Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Lotus Europa

[Les Thompson (les21]

Also a former Europa owner, wish I hadn't sold it.

Mine was a 1967 Series 1, Lotus 46, the ones with the body bonded to the chassis and fixed side windows. Supposedly, there were no Series 1's imported to the US, but mine had the letters 'US' hand stamped in the middle of the id plate. First week of ownership saw the front end ahead of the frame taken off by a guy turning left in front of me, 36" tall cars have same issues on being seen as a motorcycle. Surprisingly, insurance repaired that and went on to several years of fun. 

 I regularly did a 40 mile round trip commute in it, keeping a wary eye on semi-trucks and kids on mopeds. Had more problems tripping left turn signals with it than my Harley, also stayed dryer in the rain on the Harley. Water intrusion came up from below through the pedal mount holes in the floor pan, learned to avoid large puddles. Would wrap the seat bottom in a trash bag to keep the foam from getting water soaked. S1 seats were just upholstered foam pads sitting in the molded floor pan. Adjustment for different drivers required unbolting the pedal box from the floor and moving it, see comment above about water puddles. In summer, the large, extreme sloping windscreen was a great example of the viability of solar heating.

Over time, swapped in Triumph GT6 front brakes (3/4" larger discs) and swapped in the cross flow hemi out of an 18i (40% displacement increase) with a home made twin Weber setup. No longer got 40mpg, but the performance increase was impressive. Had about the same horsepower as the twin-cam models without the higher weight. Claimed curb weight was 1351 pounds.

Bottom line, fun car, essentially a two seat Formula Ford for the street. Found the reclining seating position comfortable, even on long trips.  I never really had any reliability problems with mine, of course I tinkered with it regularly. I was rare in Lotus West as I could drive mine with my shoes on. At most meetings, in the parking lot, the cars would arrive, driver door open, then a pair of shoes would appear and stocking feet would appear out of the car.

Les Thompson

-----Original Message----- From: "Robert W. Garven Jr." Sent: Jun 18, 2014 6:27 PM To: Les Thompson Cc: The FerrariList Subject: [Ferrari] Lotus Europa 

 

Rick, 

Did you enjoy the Europa. I had a boss who had one and he gave me a ride. I remember it was pretty cool car. I wish I had one just to tool around in! 

Rob 

Robert W. Garven Jr. rgarven [at] gmail.com 

"The Ferrari is a dream - people dream of owning this special vehicle and for most people it will remain a dream apart from for those lucky few." Enzo Ferrari 

On Jun 18, 2014, at 7:05 AM, Rick Moseley <ramosel [at] pacbell.net> wrote: 

You are wrong...  I owned a Europa after Canoe U.   It was like "Laying" in one of those...  or perhaps "reclining" in one of those... 

In NO way could that position ever be considered "sitting" 

Otherwise, as usual, you are right. 

Rick 

From: Clyde Romero <clyderomerof4 [at] bellsouth.net> To: Rick Moseley <ramosel [at] pacbell.net> Cc: The FerrariList <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2014 3:19 AM Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Custom Ferrari F12 TRS 

The Aston Martin was the UK attempt at making a Ferrari British Failed miserably other than the fact it was always broken could not find parts etc that's where it was a lot like an early Ferrari 

The Lotus Europa was UK version of the Chevy Corvette Fiberglass body which leaked and extremely poor quality control Unique body style but that's it It was like sitting in one of those things that the dealers use at a black jack table  to deal cards with wheels! Tell me I am wrong 

Clyde Romero 

In Victory you deserve Champagne In Defeat You Need It! 

On Jun 17, 2014, at 9:38 PM, "Robert W. Garven Jr." <rgarven [at] gmail.com> wrote: 

Clyde, 

You crack me up. Thats  definitely one for the next mug! 

There was the aston martin DB5 and the lotus elan and europa? 

Robert W. Garven Jr. rgarven [at] gmail.com 

"The Ferrari is a dream - people dream of owning this special vehicle and for most people it will remain a dream apart from for those lucky few." Enzo Ferrari 

On Jun 17, 2014, at 11:46 AM, Clyde Romero <clyderomerof4 [at] bellsouth.net> wrote: 

Bentley just means I could not afford a Rolls! Please You would be better off starting a fire with hundred dollar bills then buying that British Shit box it is an over priced Rover ! 

The only thing that was worth a damn that came out of the UK was the Spitfire in WW2 

Clyde Romero 

In Victory you deserve Champagne In Defeat You Need It! 

On Jun 17, 2014, at 2:24 PM, Adam Green <FlatCrank [at] gmail.com> wrote: 

I've seen a "team" of stripper Bentleys at Laguna.  Talk about shock and awe.  One of them still had the full leather cabin and good lord, it was a gorgeous machine.  Windows down, cabin layered in dust.  The drivers were stout fellows.  The radiant heat of the front brake rotors was too hot to stand near it in shorts.  The road going version is 4800lbs ... ? ... I get queasy trying to drive anything over 3000lbs and even that is tipping the scales on the luxo-barge end of the spectrum. : ) 

Adam 

On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 11:16 AM, Erik Nielsen <judge4re [at] gmail.com> wrote: More my cup of tea (also released to the public today): 

http://www.bentleymedia.com/release-557.htm 

I even like the "living green" trim... 

On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 1:09 PM, Adam Green <FlatCrank [at] gmail.com> wrote: Completely over the top, but that's the intent of these trophy horses.  Not my cup of tea.  In the US market, well, I guess it's cruel, but it looks like a Corvette prototype not destined for market production. Interestingly enough the 650S is quicker than the F12.  The forthcoming Z06 has more torque than the F12.  What will the ZR1 produce? I thought the F12 was completely over the top.  Who can drive these things? 

Adam 

On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 10:31 AM, Fellippe Galletta <fellippe.galletta [at] gmail.com> wrote: "The first alleged images of a one-off Ferrari called F12 TRS have surfaced on the web. The car was built at the request of a wealthy collector whose identity remains unknown. 

Designed by the automaker's Special Projects Division, the F12 TRS is based on the F12berlinetta coupe but it gains a targa roof, heavily-tinted windows and a more shapely rear end. The front fascia is fitted with a race-inspired splitter, and the car appears to wear bespoke alloy wheels. 

The F12 TRS is reportedly powered by a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain consisting of a 729-horsepower 6.2-liter V12 engine that works jointly with a Formula 1-inspired Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) made up of an electric motor and a high-capacity battery pack. Not available on the stock F12, the hybrid system is expected to propel the F12 TRS from zero to 62 mph in under 3 seconds and on to a top speed of over 210 mph. 

Sources indicate the F12 TRS cost its owner $4.2 million, considerably more than even the range-topping ThethetheFerrari. The car will remain an exclusive one-off and it will not be added to the Ferrari catalog. 

Ferrari is expected to publish a full set of details about the F12 TRS once the roadster has been delivered." 

FG approves of this design. 

For $4.2 million, I just hope it sounds better than anything Ferrari has ever made. Based on the current F12/599 GTO offerings, I think it might be. 

FG 

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