DRIVEN: 1972 Europa Lotus Special, The Oddest Looking Lotus - But One Of The Best
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
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This week I'm driving the incredible Lotus Europa Special. Courtesy of a very kind owner, I finally get to experience one of the strangest looking sports cars of all time. With breadvan styling, and a small 1.5L Lotus engine - how good can this car possibly be?
#Lotus #Europa #JPS
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When i first saw a Europa, i was a kid, and it was in the 70s. I found the looks to be sharp, distinctive, a breath of fresh air. ..and that first impression has stuck with me ever since. Because so many comment on how horrible they think it looks now a days, i have adjusted my eye sight to be able to see that one could argue that it is weird looking. ..but to me it's still the same cool looking car i fell in love with around 45 years ago. Very cool to see one on your channel.
agreed :) I was smitten - a local guy professionally extended the arches on a JPS - have loads of pics somewhere (Northampton)
Yep me too. It’s the first car I can remember really loving the look of, it was just so different to everything else around. George Best being an owner just added that level of coolness that can’t be bought. Used to see a few on the roads in the 70s, I bet I’ve not seen one in the flesh for about 20 years now though.
Thanks. You've wrote what I was about to. Lovely car.
...same here...I still have a sweet spot for them in my heart.......
@@elainericketts8820 :)
The joy of "driving". No ten minute segment on infotainment and how big the wheels are. The things that modern life demand of vehicles too often detract or distract from the experience. Certainly not the prettiest Lotus, but in that colour scheme and on those wheels, it's spot on.
I completely agree although getting 10 minutes out of the infotainment on that would be a challenge! 😂
@@pjay3028 the info is the tachometer and the entertainment are the controls😊
@@petersimpson5859 well said
FYI, the rear tires are larger than the front.
Peter Simpson: Yer dead right... I bought the most modern car I have ever owned a couple of years ago. After it had tugged the wheel, vibrated, bonged, beeped, and screeched at me every time I drove it, I finally worked out what it was trying to tell me: "I'm not the right car for you!" So I sold it! :o)
I drove one of these back in 1968, it was brand new with the Renault engine. It didn’t matter that some of the head lining had come unstuck or the bonnet lifted up over 80mph because of the pressure buildup in the plenum, it handled like nothing I’d ever driven before. At the time I owned a 1963 3.8 E- type roadster and seriously thought about swapping to the Lotus. I now own an Evora.
I bought a 1969 Black badge (type 54) in 1973 and still own it, (now on a new chassis) but there are very few original cars left now I think. I saw my first one in Scarborough in 1970 and instantly fell in love with the car. I don't see anything odd in the shape as it was similar to the Ford GT40.
It took me a little while to save up to find one and buy it. They are a lovely car.
I owned an S2. At the time the press were still going on about the E-type, so I thought I'd try one. The E-type was a real disappointment - much,much faster of course, but the Europa's chassis was so much better. Never fancied an E-type after that. Subsequently had an Elise S1 - great car, but so basic inside compared with the Europa as the video shows.
Love hearing this. Great story 😎👍👍
My first experience in a Lotus was a test drive with my brother-in-law to be in a 1973 Europa Special, red with gold pin striping. I was 13 years old, at the time, but that ride still is still an automotive high point in my life. There is a descending 270° cloverleaf freeway off ramp in my home town that is marked 25mph. We went in a 55mph and came out at the bottom doing 70 mph! The tires had begun to moan a little, but the car just stuck to the road. We braked for the signal light on the other side of the overpass and the Europa simply hunkered down into the road and stopped. No rebound. It was all uncanny.
I've always loved the unique styling, especially the Twin Cam body. To my eyes, it and the original Elan are the essential Lotus ethos. Yes, I love the Esprit, the Elise and even the mid 70s Elite, but the Europa is the one that most clearly IS Lotus.
I own an S1 slightly uprated. It is so much fun to drive like you noticed and it is an absolute magnet for attention. Park next to a million pound car and that fades into obscurity next to the little Lotus.
Damn you Jayemm, you've made me feel totally inadequate. Having owned three Elans in the 70's and 80's I set my ambition on one of these and fully expected to get one, "one day". Now in my 70's and a relatively poor pensioner I have to finally accept this won't be happening. I'll have to settle for second prize, my trusty old MX5.
Can you please run the review again, and pan it this time. You'll make an old man very happy.
I'll do my best
Don't give up. I'm 75 and just bought an S2 Europa project car to replace my S2 Elan that I sold a few years ago, causing serious withdrawal symptoms. Like Elan's, Europa's are easy to work on and most parts are available 9if you avoid the US rip off artists that charge outrageous prices. I get my parts for less from Britain, even allowing for shipping charges. Most of the whining from unknowing 'mechanics' is just that. Compared to a Corvette 'cleaver' a Lotus is an 'Epee'. Treat them as such and you'll always be rewarded.
@@philipgrice1026 My post was all true, but a little tongue in cheek. I never give up, lifes too short for that, and I won't completely give up until I hear the earth landing on top of my coffin. Well done having the courage to take on the Europa build, I wish you every success.
Get a 3rd generation Toyota MR2....thank me later.
@@fortheloveofnoise Only if you like driving boring appliances. The MR2 is not as attractive, has little character (no one will ever stop and ask you what it is), and might as well be a Nissan Sentra for all the appeal it has. The MR2s are dull little cars but if that's your taste in life, fine.
That has really brightened my day. So glad you enjoyed it as much as you did.
Always look forward to seeing you back in a Lotus.
I'm particularly attached to the Europa Twin Cam. Back in the day (in my early 20s) there were a few about where I worked in Westminster as Len Street, Lotus dealers were down the road in Chelsea. What with Lotus winning the F1 car constructors in 1972 and 73, the Twin Cam and Special was the car to have and this left Lotus struggling to sell the front engined Elan Sprint. I had to wait until the early 80s to add a 1975 Europa Special to my Lotus stable and it was well worth the wait. Definitely a rung up the ladder after the Sprint with more rubber on the road, delicious handling and that twin cam engine sounds no better than in a Europa. Glad you JayEmm liked the test drive. I thought you would.
do u still have it Jim?
im really missing my lotus escort !
@@rhett7716 Yes Rhett, it's a keeper this one. It's a rare unmolested Special which I have kept in mint condition right down to the oatmeal interior.
Had a friend in Aberdeen had a Europa Special in 1973 which had been breathed on by a company called Norvic. The engine had been bored and stroked to 1760cc and he had the bills the previous owner had provided to verify the work done. If I remember correctly some £600 had been spent on the engine but I can’t remember the power output from the dyno bench test. He gave me a run in it once on the back roads around Cults and don’t think I’ve ever been in a car since that sat on the road like that Europa. Was like being on rails.
YES! At last, a Europa on test. Brilliant. OK, there are a few bits that look odd, don't care. If ever a car deserved the description "greater than the sum of it's parts", this is that car. It was my first poster car in the late sixties and could still be if my wife allowed such a thing as car posters. Good man Barry, thank you for making this possible. So glad you enjoyed it James. excellent video.
Now this Lotus has the original pop and bang, love that vintage raw engine sound devoid of modern day synthetic engine sound. Nice one Jay
u should drive a well tuned Elan Sprint convertible - Better still, a pre-cat Griff :)
Hate to burst your bubble, but that "original pop and bang" is just the result of timing adjustments.
@@frankhoward7645 That, plus an aftermarket exhaust that uses oversized pipe combined with the whole system being too short for that application. The bane of rear and mid-engine cars. Poor timing, air leaks and a short exhaust result in unnecessary pops and bangs. Cars leaving the factory did not do that. Mine still doesn't over 50 years later.
I had the pleasure of owning a Lotus Europa Special in JPS livery in 1975, when it was two years old. Registration number was KKP 575L. What a absolute joy to own. I’ve never forgotten that experience. If the current owner of my car is reading this I’d love to hear from you.
I remember seeing Europas racing at Oulton Park in the late 60's and being amazed by their awesome roadholding at Old Hall corner! Nothing could match their cornering ability!
I remember Chris Meek racing a green Europa which prompted me to buy one after I had owned a ex-racer Mini Marcos. They both cornered like they were on rails. I still have the Europa after 48 years a type 54 and very standard.
Yes, what a fantastic little car. My dad owned one when my sister and I were little, four of us traveled 350 miles to Cornwall in it, before health and safety obviously. Great memories.
You guys need to look up a 1970’s film , 11 Harrowhouse, starring Charles Grodin, Candice Bergen , James Mason and Sir John Guilgood amongst others. The car chase sequence involving Ferrari Dino ( sounding far sweeter than Tony Curtis’s oil burning example in The Persuaders , and a Lotus Europa same spec as this model , jumping over hedges and going through huge pipes no less , great stuff!
Have the film on DVD. Great shots of this car. Rog.
One of Chapman's imperatives for all the Lotus designs was making the suspension arms as long as possible, at the back they start literally each side of the diff, and that's what gave them their superb ride (and handling by dint of consistent camber angle). Take a look under contemporary Rolls and you'll find the same thing (at the front). Another designer who followed this philosophy is Lee Noble and again, ride quality completely unexpected from such light cars.
Great rear camra position, to be able to see the rear suspension working and the gear change oprating as well as the odd flame was lovely.
Yes I loved that as well. Just awesome!
And a coolant leak?
@@therealboofighter Looks a good leak too.
The most sporty looking Hearse ever produced!
I always thought of it more as a British El Camino (which, according to Kelso on "That 70s Show," is Spanish for "The Camino").
Similar body shape to Lamborghini Miura and Ford GT40.
Had mine since 1979 on the original chassis now with a twinlink rear suspension 150BHP and Toyo R888R's...Great vid on my 64th Birthday! Europa owners dont care about the back end looks as that view is for the cars they overtake!
Thanks for the video!!
I had one once...a 1973 JPS Europa. Absolutely fantastic car...never had any issues with it...very reliable and a blast to drive.
What a weird and wonderful car. Love it. Great review - gives a real sense of of the thrill and joy of driving a classic small Lotus. This is up there with Harry Metcalfe's review of his Elan Sprint. Well done - and thank you
I lusted after one of those in the 70s, ended up with an Elan plus two with the same twin cam engine. Both lovely cars.
I worked at the Lotus factory in Hethel Norfolk from 1969 to 1971 on the P5 Europa assembly line.
Bodies were bolted to the steel chassis at that time. Great video.
Renault engines with bigger inlet valves. Low in height with the lowest drag coefficient in a production car at the time. My brother started there when Lotus first moved to Norfolk from Cheshunt. I am 76 now and drive a 2001 Corsa b.
Fond memories walking round to the Team Lotus Unit in my lunch break chatting to my brother.
Always thought it was a great design. Wanted one desperately when I was in college. Drove past showroom many times to see it displayed.
Among my S2K, Exige and Europa, I would pick my Europa for the most delicate precise and exquisite handling for the sheer enjoyment and probably you would agree on it. Thanks very much for the video again and look forward to more of your videos ! Cheers from Jay in US
Back in the day, it was advertised as the closest thing to experience driving a Formula 1 car. A little far fetched but not by much. I was driving a friend's 1974 TC Special in the mid 70's. He paid $5k USD for it. I loved it then and love it even more today. Well done JMM, thanks for the video.
I love the sound of twin forties. Cracking car..lotus just flow with the road. I always fancied a europa
This is one for which I've been waiting! Had a very good Europa model when I was 10 and despite my father telling me it looked like a truck, I was enamored with it.
i had one of these but with age i had to sell it ,for no reason i gain extra weight and started to have dificultie in entering the car but i loved it . It had such a high-quality of driving not going to say it was the best but one of the best cars i had, it seems it glued it self to corners and when younger it felt confortable, today Lotus it´s seems to be not fashionable but still very nice cars if one like sport driving. Today it seems that cars are bought to show others not because one tried it and liked the way it drives
Saw one of these at a rally cross meet-up once, and I'm so, so envious right now!
Having driven one of the Europa's the good report is no surprise. As a drivers car it is up there and surprisingly tractable and comfortable.
The first time I saw one of these was at a car show, and was a Big Valve in these same colours and I remember walking past and just stopping to stare for at least a few minutes to try and work out what it was before walking around and meeting the owner
Jay, good test. The Europa Special and Elan Sprint were both benchmarks for their day. It was sad the reliability issues made them such a pain to own. My Elan Sprint was an absolute blast to drive, went like stink and made wonderful induction noises from the twin webers. Nothing could touch these cars. Shame your audio couldn't capture the true magic.
Lust, lust,lust... My uncle built his first (red) Renault engined Europa and followed it with a yellow one. Sadly his company went bust before he could get a lime green Twin Cam...And I've wanted one ever since...
You can't beat JPS colours on an old lotus.
I know the owner the car and the road a gentleman, great car and a fantastic road. Cheers Jim
You may not like the looks.but when I saw my firs "special" I fell in love despite no pop up headlights!
Thanks for the actual driving Jay .....the visceral sound and visual ..ty
I love these. The original Elise. I remember they used to be very affordable. But the drooping door glass frame, always bugged me. Looks like it melting.
My dream car when I was a teenager. Lovely to see it here .
This car shows why in it's day, Lotus were able to take on Ferrari, & the other F1 teams.
Thanks James & Barry!
That makes no sense. Lotus never did well with sports car racing in this era.
@@truantray Lotus were successful on & off in F1 from 1963-78. The Esprit, a successor to this car, was still seen as a top marque sportscar into the 1980's.
Barry Gibb and George Best owned Lotus Europa's and Nikki Lauda had a Lotus Europa S2 in his collection of cars. Some dont see the shape as "odd" at all.
I have owned a Europa now for 50 years and it is still original.
I've always wanted a Europa from seeing repeats of The Avengers on TV, such a stunner
When I was about 10 Lotus Europa was my dream car I would spend all day looking at the pictures and drawing pictures of itand dreaming about owning one, that never happened but I have sat in one
The Europa was always one of my favourite looking lotus cars
I was luckily the owner of a special in the early 80s and owned it for three years, I nearly cried when I sold it to put a deposit on a house. Best car I have ever driven, road handling is superb steering is direct, and full of feel, would make most modern cars more than slightly pathetic if they tried to keep up with one. Gear linkage was always a pain Having mine rose jointed made a great difference to the system, once used to it there was never a problem. Best car I've ever owned I would love to own one now
First 30 seconds or so, pure driving. You know it’s going to be a good one.
I recall seeing one of these hustling down one of the twisty Swiss mountain passes back in the late 60s early 70s passing all sorts of cars so swiftly - quite something!
I've always loved the look of these since I first saw a special in the early 70s
I thought the Lotus Europa was the coolest car around. I used to druel on the car mags with reviews of the Lotus Europa back in the 70's. Looks like your having a blast driving the Europa Special. It would be cool driving it at night with that fire popping out of the tailpipe. I'd rather have that than a Ferrari.
When I was younger there was one in a driveway in Dinas Powys. I would go past and wish I could have a cool car like that when I got older. It's not there any more. I wonder what happened to it?
To me, it looks beautiful AND special.
It's rare I like the sound of an I4 exhaust, but this little bird sings a delightful song.
Seems like a true enthusiasts car. No one could accuse the owner of just trying to flex or pick up chicks with it:)
Fantastic video. Love that sound. What a beautiful car. Beauty is of course in the eye of the beholder; I think it looks lovely.
So glad I found your. Channel 👌
Lovely to see that rear suspension doing its bit.With such a light car you can allow a softer spring rate but keep it well damped.
The tyres don't need to be that wide either as opposed to the ridiculous ones we see on many cars today that are more style than relevance.
A friend of mine had one of these with the Renault engine back in the 70's. It had flares blended into the body work for wider tires. One of the best looking and handling cars I've ever driven. Loved that thing. The main problem with it was that it was so low that people in front of you didn't know you were there and would sometimes back up into your car, especially when parked. Well, it also filled up with water whenever it rained...Lol.
Unfortunately, he got t-boned by a big Mercedes which totaled the car. Luckily he survived with just a couple of cracked ribs.
I love the looks. Visually, it's one of my favorite European cars of all time...which would put me odds with many car fans, but you have to have been a little kid in the 1960's to know what I'm talking about.
Such a capable car. I could never get over the looks.
There was a lovely orange Miura at Cars on Kiawah yesterday. That and a yellow Dino 246 GT were my favorites. The Europa stayed in the Shop.
Ever since GT2 introduced me to the Europa, I have wanted one badly. Total headturner and if it drives as well as the rendering, it would be fantastic to own.
The interior at 4:24, is stunningly good for that era. Total sports car layout with that early 70's attitude. Makes you want to just sit in there for hours and enjoy the view.
I still want it.
3:46 I did that building a Factory Five GT-M. Married an LS engine to a Porsche Boxster transaxle, but I forgot to flip the rear engine transaxle upside down for a mid engine layout.
I had 6 gears in reverse.
I had a Europa Matchbox and recall seeing one in real life when I was young, in Wheeling WV of all places. It would have been a blast on those country roads. When seeing them at car shows, no one else has a clue what it is!
That sound is just intoxicating
Personally in my 66 years I have never seen any bread van that remotely resembled a Lotus Europa, one of my all time favourite cars.
Hi. Well a friend has the identical car and the gearbox is it's achilles heel .....and the engine ......and the chassis ! But he loves it and has done so for the past 35+ years ! I myself drove the Renault engined car on an extensive drive of ...........100 yards as a 18 year old and very nearly totalled it . The pedals are very off set to the left and l hit the loud pedal when trying to stop ! Luckily , l hadn't noticed the umbrella handbrake was still on and the car came to a stop inches from a brick wall ! Brings back memories , thanks .
I rebuilt the gear change linkage on mine with absolutely no flop and it was much improved.
i just forget to say that in late 70´s i bought a renault alpine and had the same shape of the back of the Europa and i asked at the time and they told me was designed with colaboration of Lotus, maybe the only renault i really liked
Very cool car! And given that £2000 in 1974 is just over £22,000 in today's money, it's doing well in value... Not that it's a car that one would sell having had it that long. But nice to know it's increased in value by 50% in real terms over that time.
Brilliant cars, that needed love and constant attention to give of their best! Sadly, many fell into the hands of idiots who thought they could run them on the cheap giving them a reputation of being unreliable.
Always liked the Europa and the jps colours are really nice.
Any LOTUS is real fun to drive , raw magic .
126 hp DIN net from my Super Cars of the Seventies book, which was a compilation from the 1974 UK Motor Magazine test. Really refined and Really quick. 14.9 second standing Quarter mile.
Love all lotuses.. :)
With your fab shirts and sunglasses you could carry any medallion off with aplomb 😉
Since Tara King (The Avengers) had one, I want one !
Very cool car. This was the object of my adolescent lust in the late 1960s and I thought this was absolutely a beautiful car, and it still is. Disappointed you didn’t get the whole story from the owner to tell in this video. Old cool cars of this age should have had a full length video on the maintenance, mods, issues and just great stories about owning this 50 year old classic. A really good comparison would be having the owner of this Lotus meeting the owner of a VW/Porsche 914 and a more detailed road comparison. Interesting knowing the purchase price and current values of these 2 models. I have an ongoing 914/6 project.
What do you mean odd shape?. It's beautiful. My question would be why a Renault engine instead of a Ford engine?.
Because Chapman was able to use the complete Renault 16 engine/gearbox/final drive assembly without significant alteration. Using the Twin Cam needed a re-designed gearbox and final drive unit which Lotus couldn't afford at the time and would have priced the Europe out of the market.
@@saxon-mt5by The twin cam engine in this car is of course based on the Ford pushrod engine - so which gearbox does it get?
@@pashakdescilly7517 It retained the Renault gearbox and transaxle (the five-speed version was from the Renault 16TX). But on introduction it was much easier and cheaper to use the complete Renault package.
Thanks Barry 😊
JPS special (John Player Cigarettes)
They were fantastic cars. Still are if you ever see one.
You need to try a good baby Elan that will impress you especially the gear change. Did the Europa not remind you of an Elise
I loved my '88 Lotus Turbo Esprit.. That thing was awesome to drive. When I ran the highest octane fuel I could get in it. It would shoot a 6 foot flame out of the tailpipe when decelerating in the neighborhood .. The neighborhood kids Loved It !! BTW, that thing would HUG a circle around a Flag Pole ! Great Rear wheel Grip !! Sadly it was uncomfortable as I am 6'3" even w/ the tall man kit. But, never the less, I had a BALL owning and driving as a daily driver for 2+ years. Sold it, bought a Porsche 911.. Very comfortable now. All is well. !
Great review. Jay loved that one.
In the mid 70s a Europa lived half a mile from my home. It had a couple of optics between the seats.
thanks for the review. never owned a pure lotus only a lotus escort and this really makes me miss having a drivers car.
I’ve owned eleven different British sports cars over the last 40 years, including six lotuses. My Europa Special was one of, if not the, best.
One of my favorite cars ever
We had one in Marysville, Ohio that was a Black/gold John Player Special in the 70's.
What a lovely car. I raced my dads MGF on a track once. It was my first time and I couldn't understand why the Lotus ahead of me was driving so slow. Then I spun.
Lovely car the Europa. One thing im curious to know why some Europa having two windscreen wipers and some only have a single windscreen wiper ??
Federal US market cars got 2 wipers, the rest were single.
The first production car with read-mid configuration the was the 1962 René Bonnet Djet (Matra Djet).
Linda Thorson drove an earlier model on THE AVENGERS originally intended for Patrick Macnee's character and she seemed to enjoy it too.
Proper Lotus.kudos to Barry
Loved the look of these as a nipper.
When I was young I am sure there was a GKN version with a Rover 3.5 V8 engine . I know that it had a warning notice on the dash to say only to be driven by professional drivers!
yes I had mine for 25 years 72 special it was my daily commuter for 15 years I put 200k miles on it and my elise is a good replacent it is to heavy, also I thought it was allways one of the best looking cars of the era, of course every thing that could be thought of as a bearing surface had to be replaced at least once in that time, but unbeliveabley fun to drive.especially with upgraded suspension. and very easy to work on. unfortunately
it died in a fire in the paint shop it was being resprayed in.
Because of or in spite of their look, I like these. Thanks for uploading this, so I can get a sense of how it drives, as with my height, I fear it would be a very tight fit in one.
My sister and brother in law had one from new great car 1973 twin cam S2 👌 happy memories
this car prominently appeared in the ashita no joe 2 anime, with a massive redesign removing the earse esque aestetic from it and giving it a flat rear
A beautiful usable & drivable classic sports car, more fun & special (like my 2.9 TVR) than any modern unusable supercar. Great video.
Great video James. We do love an old English classic. Brilliant. ✌🏼