Lotus Europa S2

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The world's first mass-produced mid-engined road car, the Lotus Europa was launched in 1966. It was based on a design by Ron Hickman for a prototype to compete for a contract with Ford to build a Le Mans car (Ford went with Lola and the GT40).

Exemplifying Colin Chapman's design philosophy of ‘Simplify, then add lightness’, the Europa used a minimalist steel backbone chassis while also relying on a low drag fibreglass body for structural strength. Development work using a wind-tunnel gave the Europa a drag factor of just 0.29 with its long, low roofline and an abrupt rear end inspired by the Ferrari 'Bread Van' racer.

The 4-wheel independent suspension was typical of Chapman's thinking: the rear suspension consisting of two relatively large trailing arms, one lower locating link per side, the axles being used as upper locating links, very similar to Formula racing car designs of that era. The resultant astonishing road-holding prompted road testers to describe the Europa as the nearest thing to a race car for the road.

The Series 1 and 2 cars were fitted with a modified Renault 16 1.5-litre engine that produced 82bhp and was mated to a 4-speed gearbox. In a car weighing just 610kg, this was enough to launch the Europa to 60mph in just 9.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 121mph. In all, around 9,300 Europas were built between 1966 and 1975.

LVG 262H was ordered and delivered to its first owner, a Mr R Hurst through the London Sports Car Centre in August 1969 according to its original Lotus Warranty document on file and went for its 300-mile service shortly after. The document folder includes its original service book and handbook.

The car was soon offered for sale through Swanmore Garage in Bournemouth and by April 1970 had been sold to a local Dr, the bill of sale showing that £1,595 was paid. He was to keep the car until he recently passed away.

He used the car and loved the car, but it eventually fell into disuse, eventually being put out to graze in the garden covered with a tarpaulin. Thirty-three years (and 17 new covers) later, it was disinterred, and a full nut and bolt ground-up restoration commissioned.

C M Road and Race were entrusted with the work and once the car was stripped, it was soon apparent that the backbone chassis was simply not saveable. The owner sourced a new powder coated chassis, which was fully wax oiled and the rebuild commenced with new fixings throughout.

The engine was seized but was salvaged and fully rebuilt with new pistons and wet-liners. This work was undertaken by Cylinder Head Services in Northampton and the engine has done very little work since. The gearbox was stripped and rebuilt by C M Road and Race and the bodywork repaired and painted as required by Paul Manning at Panel Craft.

The car was totally restored to standard specification, including a set of period-correct wheels and hubcaps and whatever could be salvaged was used to retain as much originality as possible.

Bills from CM Road and Race on file show that between early 2015 and 2017, nearly £10,000 was spent on the car, a total which excluded the repaint and body repairs, the chassis purchase and the engine rebuild!

Club Lotus assisted in getting the original number reinstated on the car. They confirmed that it is to its original 1969 specification and comprises of original and correct Lotus parts dating from 1969, including the chassis plate which is present and correct.

In eye-catching orange, it is now in fine fettle having had its ground-up rebuild and all it needs is a new owner to enjoy the race car-like handling for which the model is so well known.

AMENDMENT; Please note that the car is being sold with a tailored car cover.