice restoration!! WOW. Would have bought it off you. Was it a 5 speed?
Yes.
Posted by: gandalf_025 Feb 9 2016, 11:44 AM
I came close to buying a Europa and then an XK 120 for real short money
and then a Griffith GT. but I had nowhere to put them as far as
garage space went.. I barely talked my mother out of her garage
for my 914-6, back in 73...
If my dad had only owned a warehouse.. I'd be rich now.....
Posted by: John Jentz Feb 10 2016, 09:59 AM
I drove one about 45 years ago. I remember it as being like a Formula Ford for the street, except the FF was easier to get in and out of.
Posted by: veekry9 Feb 10 2016, 10:57 AM
I recall a gal at college had a new JPS,and magnesium Minilites,the car looked good.
http://www.dailyturismo.com/2015/04/10k-simplify-then-add-v8-1970-lotus.html
A Europa yearning for a careful build,much reinforcement designing needed.
You would want to have a pushrod V8.Easy to spend a lot of money on that engine.
I'm of a mind that a lighter 2.2L turbo 4 would be a better fit.
The car so light and delicate to begin with.
Posted by: BeemerSteve Feb 10 2016, 11:31 AM
Back in the mid 80's I owned a Series II Europa that had a 1600 Renault engine but had a Gordini head plus weber sidedrafts it ran circles around twin cams plus many other cars at autox events. Miss that one tremendously.
Posted by: cpavlenko Feb 10 2016, 02:07 PM
found more pictures, but lost the competed ones when sold 
... oh the clutch b carbon fiber.
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Posted by: cpavlenko Feb 10 2016, 02:12 PM
more
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Posted by: cpavlenko Feb 10 2016, 02:19 PM
and more, some pictures show scratches from album film, sorry.
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Posted by: cpavlenko Feb 10 2016, 02:23 PM
the end.
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Posted by: maf914 Feb 12 2016, 08:22 AM
I always wanted a Lotus Europa. And an Elan.
For model collectors Fujimi has a nice Europa kit available now.
http://www.hlj.com/product/FUJ12629/Aut
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Posted by: veekry9 Feb 12 2016, 08:39 AM
Have a look around,the work is well done.
http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/video_gallery.htm
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