1970J LOTUS EUROPA S2, LOVELY USABLE CAR, 50 PHOTOS

1970J Lotus Europa S2.

MOT to September 16th 2014 (no advisories). free road tax to end of September 2014. HPI clear.

Body/chassis.

It has had a full re-spray (with front and rear screens out). There was no damage on the car but paintwork was faded in places and had minor micro-blisters. I believe it was red originally (no colour change noted on the HPI report) however it was red over white when I got it. I liked the look so repeated it. New front and rear screens fitted with new rubbers. The door hinges have no play and are free moving.

There was no corrosion on the chassis when I got the car so it has simply been pressure washed and re-waxoyled. including the rear suspension trailing arms.

Mechanical

Brakes stripped cleaned and checked. the previous owner had just replaced the servo. solid and flexi brake pipes. front pads. rear shoes and cylinders. Wheel bearings and suspension bushes/ball joints etc. although not new are in good condition. Rear shockers were starting to leak so I fitted new coil spring/damper units.

The clutch cable and clutch pedal/brake pedal assembly had just been re-newed however the clutch operation was very stiff. The gearbox and clutch were removed and it was found the clutch centre plate and release were new but the clutch cover was a re-conditioned unit and was distorted. I was told by various Lotus specialists that a new clutch (from Renault 16 etc) was unobtainable and the answer was to convert to Twin Cam clutch. However I found a classic French car specialist in Germany who supplied a new clutch cover (and can supply. at reasonable cost. just about any other of the Renault parts on the car). The clutch is now smooth and progressive (assuming your feet are small enough!)

The gearbox oil was changed. It has a rose jointed gear change linkage. I fitted new bushes to the gear leaver. set up the linkages and the gear change is sweet and precise.

The engine has had new points. condenser. rotor. cap. leads and plugs. Tappets set. fresh oil and filter. fuel pipes re-newed.   The exhaust is in good condition. The fuel tank is alloy and in good condition. I replaced the unreliable electrical oil pressure sender with a new mechanical adapter and pipe leading to a good second hand gauge. The gauge is a proper matching Smiths but only reads up to 60 PSI so a lot of the time the pressure is up against the stop! The engine runs and sounds well. it is fitted with a thermostat so warms up correctly. the cooling fan cuts in and maintains temperature in traffic.

Electrical

A new battery. nbsp; fuel tank sender and water temp sender have been fitted. All gauges work correctly other than the rev counter. The wiring to the rev counter has been checked so presumably the unit itself needs re-conditioning. The ammeter is Lucas. not Smiths but does match in design. All panel/gauge illumination lights work. The electric windows work but are typically slow. The mechanisms have been greased but the answer is to strip and clean the motors and wire them through relays.

Interior

It has been re-trimmed in the past so in general still smart and presentable. It appears to have been an amateur fitted trim kit hence the door trims aren't the best fitting. The wood dash. although not mint is in good condition. The headlining is sagging slightly and poorly fitting so needs replacing. The seat belts are in good condition. The seats slide on their runners OK.

General

The wheels have been re-furbed but the tyres are old. (although not advised on the MOT and have good tread). I wasn't sure when I would be using the car so rather than store it on new tyres I just had the old one's re-fitted for the time being. The heater is not plumbed in so it must be assumed the matrix is leaking. I've not checked.

I have a large file of receipts for various expenditure on the car around the mid eighties to late nineties. but nothing much since until the work I've done.

The car is great to drive and (as a precaution) with new tyres is ready to have fun. The other few issues can be sorted as and when. I was so close to finishing the final few jobs on this car but time and space restrictions mean I should move it on. I would consider something interesting in part exchange (car or motorcycle) of lower value that will be OK to keep outdoors but do not want another project as I've already got one waiting.

Please use the link below for 50 photos: (ignore the camera date)

http://www. flickr. com/photos/75255303@N02/

Any questions or for appointment to view tel 07931 294227.

The car is located near Durham City. I may be able to help with reasonably priced delivery anywhere mainland UK. Overseas enquiries are welcome.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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