Lotus Europa Special

100.6.143.244

Posted on October 30, 2024 at 12:25:40

Posts: 36474
Joined: July 14, 2017

by Tamiya.
Still a couple more decals to apply, if they hold together. The kit sat on my shelf for several years and the decals got brittle. Which is why I didn't apply the oft-seen gold pinstripes.

It's warm here today but by this time next week it'll be too cold to paint in the garage, so this wraps it up for 2024.

The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

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cool model

stan2

11:49:37 10/31/24

I drove one of those in 1975.

srdavis2000

09:14:36 10/31/24

Better off.

ghost of olddude55

10:07:44 10/31/24

...

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cool model

stan2

11:49:37 10/31/24

I drove one of those in 1975.

srdavis2000

09:14:36 10/31/24

Better off.

ghost of olddude55

10:07:44 10/31/24

Kid in my high school drove one

E-Stat

05:39:51 10/31/24

2

Nothing that some Bondo would not fix. nt

Victor Khomenko

06:24:01 10/31/24

Just like the Plastic Chevy! -nt

E-Stat

06:25:06 10/31/24

If an El Camino and a Ranchero had a midget kid...-*

Chris Garrett

19:00:46 10/30/24

Some oddities about the Europa

ghost of olddude55

03:41:48 10/31/24

I always liked those, though ....

reelsmith.

17:26:42 10/30/24

I screwed up the mags.

ghost of olddude55

06:28:17 10/31/24

Nice. Black with gold always reminds me of John Player. nt

hcman

15:03:03 10/30/24

does it come with a Mrs. Peel model behind the wheel? /nt

Story

14:55:00 10/30/24

Emma Peel drove an Elan.

ghost of olddude55

15:30:09 10/30/24

Looks like a hatch, but there's a catch. (nt

peppy m.

12:49:23 10/30/24

9

The engine lives under there.

ghost of olddude55

13:05:59 10/30/24

8

It's mid-engine so finally figured it out. So my Honda Civic hatch smokes it. (nt

peppy m.

13:12:49 10/30/24

7

Probably. But drag racing wasn't the Europa's forte.

ghost of olddude55

13:17:30 10/30/24

6

Mine's a 1991 DX hatch, VG overall w/ little rust, clean in/out, works well...

peppy m.

13:53:11 10/30/24

5

Keeping the old cars on the road.

ghost of olddude55

14:04:15 10/30/24

4

Driveability, great visibility all around are my favorite features...

peppy m.

14:12:29 10/30/24

3

How I like them.

ghost of olddude55

14:23:10 10/30/24

2

RE: How I like them.

Inmate51

14:38:28 10/30/24

Saw a good treatise on those old cars...

ghost of olddude55

15:37:54 10/30/24

Looks like a hatch, but there's a catch. (nt, posted on October 30, 2024 at 12:49:23
peppy m. Audiophile Posts: 5003 Joined: February 19, 2021	.

The engine lives under there., posted on October 30, 2024 at 13:05:59
ghost of olddude55 Audiophile Posts: 36474 Joined: July 14, 2017	Not all Tamiya kits have engines but this one does. Got a couple of Tri-Five Chevys nearly finished, probably work on those a bit till the garage warms up again. Also, there's an Austin Healey Sprite kit on deck. It's multi-media--styrene, vinyl, white metal, and photo etched metal. I'm a huge Sprite fan. The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

It's mid-engine so finally figured it out. So my Honda Civic hatch smokes it. (nt, posted on October 30, 2024 at 13:12:49
peppy m. Audiophile Posts: 5003 Joined: February 19, 2021	.

Probably. But drag racing wasn't the Europa's forte., posted on October 30, 2024 at 13:17:30

ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 36474
Joined: July 14, 2017

Disassembling themselves as they drove down the road, that's what those old Loti did best.
Or so I'm told.
Doug DeMuro has a video featuring a pristine base model mid-80's Civic. Four-speed manual, doesn't even have a tach.
I'd embed it here but there's something about DeMuro I just can't stand and I don't want to give him any clicks.
He reminds me of Randy Quaid's character in The Last Picture Show only sweatier. He giggles and leers and gibbers and I...just...can't...

The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

Mine's a 1991 DX hatch, VG overall w/ little rust, clean in/out, works well..., posted on October 30, 2024 at 13:53:11

peppy m.
Audiophile

Posts: 5003
Joined: February 19, 2021

I had not realized how much one like mine is now worth to a Honda fanatic. Paid $2000 ten years ago. Rear window wiper dead, everything else still working. Overdue for it's 2nd timing belt change at a bit under 190,000 but I don't drive it much. Lovely shade of blue in/out...

And here's your lovely Doug review....

1991 Honda hatch

Keeping the old cars on the road., posted on October 30, 2024 at 14:04:15

ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 36474
Joined: July 14, 2017

Best way to go.
My car isn't as old as yours, but it's just a few months away from its 19th birthday. I'll have had it for 10 years by then.
No rust. Doesn't leak or burn oil. 128K miles. Timing chain instead of a belt.
But...being at least semi-modern, it's harder to see out of than your Civic, the shifter isn't as slick, it feels much heavier because it is, and it lacks any semblance of a cool factor.
And it has the dreaded CAN.
But I CAN't look at DeMuro. Started watching that video right after it posted and after a minute or so I was outta there.

The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

Driveability, great visibility all around are my favorite features..., posted on October 30, 2024 at 14:12:29
peppy m. Audiophile Posts: 5003 Joined: February 19, 2021	Basically a 2000 lb. go kart with no power stuff, not even AC. Love it.

How I like them., posted on October 30, 2024 at 14:23:10
ghost of olddude55 Audiophile Posts: 36474 Joined: July 14, 2017	My wife's car is 2500 pounds. Best you can hope for these days. I like cars where, something goes wrong the first tool you grab is the appropriate wrench instead of a scan tool or a digital volt/ohmmeter. The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

RE: How I like them., posted on October 30, 2024 at 14:38:28
Inmate51 Industry Professional Posts: 3349 Location: Dallas, TX Joined: August 12, 2022	"I like cars where, something goes wrong the first tool you grab is the appropriate wrench instead of a scan tool or a digital volt/ohmmeter." I hear ya. On the other hand, I like modern cars which "easily" go 300,000 miles, as opposed to the '60s/'70s cars which needed serious repair at 80,000. ********* We are inclusive and diverse, but dissent will not be tolerated.

does it come with a Mrs. Peel model behind the wheel? /nt, posted on October 30, 2024 at 14:55:00
Story Audiophile Posts: 11556 Location: NJ Joined: December 11, 2000

Nice. Black with gold always reminds me of John Player. nt, posted on October 30, 2024 at 15:03:03
hcman Audiophile Posts: 6571 Location: S.E.Washington Joined: February 5, 2005	.

Emma Peel drove an Elan., posted on October 30, 2024 at 15:30:09
ghost of olddude55 Audiophile Posts: 36474 Joined: July 14, 2017	I've got an Elan kit on the shelf here too, unfortunately no Emma Peel. The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

Saw a good treatise on those old cars..., posted on October 30, 2024 at 15:37:54

ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 36474
Joined: July 14, 2017

...and the theory is, those old cars could have done 300,000 miles too, but consumer priorities were different and the very thing we love about old cars--the styling--is what led people to toss them aside after a couple years.
Besides, there are a few cars around right now that can't make it to 100K miles without major repairs and you might surprised that one of the problematic engines is made by Honda. Honda's L15 turbo four, you should see how much cost cutting went into that engine.
And really, the only way even new cars make it to 300K miles is if the owner takes care of maintenance.
If owners did the same to cars built in the Fifties and Sixties, they also would have lasted 300K miles. Many did.
Malaise Era cars don't count. They were too compromised.

The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

I always liked those, though ...., posted on October 30, 2024 at 17:26:42
reelsmith. Audiophile Posts: 13625 Location: CT Joined: June 7, 2005	While some are really good looking, others aren't, such as this one. Silver rockers and mags definitely, like on your model, help a lot. Yours looks great. Nice work, as always. Dean. reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.

*If an El Camino and a Ranchero had a midget kid...-, posted on October 30, 2024 at 19:00:46**
Chris Garrett Bored Member Posts: 16707 Location: Miami, Florida Joined: October 9, 1999 Contributor Since: June 19, 2000	Nt

Some oddities about the Europa, posted on October 31, 2024 at 03:41:48

ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 36474
Joined: July 14, 2017

The transaxle is a stressed member of the rear suspension, which means there's no way to move the car once the engine and transaxle have been removed.
The Twin Cam engine was the Ford Kent pushrod 4 banger with a DOHC head that (I think) was designed by Keith Duckworth. Because of the mods needed to turn a Ford engine into a Lotus engine, the cylinder head has to be removed in order to replace the water pump.
Not just on the Europa, but the Elan and the +2 as well.
BTW, that Kent engine was the base engine in the Ford Pinto for the first couple years the Pinto was on sale and it's a pretty damned good engine in it's own right. Still used in Formula Ford racing.

The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

Kid in my high school drove one, posted on October 31, 2024 at 05:39:51
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 40799 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	very fragile fiberglass body. He cracked his!

Nothing that some Bondo would not fix. nt, posted on October 31, 2024 at 06:24:01
Victor Khomenko Manufacturer Posts: 57689 Joined: April 5, 2000	.

Just like the Plastic Chevy! -nt, posted on October 31, 2024 at 06:25:06
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 40799 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002

I screwed up the mags., posted on October 31, 2024 at 06:28:17

ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 36474
Joined: July 14, 2017

They were chrome plated in the kit, too shiny. What I should have done was painted the black accents like the real car has and then dull coated the chrome.
Instead I stripped the chrome with some floor stripper and then tried adding an aluminum look back to the wheel and it didn't quite work.
Also, black paint on the kit is exactly like black paint on a real car, shows every hickey and zit. I've owned one black car and don't plan on owning another.
I like the Europa you pictured, actually, with the dog dish hubcaps. That car has a Renault 16 engine and transaxle. The 16 was a typical French oddball, front drive but with the engine mounted behind the transaxle for better weight distribution. Lotus liked it because the entire drive train could be flipped around for the mid engine configuration.
And Lotus kept on using that Renault transaxle right up through the Lotus Esprit, including the Esprit V8. Lotus built a V8 engine easily capable of 500 HP but had to derate it to 300HP because the Renault tranny couldn't take that much power.

The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

I drove one of those in 1975., posted on October 31, 2024 at 09:14:36
srdavis2000 Audiophile Posts: 10978 Location: Deep South Joined: January 11, 2003 Contributor Since: December 16, 2004	It had good zip, but not enough head room for me. Bought a 280Z instead.

Better off., posted on October 31, 2024 at 10:07:44
ghost of olddude55 Audiophile Posts: 36474 Joined: July 14, 2017	The Datsun, car like that'll get you to work and back every day. The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

cool model, posted on October 31, 2024 at 11:49:37
stan2 Audiophile Posts: 9212 Location: norcal Joined: April 12, 2002 Contributor Since: March 10, 2004	I beat one of those in about 1968 in a little parking lot gymkhana at KU. I was in my AH Sprite, mk IV. But the Lotus was pretty new and I think he may have been babying it, or else the course fit my dinky Sprite better. Or else I was a better driver with a quicker gymkhana car! That must be it. haha

Inmate Central

Lotus Europa Special

100.6.143.244