Lotus Europa Community

Lotus Europa Forums => Members Cars => Topic started by: 4129R on Thursday,June 09, 2016, 11:20:16 AM

Title: 4376R
Post by: 4129R on Thursday,June 09, 2016, 11:20:16 AM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Europa-Twin-Cam-Special-/231958146810?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3601c86efa:g:h8UAAOSwepZXSE93&item=231958146810

This TCS 4376R is very probably the last I will add to my collection currently under restoration. 2520R Regency Red is in the queue, 3089R is about to go to be resprayed Lagoon Blue instead of the horrible brown it is. The chassis plate says it is black, but everything about it is very brown. 3755R, black but was originally yellow, is awaiting interior trim. 4129R always black is in use. 4259R yellow but Lotus think it is brown according to their records (everything about it is yellow) is in the queue for restoration, as is 4688R Lagoon Blue and staying Lagoon Blue, which is about the be started this weekend when I start building up the new chassis. I will probably keep 4688R (a very late Federal car) when I emigrate to Australia to retire in about 3 years time. It will have many new parts, and should be easy and cheap to maintain until I am too weary to get in and out of it.   

Alex in Norfolk, where they return to the place of their birth.
Title: Re: 4376R
Post by: andy harwood on Thursday,June 09, 2016, 01:42:42 PM
It seems as if you will have a very busy time until retirement!
Congrats -  on yet another Europa.
Title: Re: 4376R
Post by: 4129R on Thursday,June 09, 2016, 01:53:34 PM
Each car is taking about 6 months of weekends, so at say 24 x 2 x 7 hours, that makes about 350 hours to strip, clean, replace and rebuild each car. The cheapest rate I have found for a decent mechanic in a garage local to me is £30 per hour ($42), so that would put the labour cost at £10,500 or around $15,000.

No wonder we all do most of the work ourselves.

Not for the faint hearted !
Title: Re: 4376R
Post by: 3929R on Friday,June 10, 2016, 04:02:16 PM
 :trophy:
You win the prize for most Europas and maybe most crazy!   :beerchug: