Lotus Europa gets a makeover
 

Hi all,
I have had a huge opportunity come my way and have been offered a complete 1969 Lotus Europa bodyshell. I am thinking of creating a replica using an MX5 or Mk2 MR2. I'm just wandering if any companies in the past have done a Europa kit. This opportunity looks very interesting and too good to miss. Alternatively I can just sell the shell but that would hurt!

Not exactly the same, but.......
http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/01/...ya-20b-europa/

Thanks mate

Banks have been building a small number of Europa replicas for years.
http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/cars_home_new.htm

I love the Europa and am keen to encourage you. Would an MR2 or MGF be a better starting point? Neither are ideal but you will be hard-pushed to get the bonnet low enough if you have an MX5 engine to hide.

Been looking at the MR2's today, Mk 2 seems a good option. A mate suggested the VX 220 which is very close in dimensions but donor costs are restricting. Still looking at the MX5 too as the bonnet on the Tribute MX250 I built was very low to as long as you don't go for a VVT engine. Owned an MGTF and would not consider as a good option, head gaskets are a major fail point and mine did badly. Still open as an idea though

I spoke with Chris at Tribute today and he is going to look into the options and see what may be viable. Who could resist something that looks like this....

http://wall.alphacoders.com/big.php?i=269183

http://images.pistonheads.com/aimg/273/273588-1.jpg

Been looking at the Mk2 MR2 again and it may be the better option but we'll see what Chris comes up with with his Photoshop expertise. Unfortunately not some thing I have experience of

Really liking this concept of a modern looking street racer

I don't know how familiar you are with the MR2, so please excuse me if i'm teaching granny to suck eggs, but i messed around with one a few years ago and even though it didn't come to anything i did photograph my strip down and hacking about.

I wondered if the pics may be of any use to you (or any others) who are thinking of using it as donor?

Have a nosey here: http://s49.photobucket.com/user/dave...bo%20kit%20car

Rgds

Dave

Thats great thanks mate

I picked the shell up yesterday and set about it with a cutting disc! Nearly broke my heart as it has been my favourite car since I was a kid but its all for the greater good. If this all goes wrong it has some valuable brightwork and glass on it so will make a bit of cash anyway....

I'm still looking into this but as the project will not necessarily be an exact replica I think the MX5 could work and maybe even a bit of work with the front nose end of the Lotus and a Tribute MX250 front clam. In theory it could work and end up with a very nice looking GT car, especially if done in race guise. The line of the MR2 has a slight downward slant from back to front and it continues through the door too. Also the side windows are the wrong shape and would require a lot of work with the rear section of the Europa.

Will post some pics of the angry grinder work soon....

You courageous man, Hammy. Now, get that camera out. We are all waiting.

Ok so photo time........................

Where I rescued it from... (it had been in here a few years!!)

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...ps01d38778.jpg

The scary bit starts....

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...psdb97bd69.jpg

And now I am in the process of working on turning them in to a front and rear clam. Going to concentrate on rear 1st

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...psa6fc28a7.jpg

Hey ho!!!!

Second post as didn't want 1 massive one of all the pics......

So my theory is work on one clam at a time and started removing all the internal fibreglass in the rear clam..........

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...psb76f4292.jpg

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5d4e3832.jpg

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...ps96466e27.jpg

I cant believe as a MASSIVE Chapman fan that Im doing this but hey!!!!

Anybody any good with Photoshop? I want to try and overlay the Lotus Europa shape on the following:

Mk1/2 MX5, Mk2 MR2, Mk3 MR2.

I don't even have Photoshop :der:

I got the missing bootlid today, I think I lucked out well here as it was the only one on ebay, I wont be cutting it about as yet because it will be saleable if this project fails.......

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...psa8a777b1.jpg

I got some great help with some initial photoshop work on the Mk3 MR2 and Mk1 MX5.....

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...psdb9011aa.jpg

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...pse978c808.jpg

Ive asked the very kind gent if he'd like to do some paid photoshop work for me as I'd like to move the lines about a bit but at the moment Im leaning towards the MX5 as the window lines are great and the MX is much lower than the MR2. Ive had some good feedback from kit builders and enthusiasts and some crap feedback from others BUT these are only one shot at photoshop mainly to look at wheelbase and window lines. Im regretting calling the thread Europa replica as really its just supposed to be a modern take on a great old historic and poignant piece of Chapmans work that came about after a row with Henry Ford about it being badged Ford for Le Mans and Chapman telling him where to get off, subsequently a lot of the design was robbed by Lola and they supplied Ford the Le Mans car. Chapman then used it as a replacement for the 7 and again it was offered in kit form, once again to avoid car tax like the 7. I think the bottom line is that the original Lotus Europa remains a Marmite car but I for one have always loved it since I was a kid.

Inspiration
 

A nice inspirational image....

Modified....

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...ps67cb8f5f.jpg

Great project. I'll be following to see what you end up doing.