Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: LotusArchives on Wednesday,March 16, 2016, 12:57:23 PM
-
Hi,
I am doing some research into the numbered 'Special' badges some owners have on their early Europa Special. Has anyone created their own list or can members record their unit number, special number and location of the badge?
Thanks
Andy
-
Hi Andy,
Mine's just a TC so I can't be much help on this one, but are you aware of the Europa registry ? That has a list of the variants and you can pick out the TCS models ? (#40 is indexed for example)
http://lotus-europa.com/regspcl.html (http://lotus-europa.com/regspcl.html)
The other place that might be worth a call is the Yahoo group although I'd guess there's more S1 & S2 versions there.
Brian
-
:Welcome: Andy!
I think you're talking about the 'JPS Special'. It had a numbered badge on the dash. There was also a JPS sticker on each B-pillar. Other than that, they were no different from any other Europa with black with gold stripes. That being said, they are a desirable variant.
I don't know exactly where on the dash the badge was affixed. It could be dependent on the dealer as I think they were put on there - but I'm not sure about that. I did a google search for 'Europa JPS special' but it didn't help with the location of the badge.
You confused me for a while because there is a Europa Twin Cam Special that is distinct from the Europa Twin Cam - though I don't think they were very different.
Someone on the lotuseuropa yahoo group might be more helpful for the location of the badge.
-
Yes the black round 'Special 0**' badge. I have seen this on the fascia, the centre console and even now on the outside.
As these numbers were not recorded at Lotus, as you said it is very likely these were applied by either the distributor/dealer or maybe even handed to the customer to fit themselves, I am trying to build a better archive record of these cars.
As my user name says I am the Lotus Archivist, Andy Graham. :lotus:
-
:Welcome:
Honor to have you here Andy.
-
Hi Andy,
If you want to see any Europa TCS in the flesh, I have 6 in various stages of renovation, and I am only a 40 minute drive away from central Norwich, 8 miles East of Fakenham.
Cheers,
Alex in Foulsham, NR20.
-
From what I've remembered over the years, there were only 200 Europa TCS with the JPS badge. I thought all were supposed to have the black paint scheme with gold pin striping and 5 speed gearboxes but have seen one or two supposed Europas with variations of colors and gearboxes offered for sale as a JPS. I was the former owner of JPS 188 and the only item distinguishing my JPs from the runoff the mill TCS was the black and gold JPS roundel affixed to the dashboard. My car did not have the JPS decal on the wings and I bought the car from the original owner.
Joji Tokumoto
Fallbrook, Ca
-
That's interesting that your JPS Special didn't have the JPS sticker on the B-pillar. The first Europa I owned was a 'demonstrator' from a New Orleans dealer. It was a 4 speed that was white w/gold stripes and it had the JPS sticker on the B-pillar. It was not sold to me as a JPS Special. In fact, I'm not sure that I had even heard the term at that point. I got my next (and current) Europa from the distributor in New Orleans. I used to hang around there and somehow I acquired a few of the JPS sticker. In case anybody is interested, I sent one to Ray at r.d. and he made copies to sell. I assume he still has them even though he doesn't list them on his site any more.
I'd be suspicious about JPS Specials that are not black/gold or 5-speed, but if they are genuine (I'm not sure how that could be verified except with an original bill of sale), it might be an indication that the dealers had a lot more control over which ones were JPS Specials than might be assumed. There was a lengthy thread on this subject a few years ago on the yahoo group and I thought somebody said he got some interesting goodies with his JPS like a jacket, bag, etc. I would expect that would be dealer dependent, too. I'm sure it can be browsed with the knowledgebase.
-
If it came with one originally, the pillar JPS decal didn't survive the exposure to the hot southern California sun on my JPS over the years.
In that Yahoo discussion, I do not recall anyone stating that their Europa came with that JPS designation on the factory window sticker. Like you said, I believe that the dealers were handed out the JPS roundels and other bits to designate a particular TCS as a JPS. Without that round black and gold JPS number on the dash, there is no way to prove that you have a genuine JPS.
I'm a bit puzzled how a TCS with a JPS emblem can command a price premium over a standard TCS without having any performance advantages. Not that I'm complaining, I got a very good price for my JPS when I sold it last year.
-
I'm a bit puzzled how a TCS with a JPS emblem can command a price premium over a standard TCS without having any performance advantages. Not that I'm complaining, I got a very good price for my JPS when I sold it last year.
I guess you'd have to chalk it up to sentimentality and a coolness factor!
-
Alex,
Thanks for the offer, I may take you up on that some time.
All,
I did read somewhere that the 'Special' was meant to be just that, a Special Edition, but it simply continued, so are you saying you have seen other colour Europas with the 'Special' roundal badge?
Yes I don't think there is any difference between a early Special that may have had the numbered badge and a later one. Also black continued as a standard colour to the end. I have read some early UK road tests and they only make reference to the JPS colour scheme, nothing about them coming with a numbered badge. Does any one have any early US road test reports?
I was not aware of JPS stickers on the B-pillars, sounds like a add on by the dealer possibly?
-
http://lotuspals.ning.com/profiles/blogs/lotus-limited-and-special-editions-jps-europa?xg_source=activity
Guys,Try the above link...an old discussion that has no end.
Two hundred or so "commemorative" specials were initially constructed celebrating winning the 1972 F1 worlds championship.
The build dates started in December of 72 and ran for almost thirteen months. They were designated to have all available options...black interior,5 speed, alloy wheels, door sills and L15(black) with gold stripes.
No badges or decals...this was a dealer promotion. Some were first showcased for the UK using the Dellorto carbs and remainder with Zenith Stromberg for federal application. They were well received and more popular in the states...the decision was made to continue the remaining production of all "Specials" regardless of color to include gold pinstripes, sills, wheels and option oatmeal interior.
Dealers handed out numbered badges as they saw fit...decals, lighters, umbrellas, jackets were also offered.
In a personal visit to Dutchess East the US distributor in Millertown NY before purchasing 2943r in 1973....I was told about one hundred "Badges" were circulated here in the states. I don't know how many each dealer got or what became of the rest. The decal on the sail was available, as I received two, during my purchase.
In conclusion...I can only say the two hundred badges was a promotion...If you got a black on black 5 speed and a badge you are golden...there was no difference in the vehicle. ld
-
I did a little browsing through the Knowledge Base and lotus-europa.com but didn't find the post I thought I remered that summarized what was known about the JPS Europa. I did find the Lotus Europa Wikipedia page which answers some of your (and my) questions:
Introduced in September 1972 the first 100 big valve cars were badged and painted to honour the just won Team Lotus's 1972 F1 World Championship title with John Player Special as sponsors, all with five-speed gearbox, these were all black with gold pin stripe matching the livery of the GP cars – plus a numbered JPS dash board badge, becoming the first ever John Player Special commemorative motor vehicles. The "Special" name and colour scheme was planned to be dropped after the first 200 cars, reverting to the Twin Cam name, but such was the reaction to the new car that the name and pin stripe scheme remained until the end of Europa Production although colours other than black were made available. In the end only the numbered plaque distinguishing the first 100 JPS cars from other black Europa Specials. According to Lotus sources, no Special left the factory with "numbered JPS badges" or "JPS stickers" - these were added by the American importer & weren't official done by Lotus. There were no "badged" cars sold in the UK, Australia, etcetera, just in the USA.
The source for this quote comes from an article on lotus-europa.com and appears to be what I was looking for all along! http://www.lotus-europa.com/jps.html
The curious thing is the quote from the Wikipedia article is in conflict with its source which said the JPS Europas were ordered from the factory. I tend to think the Wikipedia article is correct when it said the factory did not apply the badges or stickers mainly because no information on the JPS Europas seems to be authoritative.
I don't think I've ever seen a Federal Europa TC (as opposed to a Europa TCS. I thought I'd read a post during my browsing the Knowledge Base that the Specials had the silver valence panels under the doors, but the parts manual lists those panels for all TC variants. However, the Lotus Brand alloy wheels are for the TCS and Federal TCS. The valence panel and the One curious thing I found is that there is apparently a different body shell for the Federal TC than the Federal TCS and both of those are different from the TC and TCS (non Federal). I'm guessing that relates to the headlight hight.
One more curious thing about the JPS Europa: a quick look through my copy of The Lotus Europa: Derivatives & Contemporaries 1966-1975 doesn't seem to mention the JPS Europa.
I hope that helps.
-
I don't think I've ever seen a Federal Europa TC
My 2420R is a Federal TC with a big valve engine, Regency Red, Lotus alloy wheels, and a 4 speed gearbox.
-
In a personal visit to Dutchess East the US distributor in Millertown NY before purchasing 2943r in 1973....I was told about one hundred "Badges" were circulated here in the states. I don't know how many each dealer got or what became of the rest. The decal on the sail was available, as I received two, during my purchase.
So you owned 2943R from new and it did not have a 'Special' numbered badge?
2943R was the 96th Black Europa Special for the US market (based on unit number sequence) so this helps confirm there was no specific order to these numbered badges and not all the first 200 black cars had them, hence me wondering if these badges were issued to other colours too?
Various colours were available from the start, not just black.
-
I don't think I've ever seen a Federal Europa TC
My 2420R is a Federal TC with a big valve engine, Regency Red, Lotus alloy wheels, and a 4 speed gearbox.
Since I haven't seen your car, my statement is still true! :)
-
Too dark now to take a photo and post it !
-
In a personal visit to Dutchess East the US distributor in Millertown NY before purchasing 2943r in 1973....I was told about one hundred "Badges" were circulated here in the states. I don't know how many each dealer got or what became of the rest. The decal on the sail was available, as I received two, during my purchase.
So you owned 2943R from new and it did not have a 'Special' numbered badge?
2943R was the 96th Black Europa Special for the US market (based on unit number sequence) so this helps confirm there was no specific order to these numbered badges and not all the first 200 black cars had them, hence me wondering if these badges were issued to other colours too?
Various colours were available from the start, not just black.
...2943R had a 352 4 speed...I put stickers on the sail panels..it was not commemorative...I bought her off the showroom floor.
This was a branding promotion...to honor the type 72 livery...the other colors do not apply.
As stated in BDA's link...The dealers preferred "ordered" vehicles then having inventory and high floor plan to maintain.
On any given day at the distributor there were only a handful of available Europas. Some centers that I personally visited like Tom's Pit Stop, La Monsa Motors and Marco's Competition had only one car...guess what?...it was black. ld
-
JPS No 52 is in beaulieu with the badge in the outside above the special badge.
Black gold pinstripe of course.
-
My wife always complains of my "pack rat" tendencies and how I can't throw any thing away. This topic of badges got me thinking of some documentation I received when purchasing my first Europa in 1973...Sure enough, I was able to find my original sale receipt and retail information from the dealer. In addition, I was given a retailer bulletin dated October 1972 and March 1973 indicating the various models to be offered and initial price list.
I hope these will help solve the riddle of how many commemorative specials were to be built. ld
-
Good info Lou, that looks pretty definitive proof at 100 black JPS cars, the others were clearly just plain jane "specials" ;)
It sorta ties in with a vague recollection I have from the 70s, I had a workmate then who had a '73 or maybe '74 metallic Tawny Europa with pinstripes (a bit like Bainford's ? ) and he used to refer to it as a "Twin Cam Special" and I'm sure he said it was because of the big valve engine rather than the lower powered TC engine that's in mine.
Brian
-
Very interesting, Lou! It's nice to get something like that in writing after all these years of rumors, memories, and guesses about the JPS Europas!
Your dealer had great prices. As a comparison, I've attached the bill of sale and the window sticker for my car. From the window sticker, you can see that the distributor where I got my car had a much higher opinion of my car than your dealer! And look at all the Standard Equipment!!! :) In New Orleans, I really appreciated the 'slow burn' vinyle interior! (actually, it wasn't slow enough for me!)
-
Expensive radio!
Lou's invoice adjusted for inflation (CPI Inflation Calculator):
1973 => 2016
Europa TCS $6345 => $33,884
Mag Wheel & low profile tire $295 => $1,575
AM/FM radio $175 => $935
5 spd trans $375 => $2,003
-
Andy...and to the community...
Some full page documents...I love the mention of "non-flammable" ld
-
It is really cool that you kept and were able to find these Lou! :trophy:
-
5 mph bumpers?
-
Yes, kind of. If I remember, the US regulations called for a maximum dollar amount of damage when hitting a solid barrier at 5mph. I think the next year (1975), the regulations increased so there could be no damage. Between the bumper regulations and the regulations for door beams, a redesign was called for which helped bring the decision not to continue building them and go with the more modern Elite and Esprit. The bumper actually works pretty well. I think what makes it work as well as it does is the bumper spreads the load across the entire front of the car.
Back in my feckless youth, I was tearing around a curvy road along Lake Pontchartrain (the lake north of New Orleans) after a minor hurricane hit the town. I didn't know it but behind a blind corner, the road was blocked with an aluminum barrier weighted down with sand bags. The barrier probably weighed 50 - 75 lbs and the sand bags probably weighed another 40 lbs. I applied the brakes when I saw it but I probably hit it going at least 35 mph. I closed my eyes and envisioned a rain fiberglass shards, but there was very little damage. There was a minor bit of 'warpage' in the bumper but the glass did not appear to be damaged. On the other hand, the barrier was pushed back about 10 feet and warped a bit and there was sand all over the place! It also made enough noise that a nearby cop came to see what happened!
Edit - added the year that regulations were to strengthen.
-
Hi Andy,
Mine's just a TC so I can't be much help on this one, but are you aware of the Europa registry ? That has a list of the variants and you can pick out the TCS models ? (#40 is indexed for example)
http://lotus-europa.com/regspcl.html (http://lotus-europa.com/regspcl.html)
The other place that might be worth a call is the Yahoo group although I'd guess there's more S1 & S2 versions there.
Brian
Brian,
Who is the contact for the Europa Registry? I am looking into the Black Specials (hence this post) and wonder where they get the original body colours from that they list against the unit numbers on the registry, i.e. where it lists original colour: L15 - Black Gloss is it actually the paint code from the car or some records?
I have come across a car that is black in one record but regency red in another ???
-
Hi Andy,
I'm sorry I don't know who owns the registry but my first thoughts would be to contact Dan Morrison who took over the main website - Lotus Europa Central http://lotus-europa.com/index.html (http://lotus-europa.com/index.html)
I'm sure some of the other guys on here will know if there's a better contact but if nothing else comes forwards I'd try Dan. I think he also posts on the Lotus Europa Yahoo group email list and took over the knowledgebase towards the end of last year, so he's definitely "in the know".
The data in the registry comes from lots of sources AFAIK, mostly the current or previous owners adding in what they know about their own cars. I could easily see how there's discrepancies like you've found as the registry has been going for quite a while. For example someone buys the car and inputs the details then over the ownership it's resprayed, maybe just before selling. The proud new owner doesn't realise it's already registered and puts it in again, maybe not even realising it's been painted if it's been a bare fibreglass respray ?
Brian
-
Dan's email is:
danmo at yahoo dot com
-
Thanks, i'm now communicating with Dan
-
Expensive radio!
Lou's invoice adjusted for inflation (CPI Inflation Calculator):
1973 => 2016
Europa TCS $6345 => $33,884
Mag Wheel & low profile tire $295 => $1,575
AM/FM radio $175 => $935
5 spd trans $375 => $2,003
What you should do is run the numbers for the sale/list price of the TC/TCS along side the "JPS" TCS adjusted for inflation. Then you'll see how that little round numbered badge justifies the premium pricing for one today.