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Here's a quick run down on what I've been building. I picked up a Europa bodyshell and various bits in 2013 and have been slowly working away at it. The original chassis was a bit bent and crusty, so it was set aside and I built up a chassis similar to what Spyder sells albeit with my own rear suspension pieces:    I'm using a Zetec bolted to a Lotus TC bellhousing which is bolted to a Renault NG3 gearbox. The hubs use VW Golf bearings, hubs and axles, but I'll have to make up some output flanges for the gearbox to make everything work. The body looked ok but as I stripped away the various layers of paint I encountered spider crack after spider crack:  I also elected to install some side vents and recessed filler caps, copying what Lotus did with their Lotus 47's:  And, I decided to change the dash to the earlier style. Its not 100% accurate, but close enough for me:  Engine wise, I've built a header and intake manifold to suit some bike carbs, ignition will be Megajolt:  And this is how it currently sits, the body is on the chassis and everything seems to fit. All that's needed to complete is a bunch of money:   Rod |
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GT4ME
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,729
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Great build, keep the updates coming.
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fer4l
Posted a lot
Testing
Posts: 1,497
Club RR Member Number: 73
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68 Lotus Europa Restomodfer4l
@fer4l
Club Retro Rides Member 73
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Lovely! Look forward to seeing this one progress - full of win!  Cheers Matt |
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Wow, great car.
I love how the car goes from rough to primed in a few photos. That must betray a hell of a lot of work.
How many hours have you spent on the body you think?
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Very nice indeed, looking forward to seeing you progress.
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I started on the bodywork last summer, and I primed it for the second time in early July of this year. So, total time elapsed is 1 year, but I "shelved" the body for the fall and winter. It's still not quite ready for paint, there's probably another two weekends worth of work to have it ready for a paint booth. I would like to paint it inside the next month so that I can do all the fiddly bits over the winter. The goal is to have it running and on the road for next spring.
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Last Edit: Aug 4, 2016 20:10:13 GMT by roddymac
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I always wanted to rebuild one of these, the first mid engined sports car. I looked for years but could never find one that was a reasonable prices/distance and condition. My process was going to be along the lines of the Banks Lotus 62, only with a bike engine in the rear or a V8.  |
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“It Doesn’t Feel Pity, Or Remorse, Or Fear, And It Absolutely Will Not Stop, Ever, Until You Are Dead!”
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,513
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I can only echo the other comments - great looking project!
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Ah, a fellow Lotus enthusiast/nutter :-)
Love the chassis work. A small query, though. Any thoughts of adding a little bit of triangulation the 'T' at the front? I know that the original didn't have any, but it was a box section so had some inherent tear strength in the top and bottom plates.
A an aside, you see the thin grey vertical tool bar to the right of the ACAD screen (has the pan command among others) ? Well, I have lost mine and have no idea how to get it back. Any ideas?
Regards
Steve
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Last Edit: Aug 4, 2016 21:09:34 GMT by nalesutol
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Great work, such a rare car. I got interested in kit cars again recently and I remebered that a company was making a replica of this based on a Smart Roadster. Can't find it any more, but always thought it would be a nice car to have (an original one of course!!)
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Looks awesome!
Got any details pics of those rear uprights?
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Steve, I had considered putting in some triangulation, but I wanted to fit the steering column before I did. In the end, I opted not to. Both my dad and I had a good look at it, and with the lengths of weld (the front crossmember is 2"x1" (50x25) RHS) we decided it should be strong enough. Time will tell if I should have put some triangulation in. Building a stronger chassis, should I need it, wont take too long. I may resurrect the original chassis and turn it into a 47 frame. To toggle Navigation bar on and off, if you're using ribbons go to view, user interface and pull down the "user interface" menu. You should be able to turn it back on. Paul, Here are some shots of the upright:   I had originally wanted to use some Girling calipers, but they fouled the wheels that I'm using. So, I had to slightly re-design it to use MX5 calipers.   Rod |
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Last Edit: Aug 4, 2016 21:46:50 GMT by roddymac
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Cool thread and looking forward to following this. I spotted the my first ever NZ Europa just the other day. I have always liked them and the Elan but I cant convince Hannah on the rear end shape of the Europa. So our imaginary garage has an Elan instead.
I couldnt get over how tiny the Europa looked as it drove by the other way. So cool!
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These builds are so far out of my skill set (lack of it) but they are what I love so much about this site.
I will be following this build closely as well.
Thank you for sharing.
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,645 
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This is great. Really looking forward to how this turns out.
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Steve, I had considered putting in some triangulation, but I wanted to fit the steering column before I did. In the end, I opted not to. Both my dad and I had a good look at it, and with the lengths of weld (the front crossmember is 2"x1" (50x25) RHS) we decided it should be strong enough. Time will tell if I should have put some triangulation in. Building a stronger chassis, should I need it, wont take too long. I may resurrect the original chassis and turn it into a 47 frame. To toggle Navigation bar on and off, if you're using ribbons go to view, user interface and pull down the "user interface" menu. You should be able to turn it back on. Rod Fair enough. As you say, you will soon know if your decision is the correct one :-) Thanks for the tip, Rod. In 2016, I just had to go to View and there is a navigation bar button. Pressed this and the bar is back. Steve |
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Last Edit: Aug 5, 2016 8:05:15 GMT by nalesutol
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It's amazing how tastes change. I never liked the look of these when I was younger due to the large buttresses, but now it's my favourite Lotus. Superb build.
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Took me a second.
Was about to link you to another crazy person on GRM who was doing a VERY similar swap! Then the bulb came on. I do like this project.
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