Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Lotus Elise - dream achieved

I was very fond of my Europa even if it was only the Renault engined one with the higher "roofline" changing gear required a bit of a knack no matter how much I fiddled with the linkage..(-: IIt was originally Yellow, though I preferred the Gold Leaf team Lotus colours, so repainted it.

I have again tried to attach some pics, but failing that, the links hopefully may work... Included along with the pic of my little Europa is a rather special if not slightly larger Europa I came across on our last trip to the Classic Le Mans. I spent some time chatting to the owner/builder, the engine was Rover V8 based.. Amazing bit of kit for a self build, the only Europa part I noted were the doors..

https://www.tm-img.com/image/tuFhi
https://www.tm-img.com/image/tu3VR
https://www.tm-img.com/image/tuzwq

George, you're nearly there.
Below your photo you will see two headings: "About" and "Embed codes"
Click on Embed codes. Scroll down a little to "Full Image" and the line that says BBCode. If you hover mouse pointer over the right hand end of the line a little "Copy" button will appear. Click on it. This will save the required image link to your computer. Return to the thread you are editing and post the link into the thread.



Doesn't do anything for me - too bulky!

This, however, is a tidy little car:


My pal's 47 replica was in the Gold Leaf colours.

Thanks again Graham, I have in the past managed to find my way through the photo posting labyrinth, though when I set up the new album and directly from there selected the embedded codes it only showed the ones I posted and not the list of options available elsewhere on the hosting site. I may get it right someday, and forget how to achieve it by the next day... Duh..!

As for the portly Europa, the chap and his good lady were neither young nor slim, and a degree of determination may have been required relative to access and egress, I also suspect the sunroof would have been put to good use given the high temps at LM that year.

I was in my late twenties when I owned my Europa so no problems getting in and out of it back then, when I bought the old thing it was full of water up to the tops of the sills, all the pedals were seized, had a lot of fun restoring it and even more driving it, little Lotus cars were really rather special, and I have no doubt they still are though never driven any Lotus any newer than my LT engined Elite, which was a bit of a disappointment compared to the earlier Elan and Europa models.

In 1965 - 66 I worked for an insurance company that had coverage on Lotus Elan cars. All the accident repair work in Sydney was done by the one business which specialised in fibreglass bodywork. They had moulds for every possible panel on an Elan and I think they could have done a complete body replacement if necessary.

I always thought that they were lovely little cars but somehow I never really desired one. I was probably more into motorcycles in those days.

https://www.tm-img.com/images/2020/11/07/12902812.jpg

I think the number plate would nett a good deal of that price!

Given what little else you can get on the classic front for that price these days it seems good value and a decent investment.

Pity you never got round to trying out a 60`s Elan Peter, they were very special in their day, when one considers the performance or lack of, in terms of the family car of the time..

Apparently there are those who determine that the MX5 is very close to providing a similar experience but without the expected Early Elan ...err...foibles, but for me the intake roar of the twin Webers and the underbonnet appearance of the Lotus Twin Cam lightweight construction with 10 inch discs all round, carries many special memories of miles travelled...(-: I spent a great deal of time sticking my old Lotus cars back together ultimately I preferred repairing steel bodies for a variety of reasons so kinda gave up on Lotus in time.

In the pic of my Europa you no doubt noticed my Honda 550 Four, in the background which was at the time my daily transport, the other bike was a Rickman Metisse Triumph with a rather fancy conical front hub which housed a disc brake and if my memory serves, the caliper if not just the pads of which came from a Mini Cooper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psf5CBYfN5I

https://www.bike-urious.com/1968-rickman-metisse-triumph/

Sad Elan..

GKN made a RV8 Europa, I wonder if it is still around.

Is that an Else spoiler on your Europal George?

Edit. Oops it is probably an S1 not an S2

Registered GKN 47D
Have seen a similar car at Curborough, but don't think it was the original.

Rovert, correct S1 and much enjoyed...

George L. PVW 392R looks bulky compared to Europas because it was built as a Lotus 62 lookalike. Only the basic outer form is shared between the two models. This lookalike is even further removed as it was built on an Esprit chassis using a Banks 62 body sliced down the middle to let in even more width.