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Unrestored Lotus Europa Tcs, 5 Speed, Jps Colors. They Are Original Only Once. on 2040-cars

Year:1974 Mileage:26000
Location:

Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States

Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States
Advertising:

I am relisting this car. A local buyer failed to sell his car in the agreed time window so she is up for grabs again. Thank you.

This unrestored 5 speed is a rare find. To find any 40 year old car (let alone a Lotus) in this condition is a rare thing. People think it was restored. This amazingly well preserved example has had 3 previous owners. I bought it last year, having wanted one since I was a teenager. It sat in a garage for 20 years, but was started every now and then. It has great oil pressure and drives beautifully. Here is a list of what I did to it. I'm probably forgetting some things. I have most of the parts I removed and can give them to the new owner. This car would be a contender in any preservation class car show.

I replaced the brake master cylinder, rear slave cylinders, front calipers and flex hoses. I removed the boosters (they had corroded inside), flushed and bled the system. I fitted new Greenstuff front brake pads. It has good pedal feel and you can lock the front wheels with moderate foot pressure.
I flushed the fuel system and replaced the rubber fuel line in the engine bay, fitted a new fuel filter and cleaned and rebuilt the Strombergs with new gaskets.
I replaced the spark plugs, wires, cap & rotor and fitted a Petronix electronic ignition module and coil.
I went through the shifter linkage and replaced worn or dubious looking parts. I polished and rebushed the bottom of the gearlever and cleaned and adjusted the detent at the rear of the gearbox. Gears are easy to find, no accidental reverse or 5th gear shifts. 
New battery and alternator belt. 
I replaced the old fan motor with a modern unit. 
I replaced the old heater valve with a new one, the original leaked once I opened it.
I gave it a tune up.

A few relevant observations:

The water hoses look to be in great condition, I think they were replaced by a previous owner. 
The front floor mats were replaced with Coco mats by a previous owner.
The body is in great shape but not as nice as restored cars I have seen, I believe they came from the factory with paint jobs that would not pass muster today. It has a few scrapes at the rear wheel arch, some crazing in the hood and rear fender and a blemish on the front fender. I tried to photograph them.
There is a small crack in the laquer on the dashboard as can be seen in the photo.
There is a fogging in the upper left part part of the windscreen (delamination??) as in the photos.
The rev counter does not work. I believe it has to do with the electronic ignition, but I do not know enough about these cars to confirm or deny this. 
I have the wheel caps, drivers handbook and service manuals.
The tires are old and if I was keeping the car I would replace them with modern rubber but they are "period correct" as best I know so I kept them. Modern new tires will improve the cornering. 

I am selling it for the following reasons: 

I am 6'3" with size 13 shoes and while I fit in the car I have to drive it barefoot. I have got plantar fascitis and that makes it difficult. The passenger seat does not suit my wife. If I were to keep it I would have to modify the car and it is too nice a vehicle to mess with. I have no problem modifying an old car but I am not that big a heathen. I am not rich enough or young enough to own all the cars on my "bucket list" and a Jaguar MKII is the next one I want (unless another shiney bauble crosses my path). I think my days of miniscule sports cars are behind me. Whether one buys my car or not if you like true pure sports cars you owe it yourself to have a Europa. They are all they are reputed to be on a twisty road. They must have been a revelation 40 years ago and we will never see their like in a new car showroom again. This car has never let me down or failed to start. There are better restored cars out there (the blue one currently advertised looks very nice) but I think you would be hard pressed to find a nicer original Europa. 

I am not a professional mechanic and I would urge the new owner to get it checked out by a qualified technician to ensure its safety and reliability. The car is for sale locally and may not be available by the time this auction ends. I will do what I can to help with shipping (at new owners expense) and require a $2,000.00 deposit at the end of the auction.

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Auto blog

Lotus introduces Certificate of Provenance program

Mon, Aug 10 2020

Lotus is diving into its vast archives to make it easier for owners to trace their car's history. It launched a global program called Certificate of Provenance that provides historical information about a specific car. Available through authorized Lotus dealers, the Certificate of Provenance includes details like the car's VIN and its original color. It also notes the date the car rolled off the assembly line in Hethel, England, and the date it entered the company's dealer network. Key specifications, including the engine, the transmission, and the extra-cost options the original owner ordered, are printed on a personalized Build Specification Letter. Owners who order the certificate will also receive a letter from Lotus CEO Phil Popham in which he pledged to explain the changes going on at the company, and how it's preparing for the future. Summing up the situation in a letter will likely be easier said than done, because Lotus (which is now controlled by Geely) is undergoing a complete transformation that includes a major product expansion and a renewed focus on the American market. It called the Evija, its first electric model, a trailblazer whose technology will permeate other battery-powered cars.   Related: Geely, with Volvo's help, plans to grow into a global auto giant   In addition to the aforementioned documents, enthusiasts who order a Certificate of Provenance will also receive an aluminum plaque engraved with the owner's name, a leather keychain, a carbon fiber bookmark, and a Lotus pen. Pricing starts at GBP170 plus the cost of shipping in the United Kingdom, a sum that represents about $225. And any Lotus owner can order it regardless of whether they own a 1959 Elite or a 2020 Evora GT. The first car certified by Lotus is a 1981 Esprit Turbo (pictured) that stands out as the last company car ordered by company founder Colin Chapman. Wearing registration number UVF 464X, it remained in Chapman's possession until his death in 1982, and it was sold to a private buyer the following year. Lotus recently purchased it with 11,000 miles on its odometer, and it plans to restore it before adding it to its heritage collection. Chapman didn't settle for a regular-production Esprit Turbo. He ordered his car with power steering (which wasn't available on the Esprit at the time), a lowered suspension, and modified brakes. He also ordered BBS wheels. Related Video:

eBay Find of the Day: 2000 Lotus 340R, claimed only street-legal example in US

Wed, 03 Sep 2014

These days most of the news out of Lotus comes when it releases a lighter or faster version of the Elise, Exige or Evora. However, the stripped-out, Elise-based 340R might already show the logical conclusion of that concept, despite coming out in 2000. Now, one of the 340 made is up for auction on eBay Motors, and the seller in Fort Lauderdale, FL, claims that it's the only street-legal example available in the US.
Lotus founder Colin Chapman always had an obsession with making his vehicles as light as possible, and the 340R adhered to that adage about as closely as a street car could in 2000. These minimalist roadsters eschewed opening doors, windows and a roof in the pursuit of cutting the fat off the brand's hardly portly Elise. The company's engineers also trimmed away the fenders to give their creation a semi-open wheel design that looked as wild when new as today. For the interior, they installed two racing buckets, and the most of the rest was left in bare metal, including the pedals. All of the changes reportedly brought the 340R down to around 1,545 pounds.
Power comes from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder with a five-speed manual gearbox. The 340R is available with 177 horsepower or a tuned 187-hp version from that mill, but the seller doesn't specify which one this is. It's still a pretty fresh car, though, with just 3,577 miles claimed on the odometer.

Lotus Esprit S1 gets wet and wild in 'Forza Horizon 4' James Bond trailer

Tue, Sep 18 2018

It only makes sense. When the official trailer for Forza Horizon 4 ( FH4) first debuted at E3, details showed the game is set in Britain. Those who were ahead of the curve might have recognized this as a foreshadowing of sorts. Celebrating the launch of FH4's XBOX One and Windows 10 demo on Sept. 12, Playground Games announced that the next version of the beloved racing simulator will launch with an available Best of Bond pack that includes many of James Bond's storied rides. As expected, the list is heavy on the Aston Martin, but there are plenty of other goodies, too. Included in the 10-car pack are the 1964 Aston Martin DB5, a 1969 Aston Martin DBS, a 1986 Aston Martin V8, a 2008 Aston Martin DBS, a 2015 Aston Martin DB10, a 1974 AMC Hornet X Hatchback, a 1977 Lotus Esprit S1, a 1981 Citroen 2CV6, a 1999 BMW Z8, and a 2010 Jaguar C-X75. If you can name every movie that all of these vehicles are from, pat yourself on the back and grab a martini. View 15 Photos Microsoft is rewarding those who are all-in on FH4. The Best of Bond pack will come with the Ultimate Edition of the game that is allowed an early play date, starting Sept. 28. For those who haven't fully committed, the Best of Bond pack will be available as an add-on for purchase when the game launches globally on Oct. 2. The action-packed trailer shows many of the vehicles transforming or busting out tricks they're known for from the films, including the Lotus emerging from the sea. Although players will not be able to drive any vehicles under water (that we know of), several of the gadgets will make it into the game and will be viewable during Forzavista mode. The '64 DB5 has many of its features, such as the bumper rams and revolving license plate, while the Lotus will have an available body kit, fins and all. The Bond pack also comes with a few features irrelevant to the cars, including two Bond outfits and six "quick chat" phrases that can be used during multiplayer. The pack adds to an already impressive catalogue of vehicles that includes more than 450 different rides. Available now to pre-order, the FH4 Ultimate Edition is priced at $99.99, the Deluxe Edition is $79.99, while the base game is $59.99. For those who love Bond but don't own a gaming system, don't forget about the recently announced DB5 Lego kit.