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Lotus Europa Forums => Members Cars => Topic started by: British-GT on Saturday,July 16, 2016, 06:34:15 AM

Title: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: British-GT on Saturday,July 16, 2016, 06:34:15 AM
Hi Everyone, new to the forum and to Lotus Europa's!

Just picked up this UK RHD 1968 S2, needs a full restoration but all complete minus a rear boot lid
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: jbcollier on Saturday,July 16, 2016, 06:48:26 AM
This is what they look like when they need a full restoration:

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-Tt4Wgk3/A

;-)

That looks like a lovely button door latch 54.  Congratulations!
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: British-GT on Saturday,July 16, 2016, 06:59:54 AM
Lol fair comment, the image above was taken by the previous owner 3 years ago it's a bit worse now and the rear engine bay was damaged in transit,
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: EuropaTC on Saturday,July 16, 2016, 07:56:46 AM
eehh lad, nothing a bit of T-Cut won't sort out for you.....    :)

Welcome to the forum, that looks a very decent buy and as John says, a very nice looking early car. What's the interior like, dusty or are you evicting mice ?

Brian
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: British-GT on Saturday,July 16, 2016, 08:06:18 AM
Just dust and dirt, it's all very tidy, only problem is when we were bringing it home on a flat bed the wind caught the rear boot and ripped it off, absolutely gutted😔
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: British-GT on Saturday,July 16, 2016, 08:17:31 AM
I believe it could be the earliest RHD?
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: jbcollier on Saturday,July 16, 2016, 11:07:32 AM
You had towed it facing backwards on the flat bed?  The rear latch will not hold if towed backwards.  Usually it folds over smashing the windshield as well.  Very sorry to hear this.
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: British-GT on Saturday,July 16, 2016, 01:04:33 PM
Yes windscreen gone but you learn by your mistakes!! Not the end of the world
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: 4129R on Saturday,July 16, 2016, 11:49:24 PM
Just dust and dirt, it's all very tidy, only problem is when we were bringing it home on a flat bed the wind caught the rear boot and ripped it off, absolutely gutted😔

You are not the first to do that.
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: Bainford on Monday,July 18, 2016, 08:55:32 AM
Welcome to the forum, Mr. GT. Good looking project you have there; no warts and push button door latches. And as 4129R says, you are certainly not the first to wreck an engine cover by towing a Europa backwards.

Cheers  :beerchug:
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: 3929R on Monday,July 18, 2016, 09:02:35 AM
 :Welcome:
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: BDA on Monday,July 18, 2016, 10:21:13 AM
 :Welcome: British GT!
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: British-GT on Tuesday,July 19, 2016, 01:51:27 PM
Thanks guys I'm looking forward to getting it back on the road!
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: British-GT on Thursday,October 27, 2016, 12:53:51 PM
Strip down begins, I'm still very keen to find an original period engine cover
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: jbcollier on Thursday,October 27, 2016, 01:40:09 PM
Originals will most likely have lots of stress cracks that take a good deal of time to repair properly.  Get a new one.  Banks will have them.
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: British-GT on Monday,January 27, 2020, 09:04:11 AM
Project is really taking shape, while stripping the interior out we found all panels had ‘show’ written on them, after speaking to lotus this is one of two cars that went to the motor show back in 68 I believe, one of the very first right hand drive cars!
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: BDA on Monday,January 27, 2020, 09:05:54 AM
Pretty cool history, GT!!
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: lotusfanatic on Monday,January 27, 2020, 10:19:48 AM
Great progress and great history GT!

I just re-read your account of collecting your car... and the demise of your car's engine cover.
I had my car imported from the US and when it arrived at Southampton docks the engine cover was totally smashed to pieces and had been bodge-taped in place... I too was similarly gutted: it had survived all those years, then ends up torn to pieces!
Funnily enough, this got me thinking and I checked the photograph sent to me of the car as it was collected on a low loader to be taken to the docks in the US.

Yep! it was pulled up backwards with the engine cover facing the wind!

Until now I had thought that somebody had been tearing away at the panel and broke it, now I am convinced that my car was also a victim of being towed backwards!

Mark
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: dakazman on Monday,January 27, 2020, 04:43:56 PM
Welcome Back ,British-GT
 You have come a long way and it looks like your ready to put the body back on. sad story about the towing incident. I will keep that in mind, it may be a good sticky for the home page. Keep posting your progress.
Dakazman
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: British-GT on Monday,February 01, 2021, 09:57:44 AM
Car really taking shape, ready by the summer
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: British-GT on Monday,February 01, 2021, 09:58:40 AM
Another photo
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: BDA on Monday,February 01, 2021, 10:06:55 AM
Looking good! I like the color!  ;D
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: British-GT on Monday,February 01, 2021, 10:11:20 AM
It was factory supplied in white so had to go that way, which is cool as white is popular these days
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: Bainford on Monday,February 01, 2021, 11:09:54 AM
Nice progress! Things are shaping up, and Europas do look good in white.
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: GavinT on Monday,February 01, 2021, 06:08:05 PM
Nice colour and well done.
Is it a 'white' white or more of an 'old English' white.
Sometimes photos don't get the colour entirely correct.
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: TurboFource on Monday,February 01, 2021, 06:25:02 PM
 :beerchug:
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: lotusfanatic on Monday,February 01, 2021, 09:36:43 PM
Hi GT!

is that Cirrus White?
it looks very smart, what a cool car  8)

Mark
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: British-GT on Monday,February 01, 2021, 11:26:45 PM
Yes It’s cirrus white!! I think it’s a lovely colour that really suits the car
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: S2Zetec54 on Wednesday,February 03, 2021, 01:10:28 PM
If you buy a panel from Richard he has also just bought a huge batch of windscreens for stock.
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: BDA on Wednesday,February 03, 2021, 01:25:55 PM
It's good to know about those windscreens. Pilkington has apparently discontinued distribution of them in the US.

Thanks!
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: literarymadness on Wednesday,February 03, 2021, 01:41:39 PM
I always thought that the early S2 was THE Europa to have. You have the clean outside aesthetics of an S1 with practical windows and the body bolted to the frame. And it looks great in Cirrus White.
Title: Re: 1968 UK RHD S2
Post by: dakazman on Wednesday,February 03, 2021, 03:00:19 PM
     Wow, that looks GREAT.    :trophy:

      Its actually my favorite color. Hopefully you'll have clear sailing from here on out.
 dakazman