I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Robb for a couple of years now, and he is genuinely a proper Wizard with classic cars. His stuff is always absolute top notch, and he got my VW Bug running like it had a brand new engine. His knowledge is endless, and he is always happy to help. A real gentleman.
Brilliant! I had a K-plate Europa too, but could never afford any of those upgrades so stuck with body-off MiG welding the rotten (and lethal) chassis, the 1600 Renault engine (which was ok) but generally it was a mobile collection of home repairs and bits made in the shed. I attempted a 5-speed upgrade, but bought a Renault 16 box so ended up with 5 reverse gears and one forwards.....those were the days. This one is a beauty - as yes, Mr Chapman would definitely have stolen your ideas!
I worked with a young chap in the early 2000’s who had a lotus Europa project, he’d bought a whole Renault Fuego turbo as a donor. I wonder if he ever got it finished…. I remember at the time thinking the Europa looked like an ugly bread van compared to the Elan, but in the twenty years since my tastes have evolved and now I kinda like it!
Always loved the Europa,.my neighbour growing up had a primrose yellow one and it was beautiful......but always on the driveway. Lovely machine this and what a little screamer
Coming home from school somewhere in the early 70's I came round the corner to my street and there was one sat, bright yellow. I just stood there and looked at it with awe. Fast forward, I got my 1st one, a white series 2 (KYG990K) where are you now? The most beautiful finely handling car I have ever driven. The 1600 Renault engine suited the car. My next one was a JPS big valve twin cam with 5 speed gear box with sandbags under the front luggage compartment to keep the nose down. Nothing, but nothing could catch me. You think a Lotus through bends, you do not drive it. I had to laugh when the chap said "ah mid engine, they don't let you know when they let go", you would have to be completely incompetent and not really suited to driving a car like a Lotus Europa if you let it go. It outperformed my level of driving and was 100% dependable when it needed to be.
Very nice mate, just wonder if the timings out a touch under load? Seems like a slight splutter and backfire...i had a couple of 8v in cavaliers back in the day, very torquey from factory and love to rev 👌
@youmakeitreal maybe not the only one of that vintage but certainly not designed to absorb collisions. Beautiful, light, and fantastic handling. Sadly, it proved impossible to keep a car's weight much below a tonne without accepting great injury if the inevitable happens.
They were crash tested as a design and only needed the front lifted slightly to meet USA lighting requirements. Fibreglass is stronger than you think and most race cars are not built of metal any more. The glass fibre absorbs impact, but there is no point in getting into a discussion about why race cars are bodied in epoxy with fibre, and even in F1. All Lotus models, TVR and Replicas are Fibreglass constructed bodies. I once had an ex race, crashed Marcos, I rebuilt in 1973. The car had been rolled and only needed minimal fibreglass repair, new rear subframe and paint. They are tougher than you think. I've owned an Original 1969 Europa for 50 years.
@awalk5177 they were not crash tested at all. By 1972, the MIRA barrier test was required, and Lotus tested nothing in that era. In May '72 the Mseries TVR was tested and passed, to the astonishment of MIRA. Marcos, Gilbern, Morgan, Lotus Rochdale, and all except TVR either avoided the test or failed. Shortly afterwards, the government negotiated an exception for small volume manufacturers. Later in the '70s cars like the AC 3000M did pass but certainly not the structure under Elans and Europas. The barrier test was about steering wheel cabin intrusion. Even mass-produced cars of the time failed before strengthening and redesigns. The truth is inconvenient.
The original bread van. Got taken for a spin round the block in one of these years back (with a twink not a Renault engine) and 30mph felt like you were traveling at twice that speed.
Had two Europas way back- wish I had one now. Second one had the same wheels as this car. Problem with this one is it now has no boot space- they originally had one front, one back. We had enough space for two weeks camping gear on a trip to Italy.
The Luggage bin still fits, just out to look nice for the pictures. Its got an insulated tunnel for the exhaust to pass through. Thing do get a liitle warm though😂
Hell yeah, very cool. That looks like a lot of fun. You still in contact with Kev Leaper Will? Would be great to see what he's got on the go! Scooby powered Nova kit car maybe?! 🤘
The log book says Roman Purple but I used BMC Black Tulip with an extra splash of black. The outside shots are more representative of its actual colour.
Fantastica auto , come tutte le alternative’s car inglesi … un peccato che il vero Made England stia scomparendo per dar spazio a merdomacchine anonime … p. S. Ho sempre posseduto spider e oggi Guido una superSeven Caterham …
Bending your own exhaust in a home made kiln (pre UA-cam)
Respect due there. 👍🏿
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Robb for a couple of years now, and he is genuinely a proper Wizard with classic cars. His stuff is always absolute top notch, and he got my VW Bug running like it had a brand new engine. His knowledge is endless, and he is always happy to help. A real gentleman.
One of my absolute favourite cars. As a child I had many Matchbox/Lesney model cars, and if I saw a Europa I wanted it.
100+ HP, light chassis, light body, Colin would approve.
Remember seeing one of these when I was a kid, sometime back in teh '70s, I thought it was a spaceship!
Excellent job on that exhaust.
Love the Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy 8 track-and that colour purple is perfect! What a car
...a real sportscar! This was my second car in the age of 19. I regret so much, i sell this razor sharp driving machine end of the eighties...
Have a soft spot for these. Very cool little car.
Always loved the Europa! Cracking little cars.
Brilliant! I had a K-plate Europa too, but could never afford any of those upgrades so stuck with body-off MiG welding the rotten (and lethal) chassis, the 1600 Renault engine (which was ok) but generally it was a mobile collection of home repairs and bits made in the shed. I attempted a 5-speed upgrade, but bought a Renault 16 box so ended up with 5 reverse gears and one forwards.....those were the days. This one is a beauty - as yes, Mr Chapman would definitely have stolen your ideas!
Always had a soft spot for the Europa, and that sounds great!
I worked with a young chap in the early 2000’s who had a lotus Europa project, he’d bought a whole Renault Fuego turbo as a donor. I wonder if he ever got it finished…. I remember at the time thinking the Europa looked like an ugly bread van compared to the Elan, but in the twenty years since my tastes have evolved and now I kinda like it!
I like the Series 1 cars the best - they lack the indicators above the bumper. Like this car.
A really great little car and video. Love a Europa.
Always loved the Europa,.my neighbour growing up had a primrose yellow one and it was beautiful......but always on the driveway. Lovely machine this and what a little screamer
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fantastic motor. Thanks guys 😀
My Europa was turned into a Hovercraft! This looks a nice conversion.
Fantastic engines those what Superb Workmanship.
Coming home from school somewhere in the early 70's I came round the corner to my street and there was one sat, bright yellow. I just stood there and looked at it with awe. Fast forward, I got my 1st one, a white series 2 (KYG990K) where are you now? The most beautiful finely handling car I have ever driven. The 1600 Renault engine suited the car. My next one was a JPS big valve twin cam with 5 speed gear box with sandbags under the front luggage compartment to keep the nose down. Nothing, but nothing could catch me. You think a Lotus through bends, you do not drive it. I had to laugh when the chap said "ah mid engine, they don't let you know when they let go", you would have to be completely incompetent and not really suited to driving a car like a Lotus Europa if you let it go. It outperformed my level of driving and was 100% dependable when it needed to be.
Love the colour 😮
Even better in the flesh!
Very nice car!
Great car and a great build. Gets me inspired to finish my own Lotus Europa restoration. Thanks!
Get 'er done!
Good video. Great exhaust job. This was my favourite car when I was a wee lad (until I saw a picture of a Countach).
very very nice
Very nice car, very seldom see one of these 👌
Having followed Robb's Europa to Classic Le Mans i can confirm it sounds great (and produces pops, bangs and flashes without a special map 😅)
Amen to that
Love this car
Nice work.
I love builds like this
Worth the trip this one was!
Great job. Usable cool car
what a lovely thing.
That car is mega! Qudos to Robb Halley! A proper performance GT, fast and useable. On carbs and points to - that's authentic. :)
Very nice mate, just wonder if the timings out a touch under load? Seems like a slight splutter and backfire...i had a couple of 8v in cavaliers back in the day, very torquey from factory and love to rev 👌
So nice!
I've also been to le man's in my tcs and thought it was the perfect trip for the car.
Fantastic. And a great colour too.
I wouldn't want to be in a serious collision in it, but at 700kg, that's a risk you take.
The only car that uses the driver to prevent chassis damage in a shunt!
@youmakeitreal maybe not the only one of that vintage but certainly not designed to absorb collisions.
Beautiful, light, and fantastic handling.
Sadly, it proved impossible to keep a car's weight much below a tonne without accepting great injury if the inevitable happens.
They were crash tested as a design and only needed the front lifted slightly to meet USA lighting requirements. Fibreglass is stronger than you think and most race cars are not built of metal any more. The glass fibre absorbs impact, but there is no point in getting into a discussion about why race cars are bodied in epoxy with fibre, and even in F1. All Lotus models, TVR and Replicas are Fibreglass constructed bodies. I once had an ex race, crashed Marcos, I rebuilt in 1973. The car had been rolled and only needed minimal fibreglass repair, new rear subframe and paint. They are tougher than you think.
I've owned an Original 1969 Europa for 50 years.
@awalk5177 they were not crash tested at all. By 1972, the MIRA barrier test was required, and Lotus tested nothing in that era.
In May '72 the Mseries TVR was tested and passed, to the astonishment of MIRA.
Marcos, Gilbern, Morgan, Lotus Rochdale, and all except TVR either avoided the test or failed.
Shortly afterwards, the government negotiated an exception for small volume manufacturers.
Later in the '70s cars like the AC 3000M did pass but certainly not the structure under Elans and Europas.
The barrier test was about steering wheel cabin intrusion. Even mass-produced cars of the time failed before strengthening and redesigns.
The truth is inconvenient.
@@01menyou Why is the truth inconvenient?
I am delighted to be better informed. I like to learn something new every day.
Thank you.
Great video. You should feature his mini as well. An equally interesting car.
We will be!
@@ppcmagazine and his 7
The original bread van. Got taken for a spin round the block in one of these years back (with a twink not a Renault engine) and 30mph felt like you were traveling at twice that speed.
That is a very cool car👍👍
right nice that!
Certainly is
Great work, the video and the car. A real PPC machine.
Does it need a visit to Walker's Workshop to get that misfire sorted?
Had two Europas way back- wish I had one now. Second one had the same wheels as this car.
Problem with this one is it now has no boot space- they originally had one front, one back. We had enough space for two weeks camping gear on a trip to Italy.
The Luggage bin still fits, just out to look nice for the pictures. Its got an insulated tunnel for the exhaust to pass through. Thing do get a liitle warm though😂
The gear shift sick is 2.5 inches too high!. The rest is perfect. 😅😊
Proper little thing. The Europa is a special car. Lovely in purple. Shame you didn’t discuss BHP.
A GT needs that luggage bin your exhaust has taken the place of
The luggage bin still fits, just out for the pictures. It has an insulated tunnel for the exhaust.
During my appreñship I worked on and drove the GIN /47d a 4400 v8 Europa
I remember the Rover V-8 engined Europa that racecar builder Tony Kitchener built in his Stamford Brook Archway premises, West London , circa 1970/71.
Hell yeah, very cool. That looks like a lot of fun. You still in contact with Kev Leaper Will? Would be great to see what he's got on the go! Scooby powered Nova kit car maybe?! 🤘
We visited Kev a while back. He's in need of something more spacious for his golf clubs these days though 😁
Very interesting, one of these is on my shortlist 🤩 What shade of purple is that? Looks like Lotus aubergine but non-metallic?
The log book says Roman Purple but I used BMC Black Tulip with an extra splash of black. The outside shots are more representative of its actual colour.
@@robbhalley1810thanks very much Robb, it works really well 👌 If you might like to tell more of its story in a driving video, please give me a shout 👍
On a K plate it must be one of the last series 2 cars.
Yep
Oh hell yeah. Can Lummox has it please? Does 6' 2" Lummox fit inside?
🤣
😍😍😍😍😍
Fantastica auto , come tutte le alternative’s car inglesi … un peccato che il vero Made England stia scomparendo per dar spazio a merdomacchine anonime … p. S. Ho sempre posseduto spider e oggi Guido una superSeven Caterham …
Hello Will....still got that merc i converted?
Hi Jess! No - I sold it about 5 years back. It had a 5.5 V8 in it by then.
@ppcmagazine glad to see you are still around.....
Now, how about the other car in that garage? 😉
Mk1 Mini of some kind, could have been a bog standard 850 though.
Definitely not standard - another work of art from Robb @@Markycarandbikestuff
No Jesus sandals today? ;)
You’ll know when summer’s here.
Gave up, ratio of ads to video was very high😥
I've just gone right through with none 🤷
The ads are controlled by Google I’m afraid.