Lot details
Registration No: KDA848K
Chassis No: 141162P
Mot Expiry: June 2013

The Europa caused a tremendous stir at its introduction in 1966, and small wonder for there was no other race-bred, mid-engined sports car available for anything like the same price. However, once the initial excitement had abated, the enthusiasts became critical of the basic specification, poor visibility and the lack of performance afforded by the model's 1470cc Renault engine. The S2 version of 1968 brought more comfort and practicality, but the other issues remained unresolved, and it was not until the introduction of the Twin Cam three years later that the Europa finally delivered on all fronts. A redesigned body dramatically improved rearward vision and the replacement of the Renault engine with Lotus's own Ford-based 1558cc DOHC unit delivered the long awaited get-up-and-go. Motor's test of the newcomer returned a 0-60mph time of 8.2 seconds and a mean top speed of 116.5mph.

The Twin Cam on offer is a 1971 model that sports Red bodywork and Black interior trim. The vendor describes the bodywork as "sound", the paintwork and interior trim as "fair" (though he notes that the facia veneer is "poor"), and informs us that the engine "appears quite good" and the transmission is "serviceable". The Lotus comes with a fresh MOT until June 2013.