1967
Lotus Europa S1 460363
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Sept. 30,
2001
Finished
ripping out the horsehair insulation padding in front of the engine at
the firewall area. And virtually used a shovel and a broom to get all the
hay out of the same place. This car was most definitely in a BARN for while.
There was enough hay to feed a horse for a couple of days at least. Looks
like some critter also moved in for while. The sticker on the blue California
plate "DB INC" that came with the Europa, reads "1975". Was this thing
in the barn for 26 years? Maybe.
Need to get a new rubber moulding for the windshield. The original is cracked and dried out so badly that the front of the roof is flexing due to no support at the top edge of the glass. Now I know what all the black mastic was for.
Sept. 22,
2001
Took the
heater apart. Wow, is it ugly inside. I don't think it's work saving. Going
to start looking into NOS and see if I can find a good one. Also the fan
motor for the radiator may have to be replaced.
Sept. 21,
2001
Well, I'm
in a stall period right now. Done pretty much all I can do to 46/0363,
concerning prepping the car for the eventual extraction of the frame from
the body. The actual surgery will have to wait until after we move, which
now looks like the end of November. So until then, the car will remain
as a rolling chassis.
Sept. 13,
2001
Heater
out, handbrake out. Steering column also out, but will have to re-install
to move the car later. Removed half of the horsehair padding behind the
bulkhead. Started to disassemble the engine.
Sept. 11,
2001
Not a good
day for the world.
Sept. 10,
2001
The radiator
and fan, plenum chamber fan, & horn, are out. The radiator seems to
be re-usuable.
Sept. 08,
2001
The Europa
is getting lighter as every day passes by. There is a vertical crack in
the right hand side of the front tee section of the frame (where the unused
holes are for RHD steering column and brake pushrod), visible from the
passenger's footwell. There are also a few cracks in the fibreglass underneath
and behind the passenger's seat area. This makes me believe that I have
no choice but to drop out the frame and truly find out what the real extent
of the damage is. It is probably the wisest thing to do anyway. No regrets.
In the meantime
I've removed;
Front bonnet
lid, rear engine cover lid, rear trunk box, metal screens. All to be used
again.
The dash,
center triangle section and glove compartment panels to have new pieces
made by a furniture restorer. All instruments, switches and radio are to
be replaced with new bits. I'll keep the originals, but won't use them.
The wiring is slowly being removed as I write down what goes where. It
will be replaced with a new harness. The old one is burnt in a few places.
All carpeting, underpadding, headliner tossed in the trash. The seat cushions
are repairable. Sun visor and dash vinyl are okay. Pedals removed and must
be replaced. Door locks and latch mechanisms removed to be rebuilt. Exterior
mirrors, headlights and buckets, taillight units, bumpers all off and will
be used again. Antennae off and not to be used again. Steering wheel bent
and vinyl/foam rotten, to be replaced.
July. 2001
After about
two years of casually searching for a Europa S1, I decided it was time
to get off my butt and do something about it. Another birthday was fast
approaching and I was again going to be Lotus-less.
I went into overdrive trying to feed the hunger. And lo and behold, I found one. A quick email, and a phone call made me the proud but impatient owner of a 1967 Europa S1.
Three weeks later it was delivered to my garage. August 5, 2001.
The pictures below are from Len Drake's British Motors.
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