51 Lotus Europa Series II (1970) TBF 606 J
Lotus Europa Series II (1969-70) Engine 1565cc S4 OHV Renault 807
Production 9230 (includes all Europa)
Registration Number TBF 606 J (Staffordshire)
LOTUS SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623671671113...
By the mid-1960's the mid-engine design had become the standard for Grand Prix and Formula racing cars, however almost no road vehicles yet used this arrangement. Lotus planned the Europa to be a volume-produced, two-seater mid-engine sports coupe built to reasonable cost, Designed by Ron Hickman the Europa used a lightweight, folded & welded "minimalist" boxed-steel backbone chassis with a fibreglass moulded body, a combination Lotus had already used with the design of the 1962 Lotus Elan. Earliest versions of the Europa had the body fully bonded to the chassis for maximum structural stiffness, however this was soon changed to a bolted-on body to allow normal chassis and body repairs to be made.
The engine and gearbox came from the recently launched Renault 16, considered light and modern The Renault 16's engine's design met Lotus's requirements. It used an aluminium block with cast-iron cylinder liners, which saved appreciable weight compared to the cast-iron blocks more common at the time. When Renault introduced their most powerful 16 TX model in 1973, it included a strengthened 5-speed transmission. Lotus quickly offered this gearbox as an option in the Europa, along with their Big Valve twin-cam engine.
The Series 1 or S1 Europa was launched in December 1966. Volkswagen owned the rights to the Europa name in Germany, so cars for sale in Germany were badged Europe rather than Europa. Only 296 examples of the S1 were manufactured the spartan Series 1 were extremely light with fixed side windows, fixed seats (adjustable pedals needing the use of tools), no door handles, no internal door covers, and an aluminum dashboard. The steel chassis central beam was sandwiched (incorporated) within the fibreglass bodywork, thus reinforcing stiffness, but making repair complicated. Series 1A and B (around 350 built) had removable side windows, wooden dashboard, and internal door panel covers which could accommodate the windows once taken off. Series 1B had a redesigned rear panel, with new, rectangular light clusters.
The Europa Series 2, or Lotus Type 54, was introduced in April 1968 adding refinements including opening electric windows, adjustable seats, a new fully carpeted interior and a polished wooden fascia panel for the dashboard. The most significant change was the switch from fully bonded construction to the use of bolt fasteners to attach the fibreglass body to the backbone steel frame at the cost of torsional stiffness, though this change was welcomed by the insurance industry as it drastically reduced repair costs. From early 1969, secondary front indicator lamp nacelles were added between the headlights, and larger door handles were used in place of the S1's push-button items.
Shot at The National Memorial Arboretum, Drive it Day 21:04:2013. REF 91-051:
51 Lotus Europa Series II (1970) TBF 606 J
Lotus Europa Series II (1969-70) Engine 1565cc S4 OHV Renault 807
Production 9230 (includes all Europa)
Registration Number TBF 606 J (Staffordshire)
LOTUS SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623671671113...
By the mid-1960's the mid-engine design had become the standard for Grand Prix and Formula racing cars, however almost no road vehicles yet used this arrangement. Lotus planned the Europa to be a volume-produced, two-seater mid-engine sports coupe built to reasonable cost, Designed by Ron Hickman the Europa used a lightweight, folded & welded "minimalist" boxed-steel backbone chassis with a fibreglass moulded body, a combination Lotus had already used with the design of the 1962 Lotus Elan. Earliest versions of the Europa had the body fully bonded to the chassis for maximum structural stiffness, however this was soon changed to a bolted-on body to allow normal chassis and body repairs to be made.
The engine and gearbox came from the recently launched Renault 16, considered light and modern The Renault 16's engine's design met Lotus's requirements. It used an aluminium block with cast-iron cylinder liners, which saved appreciable weight compared to the cast-iron blocks more common at the time. When Renault introduced their most powerful 16 TX model in 1973, it included a strengthened 5-speed transmission. Lotus quickly offered this gearbox as an option in the Europa, along with their Big Valve twin-cam engine.
The Series 1 or S1 Europa was launched in December 1966. Volkswagen owned the rights to the Europa name in Germany, so cars for sale in Germany were badged Europe rather than Europa. Only 296 examples of the S1 were manufactured the spartan Series 1 were extremely light with fixed side windows, fixed seats (adjustable pedals needing the use of tools), no door handles, no internal door covers, and an aluminum dashboard. The steel chassis central beam was sandwiched (incorporated) within the fibreglass bodywork, thus reinforcing stiffness, but making repair complicated. Series 1A and B (around 350 built) had removable side windows, wooden dashboard, and internal door panel covers which could accommodate the windows once taken off. Series 1B had a redesigned rear panel, with new, rectangular light clusters.
The Europa Series 2, or Lotus Type 54, was introduced in April 1968 adding refinements including opening electric windows, adjustable seats, a new fully carpeted interior and a polished wooden fascia panel for the dashboard. The most significant change was the switch from fully bonded construction to the use of bolt fasteners to attach the fibreglass body to the backbone steel frame at the cost of torsional stiffness, though this change was welcomed by the insurance industry as it drastically reduced repair costs. From early 1969, secondary front indicator lamp nacelles were added between the headlights, and larger door handles were used in place of the S1's push-button items.
Shot at The National Memorial Arboretum, Drive it Day 21:04:2013. REF 91-051: