Lotus Europa Community

Starting with the restoration of my currently derelict, originally Pistachio / Lime Green TC, now the last but 1 owner, who had it from 1980-2004 had visited to see it and offer advice. Also spoke to the owner from 2004-2024, who bought it, then bought an American TCS and left this one under a sheet for 20 years, which explains why mine how has Federal rear light units at least.

Fair to say the first bits of stripping down have had more down than upsides. I'll either need complete UK light units or UK lenses and modify the units to suit them.  Side repeaters are knacked and won't come out (Dr Dremel is going to visit them) and the alternator is seized, which is understandable, but I can't see a reference to it online - Delco DN460? **EDIT** Have now found the DN460, also fitted to TR6 and some Spitfires, at £300+ will work on freeing mine first.

There was good news though. The football sized wasp nest in the rear corner had been abandoned by its occupants. Yay!  Off for a few days while I plan the campaign to strip and separate the body from the chassis, using the fine guide on this site.  Will post progress, forwards and backwards, on this thread.

Does anyone know what type of ignition key would be required for a 71 TC? There's a number inside the lock but I'm unsure of the key type, it's a Waso lock but I can't narrow it down further.

The remote reservoir is debatable on the Europa but a real plus on the Elan because it's hidden away beneath the carbs and a PITA to monitor/fill when bleeding.

I have toyed with the idea of fitting a remote reservoir on my Europa simply to raise the reservoir and provide improved head pressure for maintenance, bleeding, etc. As it is now, the height of the OEM reservoir can't be much higher then the bleeders on the front calipers. I will eventually tackle a complete brake service project (all new lines, other mods, etc) and considering the remote reservoir for that reason alone.

Very nice! 

Welcome to the forum. Looks like a nice project. I always liked the idea of an S2 with a Twin Cam transplant.

Just thought I’d add to this thread….I just finished the Tamiya TCS model to resemble my real TCS.  I’ve built a few models in my past and was amazed by this models attention to detail.