Might be yet another project.

[i_ride_fieroGT]

Well guys now that the green fiero has come along and i have finished what i want finished on it and the 87 is just waiting on a paint job I have been searching around for a next long term project. This isant going to be somthing that I can finish in a year or mabey even in years but its worth a shot. The car I have set my eye on is called a Lotus Europa. They were a 2 seater sports car that was made in the 70's and not very mass produced. Its a mid engine 4 cylinder. The car only weighs about 1400LBS with engine and trans in the car. I have located an Europa shell that a guy is not looking to get rich off of and just wants it out of his yard. My plan would be to modernize the drive train with a newer 4 cylinder motor. I would throw a small block 350 or a 3800SC into it but that ruins the Lotus image of the car. the engines I am thinking of are an H22 FWD-SR20 or ecotech SC. I know whats comming next its ugly its a POS blah blah blah If thats all you have to say about it than im not interested. Im interested in seeing if anyone on here has any information on the car that i can learn from.. I want to start this project because of the fact I saw one when i was younger and have always liked it. Its a very rare car 1 of only 9000 ever made and most of them are over in Europe. They were built all by hand. And i have always wanted to do a frame up restoration and what better car to do it on than one of my dream cars.


This is an example of a finished one.
http://www.britishtaxdiscs.co.uk/images/gallery/large/1973%20lotus%20europa.jpg

[DPancoast]

i say get rid of all your everything but one fiero and build one of these and call it a day

[JDMTyler3326]

Good luck trying to find any parts for it.

[Rally Sport]

It looks like an interesting build. But what jdmtyler said is true too, it will be difficult trying to find parts for it.

[JB'sLGT]

you could source a 2zz-ge and still be true to Lotus since its what they are currently using in the Elise and Exige

[jpalamar]

Good luck trying to find any parts for it.

Thats what I'm thinking. And if you can, you will pay top dollar for it. Sounds like an interesting build but it is something that will never be finished by the average person.

[Scapegoat]

i'd try to buy it and resell it for more... if you want to do a full up resto, you're better off starting with a mid 60's mustang where parts are a dime a dozen.

[turboman808]

If you do a ground up you should do a replica of the Europa Formula car. If you ever try to sell it you will get all your money back. Just try to keep in looking original as possible. Tribute to the to the John Player car. Very cool car indeed and something worth restoring.

http://www.supercars.net/carpics/3866/1965_Lotus_EuropaJohnPlayerSpecial1.jpg

http://www.supercars.net/carpics/3866/1965_Lotus_EuropaJohnPlayerSpecial2.jpg

I love how everyone here has an opinion yet knows nothing about the car. Guys should look things up.

Here are your main issues with this build. It could run as much as 40-50 grand to build. The car however isn't worth 50 grand. You can get a very nice Europa for less then 30 grand. Unless you are deadset on a Europa that you created that would be my only reservation.

However if you built it for 50 grand and drove it for 10 years and sold it you really wouldn't be losing money IMO. Chances are in 10 years it will be worth even more. If this is a car you always wanted I say go for it. If you have any reservations then I wouldn't do it.

They are really fun cars and the driving position is pretty cool. Seat is tilted back and on the floor. They are very small and even make my 914 look big.

They are compared to the 914 alot because basically they were competitors at the time. The Europa was considered a better car for the money. Just didn't sell many in the US.

Parts are very plentiful for these cars. You will just have to search the internet and possibly ship parts from Europe but thats not a big deal. I do that all the time.

[turboman808]

Oh I forgot an H series will not work. You could do a K Series though. Older honda motors spin in the opposite direction to all other makes. K series they changed this. If you do go K series I would use ITBs to make it look somewhat authentic. More then enough power for those little cars. Not sure what transmission it has but a porsche 901 is very cheap and will work with a K series.

[Honest_Bob]

kinda reminds me of a hearse.

[FocusDude]

use a 2.3 or a zetec

I saw one of these driving back from motorama on Sunday. It is definitely one of those WTF cars when your pulling up on it.