Author Topic: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL  (Read 191 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline FourLoti

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Apr 2023
  • Location: Central Ohio
  • Posts: 165
Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« on: Sunday,May 05, 2024, 06:12:17 AM »
My daughter knows I'm into Lotus cars, so she keeps an eye out in Seattle and this popped up in her feed. Not sure if was FB or something else, but it would be entertaining to read the ad text.

Ron



1974 Europa Twin Cam Special 5-Speed
1996 Porsche 993 Carrera Coupe
2005 Mitsubishi Montero Limited
1987 Esprit Turbo (gone)
1980 Eclat (gone)
1963 Elan S1 (gone)
1970 Europa S2 (gone)

Offline BDA

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jul 2012
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Posts: 9,520
Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« Reply #1 on: Sunday,May 05, 2024, 06:28:32 AM »
At least they probably got the model year right… Maybe.

Offline EuropaTC

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jun 2012
  • Location: Lincolnshire, UK
  • Posts: 3,019
    • LotusLand
Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« Reply #2 on: Sunday,May 05, 2024, 09:18:49 AM »
Buy with confidence......   

clearly enthusiast owned and maintained.....   ;)

Offline 4129R

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: May 2014
  • Location: Norfolk, United Kingdom, not far from Hethel the home of Lotus.
  • Posts: 2,501
Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« Reply #3 on: Sunday,May 05, 2024, 10:44:32 AM »
Unless I am very much mistaken that is a 2 litre or 2.2 litre Jensen Healey with a Lotus 16v engine.

Or am I missing something?

Offline BDA

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jul 2012
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Posts: 9,520
Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« Reply #4 on: Sunday,May 05, 2024, 10:50:28 AM »
Nope! You got that right but the seller has somehow mistaken a '74 Jensen Healey for a '74 Elise. But I can understand that. The '74 Elise did bear a striking resemblance to the '74 Jensen Healey!  :)

Offline 4129R

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: May 2014
  • Location: Norfolk, United Kingdom, not far from Hethel the home of Lotus.
  • Posts: 2,501
Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« Reply #5 on: Sunday,May 05, 2024, 02:21:57 PM »
Nope! You got that right but the seller has somehow mistaken a '74 Jensen Healey for a '74 Elise. But I can understand that. The '74 Elise did bear a striking resemblance to the '74 Jensen Healey!  :)

WTF is a '74 Elise ???

Elise production started in 1996.

The '74 Elite was a hard top, not a soft top.

Offline BDA

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jul 2012
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Posts: 9,520
Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« Reply #6 on: Sunday,May 05, 2024, 02:58:02 PM »
Quote
WTF is a '74 Elise ???

That's the joke!!  :)

Maybe you weren't able to see the attached picture. The picture was of an ad where a guy is selling what he calls a "'74 Lotus Elise" but he shows a picture of what is probably a '74 Jensen Healey (I know of no way to tell the year of a Jensen Healey)! So the guy is a bit confused.

Offline Richard48Y

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Oct 2020
  • Location: No. Nevada
  • Posts: 1,518
Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« Reply #7 on: Sunday,May 05, 2024, 06:27:07 PM »
Fakebook can be difficult to place ads on as they have no heading for many makes.
No heading for Jensen or Jensen Healey, but they do know Lotus.
So Lotus engine is close enough to advertise as a "Lotus", um yea.
The more clever sellers will follow the misapplication with the correct description.
This seller is not that clever.

Offline 4129R

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: May 2014
  • Location: Norfolk, United Kingdom, not far from Hethel the home of Lotus.
  • Posts: 2,501
Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« Reply #8 on: Today at 02:51:58 AM »
10,503 produced between 1972-1976.

I can't say that I have seen one for a very long time. Where are they all?

Offline Richard48Y

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Oct 2020
  • Location: No. Nevada
  • Posts: 1,518
Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« Reply #9 on: Today at 07:33:19 AM »
Pretty common in CA and NV USA where they have not rusted away.
How many would you like?  ;)

Offline 4129R

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: May 2014
  • Location: Norfolk, United Kingdom, not far from Hethel the home of Lotus.
  • Posts: 2,501
Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« Reply #10 on: Today at 08:43:43 AM »
Over 440 in the UK apparently (180 off the road), but as they have a steel body, I suppose metal worm will have taken its toll on many.

Weighing over a ton with 144bhp maximum, they are slower than a Europa both on top speed and acceleration.

Offline FourLoti

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Apr 2023
  • Location: Central Ohio
  • Posts: 165
Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« Reply #11 on: Today at 09:41:57 AM »
They show up FS from time to time. Here's a few that sold on BAT this year.  https://bringatrailer.com/jensen/jensen-healey/

Including that rare Jensen GT. I was tempted to bid on that as my next project, but wised up in time to save myself :)  Interesting fact I read is that Donald Healy resigned from the JH board because new American owner, Kjell Qvale, decided to position this model upmarket as a sort of a "junior" Jensen Interceptor, and dropped the Healy name. Thus, Jensen GT.

As to this FB ad, there's another JH in the photo so I doubt the seller was confused, more likely hoping the Lotus title would get more (clueless?) eyeballs than JH.

Ron
1974 Europa Twin Cam Special 5-Speed
1996 Porsche 993 Carrera Coupe
2005 Mitsubishi Montero Limited
1987 Esprit Turbo (gone)
1980 Eclat (gone)
1963 Elan S1 (gone)
1970 Europa S2 (gone)

Offline Bainford

  • Twin Cam 3682R
  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jul 2012
  • Location: Nova Scotia
  • Posts: 1,646
Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
« Reply #12 on: Today at 12:10:07 PM »
They show up FS from time to time. Here's a few that sold on BAT this year.  https://bringatrailer.com/jensen/jensen-healey/

Including that rare Jensen GT. I was tempted to bid on that as my next project, but wised up in time to save myself :)  Interesting fact I read is that Donald Healy resigned from the JH board because new American owner, Kjell Qvale, decided to position this model upmarket as a sort of a "junior" Jensen Interceptor, and dropped the Healy name. Thus, Jensen GT.
Ron
I have always thought the Jensen Healey was a bit of a chunky looking roadster, but that Jensen GT is a good looking car. Still a shame about those front bumpers, though. I'm not sure if I was aware of these.
« Last Edit: Today at 12:13:23 PM by Bainford »
The Twin Cam plays the symphony whilst my right foot conducts the orchestra. At 3800 rpm the Mad Pipe Organ joins in.

Trevor