72 Lotus Europa Twin Cam

1972 Lotus Other Description

This is a 1972 Lotus Europa with significant modifications. It is a Southern California car so rust is not an issue. It is licensed, insured and used as an occasional driver on tight curvy roads, something it really excels at. The photos and the paragraphs below give details of this build. The modifications to this car are well sorted out.

ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN
There are about 6k miles on this strong running twin cam engine. It is mostly stock with headers, a Mallory dual point distributor, an Accel coil, an electric fuel pump and a fuel pressure regulator. A valve adjustment, new oil seals and carburetor overhauls were performed about 1k miles ago. The 5 speed transmission is a later model NG1 and it is shifted through a Toyota cable shift system which works much better than stock. A new clutch was installed about 500 miles ago. The famously weak Lotus rear axles have been removed and VW axles have been installed. The Lotus drive axles have also been removed and VW cv joint axles have been fitted.
BODY AND INTERIOR
This car has an older body kit, which includes an air dam front end, molded in bumpers and fender flairs which cover wide tires and wheels. A front carbon fiber composite splitter has been added for improved straight line stability at freeway speeds and above. The paint is 2 part LPU, which looks good but with a few nicks/cracks and a small run on the LF fender flair. The seats have been rebuilt and recovered to a very high standard. The carpeting on the tunnel and rear is new as is the headliner. The carpeting could use cleaning and some of the binding should be restitched. The dash is carbon fiber composite with a complete set of modern gauges including an electric tachometer and speedometer. The top of the dash could use a better fitting cover.

COOLING SYSTEM
There is a new aluminum radiator with many new hoses which is duct-ed to the front grill using sealed lite ply panels. The thermostat and fan switch are new. A cleanable coolant filter is installed.
ELECTRICAL
Much of the wiring has been replaced using white. Fuses have been added for most of the circuits. A small, light battery has been relocated to the front. The alternator has been changed to an easily sourced Delco unit with a built in regulator.
CHASSIS WHEELS AND TIRES
The front of the car has been lowered using Summit springs and the track has been widened with billet spacers/adapters which also convert the bolt pattern over to the popular 4 x 100 pattern. The wheels and components are now all hub centric so the wheels go on straight and stay straight. There is a 3/4" sway bar in the front and a 1/2" bar in the rear. The sway bar bushings are poly. The upper ball joints and rack boots have been replaced. The wheels are STR and wider in the rear. New tires are 205 x 50 x 15 in the rear and 175 x 50 x 15 in the front. The car has had corner weights set and it has been aligned front and rear. One of the more significant modifications to this car is a twin link rear suspension which works very well. All 4 rear arms are adjustable chromoly with heim joints. Lotus Europas handle very well but this car is a cut above.
BRAKES
This was a big brake car from the factory. The brake pads, shoes and rear wheel cylinders are new. The front calipers have been rebuilt. A Tilton 5/8" master cylinder is in place, which allowed for the troublesome Girling brake boosters to be deleted. The car stops very well, but with a slightly lower pedal. A proportioning valve is in place for front/rear brake adjust-ability. The Lotus umbrella emergency brake has been replaced with an MGB rally style handle. The emergency brake works, but it would work better if one of the brake cables inside the tunnel were rerouted over the cooling tube.

DOCUMENTATION AND MANUALS
California title is clear and in my name. There is a Lotus factory workshop manual and a workshop manual for the NG1 transmission. There is also a thick file with receipts and research materials for the modifications and parts.
MILEAGE AND SHIPPING
I believe that the mileage is about 50000, but I can't be certain. The car came to me with a broken speedometer cable. The new electric speedometer has a functioning odometer, but it is less than 500 miles. I will work with a shipper of the buyers choice.