Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Classifieds Forums => FS / WTB: Cars and Rollers => Topic started by: LotusJoe on Tuesday,May 12, 2015, 12:28:07 PM
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1973 Europa TCS/JPS
Offered for sale is a 1973 Lotus Europa TCS/JPS. The car is a true JPS, placard number 188. The Europa had been sitting in the back of the original owners garage since the early 80s. The son of the original owner decided to restore the car as a gift to his father. The son put in considerable time and money restoring the car and getting it back on the road. Unfortunately, the car developed a head gasket leak after less than 100 miles. Greatly discouraged, the PO decided to cut his losses and put the car up for sale. I, as the third owner purchased the car and put it back on the road.
In examining the Europa, the PO did an excellent job on his restoration. For a 40 year old car, the car has remained pretty much stock with the exceptions detailed separately. Most of the modifications were done for safety or reliability purposes. This car was originally sold in California and spent it's entire life in California. Most of the OEM equipment have been saved and is included with the car
• All emissions equipment were removed long ago
• The frame and all suspension pieces have been painted with all new suspension bushings.
• The interior is overall excellent with the original carpets having some wear. Will include a new carpet kit with the purchase
• All of the chrome and bright work are excellent.
• Detailed engine bay.
• The paint is the original JPS black. Unfortunately under the California sun some of the paint is faded and thin in spots. Overall the paint is good.
• 5 speed 365 transaxle with new output shaft seals
• Brand new Nexen 185/60/13 on all four corners mounted on original Lotus alloy wheels
• DBE cassette water pump assembly
• Gear reduction starter with remote starter solenoid
• Spax adjustable shocks with new springs
• Adjustable rear lower link
• Radiator fan relay and override switch
• Nissan/Datsun F10 brake master cylinder
• Electric fuel pump
• DBE tubular headers
• Stainless steel muffler
• Odyssey PC630 battery (will include a spare full size battery)
• All replaced original OEM parts parts have been saved and are included
• Pertronix electronic ignition, not installed, is included
In closing, these ugly little ducklings (tongue in cheek, I own several Europas) have long been undervalued. Driving a well sorted out Europa down a twisty mountain road is close to achieving Nirvana as one can get and the new owner will soon understand why these cars have the fanatical loyalty of their owners.
For it's condition and rarity, I have priced the car at what I believe is a reasonable $25,000. The car is located in North San Diego county, California. Contact me, phone or PM for addition info or pictures.
Joji Tokumoto
Fallbrook, CA
Inquires should be directed to: jpseuropa@outlook.com
760-723-4508
Larger and many more Pictures can be found here:
Europa Photo Gallery (http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/73-Original-JPS)
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/73-Original-JPS/jps_5.sized.jpg)
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/73-Original-JPS/jps_4.sized.jpg)
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/73-Original-JPS/jps_3.sized.jpg)
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/73-Original-JPS/jps_1.jpg)
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/73-Original-JPS/jps_11.sized.jpg)
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/73-Original-JPS/jps_6.sized.jpg)
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/73-Original-JPS/jps_7.sized.jpg)
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/73-Original-JPS/jps_8.sized.jpg)
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/73-Original-JPS/jps_9.sized.jpg)
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/73-Original-JPS/jps_10.sized.jpg)
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Very Very Nice.
Good luck with the sale.
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She's a beauty, Joji! Good luck! I hope you get your price.
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Well written ad. Great looking car.
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Thanks for all of the kind words. Obviously the hardest decision was pricing the car for sale. I've sort of kept track of some of the ebay listing over the last year on TCS Europas. Most of the higher priced cars (>$27k) did not get their asking price. My asking price may be high for a Europa but priced well below what was asked last year. We'll have to see if it attracts any interest. This is the only for sale ad that I've placed any where. Next week, I'll try my local Craigslist and some of the magazine ad listings.
Joe, thanks for creating the photo album in the owners gallery. I can add more pictures there later on.
Joji Tokumoto
Fallbrook, Ca
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Joji,
If this sold for anywhere near the asking price then your price is off by a factor of two.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SPECIAL-/321760578647?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6ccc57&item=321760578647 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SPECIAL-/321760578647?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6ccc57&item=321760578647)
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Joji,
If this sold for anywhere near the asking price then your price is off by a factor of two.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SPECIAL-/321760578647?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6ccc57&item=321760578647 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SPECIAL-/321760578647?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6ccc57&item=321760578647)
You don't say but I assume you think Joji should price his closer to the eBay Europa. If that's the case, I disagree. The eBay Europa needs "cosmetic restoration" that Joji's does not. Joji's is also a JPS which is more desirable. Finally, I believe I've seen nice non-JPS Europas go for more than $20k.
Europas used to bring low selling prices, but they are on an up trend - though they will probably never match Elan prices.
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Joji,
If this sold for anywhere near the asking price then your price is off by a factor of two.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SPECIAL-/321760578647?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6ccc57&item=321760578647 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SPECIAL-/321760578647?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6ccc57&item=321760578647)
It looks like I got lucky on this one.
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Joji,
If this sold for anywhere near the asking price then your price is off by a factor of two.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SPECIAL-/321760578647?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6ccc57&item=321760578647 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SPECIAL-/321760578647?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6ccc57&item=321760578647)
You don't say but I assume you think Joji should price his closer to the eBay Europa. If that's the case, I disagree. The eBay Europa needs "cosmetic restoration" that Joji's does not. Joji's is also a JPS which is more desirable. Finally, I believe I've seen nice non-JPS Europas go for more than $20k.
Europas used to bring low selling prices, but they are on an up trend - though they will probably never match Elan prices.
No, I thought it was obvious, I meant just the opposite. Sorry, Joji, if it was misconstrued. I meant to complement your car and having owned my Europa for 40 years I know a good one when I see it.
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My apologies, Arizona! Some times I'm just oblivious to the obvious! :)
The ebay seller suggested that $35K was book on a good example. I'd like to see that and maybe some have gone for that much, but I haven't seen any go for that much. For those who want an original car, if any car could fetch that much, Joji's could.
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I've seen the pictures of the $35K Europa and the shop that did the work did an outstanding job on the on restoration of the TC to original looking specs. It is a beautiful car. I don't believe that I've seen any Europa sold for $30K or greater but I hope he gets his asking price.
Who would've thought that any Europa could sell for greater than $20K, but I've seen several supposedly sell for that much over the last couple of years. I'm in no financial rush to sell the JPS, so I can hold out for the right buyer. I'll keep you all informed of the ultimate result.
Joji Tokumoto
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It has been a long road. It wasn't that long ago that $7500 was pretty much the going price for a good Europa. I know of one guy who sold his very nice, mostly original car for a bit over $16K in 2010. It may be wishful thinking but I think there has been some upward movement since then so $30K may not be out of the question.
Good luck with your sale, Joji, and please do keep us informed!
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I will let you know what condition 4174R is in when it hopefully arrives back in the county of its birth.
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I will let you know what condition 4174R is in when it hopefully arrives back in the county of its birth.
Please do and don't forget some pictures!
:lotus:
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Joji,
If this sold for anywhere near the asking price then your price is off by a factor of two.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SPECIAL-/321760578647?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6ccc57&item=321760578647 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SPECIAL-/321760578647?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6ccc57&item=321760578647)
It looks like I got lucky on this one.
4129R, congrats on the purchase, keep us posted on the progress.
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This TC in good condition seems to be sticking at $14,400, below the reserve:-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-2-door-/201353911815?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ee1a0de07&item=201353911815
If it has been in California/Arizona all the plastic would have been toasted, but the rust would be minimal.
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This TC in good condition seems to be sticking at $14,400, below the reserve:-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-2-door-/201353911815?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ee1a0de07&item=201353911815 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-2-door-/201353911815?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ee1a0de07&item=201353911815)
If it has been in California/Arizona all the plastic would have been toasted, but the rust would be minimal.
Well my '72 Europa has been in AZ most of its life. No rust and no toast.
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Kept in a garage?
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Kept in a garage?
Always! Yep, left out in the sun bad things can happen. And at 7125' of elevation I'm mighty close to the sun.
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From the eBay ad for the white one, "...was parked in 1975 because it wouldn't pass smog..."
California emission inspections began in 1984 (I think they were the first state to require such?). This was one of the reasons my car was put into storage.
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Couldn't get $10K for it? That's sad...
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Couldn't get $10K for it? That's sad...
Not so, The listing says: "This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available." I think this means the car sold off eBay before the auction ended. Presumably he got his reserve price.
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Good eye, Mark! Thanks for correcting me.
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Joji,
If this sold for anywhere near the asking price then your price is off by a factor of two.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SPECIAL-/321760578647?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6ccc57&item=321760578647 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SPECIAL-/321760578647?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6ccc57&item=321760578647)
It looks like I got lucky on this one.
It seems the nice man in Florida who sold me the Europa also has an early Elan for sale:-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SE-/321760549639?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6c5b07&item=321760549639
Seems a bargain.
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It seems the nice man in Florida who sold me the Europa also has an early Elan for sale:-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SE-/321760549639?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6c5b07&item=321760549639 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-SE-/321760549639?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aea6c5b07&item=321760549639)
Seems a bargain.
Yeah, but for just a few quid more you could have this one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-S1-2-/161716881288?forcerrptr=true&hash=item25a713c788&item=161716881288 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-S1-2-/161716881288?forcerrptr=true&hash=item25a713c788&item=161716881288)
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Tell him he's dreaming.
Too much whacky baccy or space cake? (a Dutch speciality)
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Took a while but all you have to do is wait for the right buyer to show up and I found one, the JPS is sold.
For those interested in Europa pricing, I was asking $25,000, accepted $22,000. I made a very good profit.
Joji Tokumoto
Fallbrook, Ca
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Nice to hear you got a good price. I think it was fair. Hopefully, that soothes some of the sadness of seeing it go away.