I bought a 1969 Lotus Europa on EBAY
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
- A friend talked me into buying a Lotus Europa on Ebay. I'd never even heard of a Europa until he sent me the ebay link, and he sent it with only 5 hours left in the auction. I told Tom it was a cool looking car, but I didn't know anything about them, and I'm tapped on time and space. He told me he'd help me get the car running if I won the auction. Another kicker, that wasn't mentioned in this video was that Tom said he may be willing to trade one of his Datsun 510s if I won the car and wasn't into it.
Coming from Air-cooled Porsches, an old lotus like this is a fraction of the cost and that fact alone made me very interested in buying the car. I'd been talking to many of my friends about finding another classic car that could offer a vintage analog driving experience at a much cheaper cost. Tom knew this, which is why he thought of me when he saw the car on eBay.
I did my best to learn as much as I could about Europas in the few hours I had before the auction ended. Ultimately, I considered this to be a seriously unique car that I generally loved the look of. The back end of the car takes a little getting used to, but the s2 is a great looking car. The later version is a cool car as well, but I can't get over the look. If this had been the later version, I wouldn't have gone for it.
These are not commonly seen on the road being that only 9800 or so were made. Over 400k air-cooled porsche 911s were made. The 911 is going to be an extremely difficult car to beat when it comes to many factors. There's only one way to find out if other vintage cars stack up against a 911. One of the first mid engine cars ever made is certainly cool. Light weight, coil over suspension, rear wheel drive, and a 4 cylinder Renault engine makes this a car that is simply so far removed from anything made today..I dig it. If this ends up being a car that puts a big smile on my face for years to come..I think I'll have scored big time.
Hope you enjoy and thanks for watching!
Europa commandent is Thou shall NOT cut a hole in thy roof. Never.
Some dork did this :(
I remember them I was 8 years old in 69 and already very much a car guy, good luck with the new road you’re going on both with the Lotus and more so with the birth of your first? Child. Take care and thanks again for the videos. 🙏🙏
Thanks John! I’m gonna need it for both haha
Man im super excited for you- this is awesome!
Thanks Chris! Looking forward to more content on this one
I've owned 5 of them. The last one was a one-owner I purchased off of a late friend who bought it new in 1974 (a JPS). However, I prefer the bodies of the S1/S2s. The first one I purchased was an S1 in 1981. I cut the pan off, rebuilt the chassis and bonded it back together. Too much work but I only paid $800 for it. The S2 I built in the 90s had a YAG backed up by a Porsche 901 5-speed. I really miss that car but I went all Porsche about 20 years ago and never looked back I have 3 SCs and a 914 2.0. They are damned reliable. I had always wanted an Esprit but every time I test drove one it broke down. The Europa was a really underrated car. If only Emma Peel had driven one instead of an Elan.
Such a cool looking car! Love the color.
Thanks 😊 😘it’s the Cayenne color you like
I bought a lotus Europa in 1975..It was a unique colour of white with a pearl lacquer spray . When the sun shone on the body work it looked purple. Drove from Mcr to London in 1977 to watch the 1977 fa cup final..Happy days
Was it fun to drive?
It was easy at 22, not so sure now at a young 71
Man, how cool is this? I've never even heard of the Lotus Europa, should be a fun car, congrats!
Thanks man! Yea should be really fun to drive. Can’t wait to see
I think it is awesome! The Lotus brand is still known for it's extreme light weight and superb steering. One of the the guys on the "Everyday Driver" series has shown a lot about the Lotus brand, I think you're really going to dig that car! Now I (and many others!) will be eagerly awaiting the next episode to see if you can get her to spit fire! Congrats, but most importantly congrats for you and your Mrs. on the upcoming birth of another Gideon family member!
Congrats. I have a 72 Big Valve. Love it.
Do you? I cannot wait to drive this. Love hearing positive comments from actual owners.
Such a cool quirky car! Congrats! Have fun!
Right! Definitely quirky but that’s what makes it cool. Thanks! 👊🏻
The JPS Europa dual cam is the model to own - really cool car!
I've got one but I must say, the body on the S1 and S2 is way cooler. As far as power is concerned, swapping out the Renault engine is fairly common.
Very cool. Lotus have a great rep in the UK. Looking forward to seeing it on the road 😎👍
I saw one of these as a child in the 1970's near Liverpool UK. Years later I bought a S2A Renault engined Europa when I was about 19. Loved it, and used it as a daily for a couple of years. You may have heard that LOTUS stands for 'Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious' which is partly true! Drive shafts are froma Hillman Imp. Bumpers from Cortina / Anglia. Door handles from a Leyland Maxi. The only thing that didn't go wrong on mine was the Renault engine, which was considered 'foreign muck' in a town close to Liverpool where Ford & Leyland dominated. I'd love to buy another now, but finding a good one is tricky. Enjoy your Lotus!
I'm glad you bought that because I was seriously tempted and I really don't need 7 of these cars. Speaking of bubbles!
Haha yea the bubble is gonna burst and I’ll have too many cars that aren’t worth much lol
I was a nineteen year old in the army in Germany and bought a 1969 Europa. Didn't have it long before wrecking it. Smart ass young guy with too much car. But it does drive like an oversize go kart. Enjoy it. Right rear visibility is almost nonexistent
cool car. those modded ones you showed solidified the vision for me.
Drove that car in 1973. A bit underpowered but phenomenal handling. The short throw shifter in a ball..... just a flick of the wrist. But the foot box....... usually drove shoeless and had to twist my foot to push with the outside. Oh yeah, I'm 6'2".
My all time favorite sports car,second favorite Triumph TR 8.
Very cool, Looking fwd to see how the restoration goes.
I use to drive Lotus Europa 1973 Twincam Special with Stromberg carb equipped.
Lotus and Porsche combination is one of the best in Man's garage. you will enjoy it for sure.
Now i drive Lotus Esprit V8 and 912. I am enjoying it everyday. Good luck. :)
Thanks! Esprit and 912 is such a good couple choices
I'm picking up a FREE 71 Europa project tomorrow from its second owner who has had it since 74. It'll be a long term project, but I've wanted one since I was six and had the Matchbox car.
sweet!
I'm envious, I have wanted one since I got to drive one at age 20 in 1974
How did it drive??
Wow cool find! I always wanted a British car, MG or triumph, never heard of the Lotus Europa, looks like a fun project!
Thanks! Really fun to work on something different. Appreciate the time to write a comment have a great day 🤝
Congrats...? LOL... looks like you warmed up to the challenge by the time you got to the car. Good luck and look forward to seeing it run.
Hahah thanks man. Once I saw the car in person I felt great about it
SWEET, what a nice find! Body, Paint, and Interior looks really nice; love the true British woodgrain dash too! Stay far away from 4x4 Trucks; "less thee be crusted"🤭
👋👍🙏 the dash is really cool, agreed. Haha I’ve got a 4x4 but it’s nothing fancy
I have owned a type 54 for over 50 years and kept it standard apart from putting on a 12inch Motolita leather steering wheel, and changed from the mechanical fuel pump to an electrical pump. They are amazing cars to drive if well maintained and the suspension looked after. You soon get the "feel" when something is even slightly worn as everything is precise and light. The best handling car I have ever driven and such fun to drive.
Love to hear this. My car has an electric fuel pump in it. Why the change from the mechanical pump?
@@michaelgideon6422 My car has always been reliable, but one afternoon I was in a city centre (late 1970's) and it refused to start. I could not leave it there as next day there would be nothing left, so had it trailered home just as it was getting dark Next day I found the mechanical pump thread into the alloy on the top was stripped (dont know why) and so fine it was unable to have a new thread, the pumps were difficult to find from Renault and expensive. But I had an electric SU pump in the garage which was easy to fit and wire to the ignition. I had the car repainted and a new chassis and at that time put in a new modern electric pump.
I did blow a piston ring because the radiator was re-cored incorrectly, they are crossflow and the repaired apprentice missed the baffle in the end inside, this caused the water to not go through the core at all, which took some finding and the engine overheated badly. I found that by removing the breather tap on top of the radiator and inserting a knitting needle which went right down to the bottom (hence no baffle) I rebuilt the engine with new pistons and bearings at about 60K miles.
Thank you for this video. This is your subscriber on the West Coast Los Angeles. The car looks nice and don’t get mad at me. The only thing I would change the side mirrors those things are ugly please don’t get mad at me. I would definitely put something else on the side of those doors.😂😂😂😂
They are terrible I know! I mentioned it in the video actually haha.
Nice find.Have to let us know about the clutch/brake pedal thing…..that was a bit weird.If Olive needs somewhere to go,I still have a spot here😂😂😂
Thanks! Solved the pedal issue it was just a bit of corrosion. Hahah I worded that “out of the Porsche experience” comment poorly 😆
This video needs a follow up now it is over a year since this video.
I've got a few videos coming. It's been too long
Used to be known as the bread van 😊 happy driving 👍
Ferrari made a pretty cool bread van
The seating position is as good as it gets, as close to a Lotus F1 or F2 car driving position as you can get on the road, the car fits the driver.
Well done, it should be a fun journey. I just took out my europa pedal assembly today,its a 5 minute job and the joint clutch and brake is likely just a bit of corrosion where they pivot. Easy fix .
Thanks! You don’t remove the seat to do this do you?
No need to remove the seats, just remove the four nuts from underneath the car ,the bolt heads are welded to the pedal base, then just remove two clevis pins and its free.
@@bertram256 thanks for saving me the time to figure that out 👊🏻🤝🌴
Michael, I have lived that same purchase experience with a 2002 BMW e39 M5. 1 too many glasses of wine and I hit the eBay button and next thing I know I am arranging transport from San Diego to Appleton, WI. It was a great car, owned it 5 years, sold it last summer…
I am willing to help you out of the Porsche bubble! Is Olive for sale?
That’s a fun bmw for sure. I’ve always appreciated those. Sounds like the liquor courage worked out. Haha no no not for sale
Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious ; I) good luck . . . .
oooff
That’s pretty awesome for the price! Funny how the Porsche bubble conditions you to think outrageous prices are normal…
So much car for the money. Yep you nailed it on the point of conditioning. Incredible cars of course, but so much else out there
Nice find! You may actually like the sunroof, for added ventilation thru the cabin. And you may want to tint it (sunroof) with a reflective sun tint to keep inside temps down. Granted purists would prefer it did not have it, but overall very nice find!
ventilation might be huge, thats true. I hate the look of it though. Thanks!
6:39. The windows in the S1 were fixed. That's right. You couldn't open them at all! Welcome to the Lotus family.
More to just driving around looking cool all the time. Looks like you're actually hailing from Jupiter this time :) - but such an interesting episode lol.
Congrats and thanks for posting, and have fun with your new car :).
Thanks, I think?
@@michaelgideon6422 no, you got it right, it was a compliment. I'm just saying, your new car is really unique and kind of futuristic looking like it's not from this world - like something out of the Jetsons. Kind of like the 914 when I first laid my eyes on it.
@@Jack-si2pg oh got it. Well thanks! I didn’t know if you were saying I’m from Jupiter and therefor stupider lol
HELL YEAH.
🌴⚡️✨thanks for the comment man!
Bad ass car. You're gonna have to make a special seat so I can ride in it
Haha I’d have to take the seat out entirely
@@michaelgideon6422 I'll bring a pad to sit on 🤣
No updates on this car, in almost a year??
I've been filming the process. In the next few weeks there will be updates on the car
Lovely looking thing. Everybody (from Magnus Walker to Number 27) who ever reviews a Europa, always say the same thing - the ride is peerless. Handling epic - as is standard on a Lotus. Shame it’s the wheezy Renault lump & not the big valve twin cam. Mirrors are rank. Sunroof is a big no no. The wheels arent v nice either, but they remanufacture the twin cam special alloys now. Enjoy the whizzer. Try a de Dion Caterham - that’ll blow your mind.
I saw the number 27 video, thanks for that info. Watching his surprise and lack of words for the steering was so good. Mirrors and sunroof are no bueno for sure. But that’ll get changed later on once I handle the important stuff. I’ve got no input on the engines but I’m happy either way.
Sorry, one more thing... Those other photos are inspiring, but they aren't the same car. You'll get familiar with the 'Types' soon enough. Have fun!
I know they are s1s although I don’t think I knew that when I was getting the photos from my friends. Thanks thanks the goal!
Schade das ein Bastler das Auto mit einem Zubehör dach verschandelt hat.Habe selbst zwei Europas gehabt,aber bei 1,82m Größe sehr beengt.
ua-cam.com/video/PMBerb7l3pM/v-deo.html here's a sweet youtube vid of a 1972 Lotus Europa S2, it does sound a bit worked over but it does look sweet!
That’s a later version with the twin cam. Seems like the better engine, but I can’t get passed the look
Dude your not 5'8 cuz im 5'9 and your taller then me
Hahaha what?? You’re taller than me for sure
Cool 😎 great buy ! once up and running,perhaps remove the aftermarket sunroof and fill in the hole, or at very least,replace with a webasto type slideback opening...
Thank you! Once I get the important things handled I’ll ditch the sunroof for sure. Bummer too, because the headliner is perfect
Best of luck to you. I’ve owned my Type 54 for more than twenty years now. I’m 6’ and decrepit now. I wear a pair of very narrow moccasins to drive it. Mine has been upgraded to a Renault Gordini crossflow motor. You may not have realized it yet, but rear quarter vision is very restricted.
Love to hear that! Do you love it? I still haven't driven mine. Hopefully soon. The rear vision is terrible haha. Thanks for the comment. I haven't spoken to anyone who actually owns one.