Lotus Europa Community

Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: mike.fobes on Wednesday,July 31, 2013, 10:24:32 AM

Title: Just to say Hi
Post by: mike.fobes on Wednesday,July 31, 2013, 10:24:32 AM: Hello all,

My name is Mike Fobes of Huntington Beach, CA. I purchased my '71 S2 in March of 1972. Yup, original owner. Currently working on a body-off restoration started in 2008.
Glad to be aboard.

Mike
Title: Re: Just to say Hi
Post by: LotusJoe on Wednesday,July 31, 2013, 10:36:13 AM: :Welcome:
Please feel free to post some pictures of your car in the "Members Car" section.
Title: Re: Just to say Hi
Post by: EuropaTC on Wednesday,July 31, 2013, 01:28:43 PM: Hi Mike,

Wow, 30+ years and still going strong with a car, that's pretty impressive. In fact I don't think I know anyone who's in the same position of owning one from new. Photos !!

Brian
Title: Re: Just to say Hi
Post by: cal44 on Wednesday,July 31, 2013, 03:24:44 PM: Dang that is a long time to have anything.......I do look forward to pix as well.

mike
Title: Re: Just to say Hi
Post by: 3929R on Thursday,August 01, 2013, 08:50:18 AM: Hi Mike,
Did you buy your car in So Cal? My 1973 TCS was originally from a dealer called Jamestown in Long Beach, purchased by my father there in 1973.
Title: Re: Just to say Hi
Post by: mike.fobes on Wednesday,August 14, 2013, 02:50:06 PM: Ahhh...Jamestown. Yes, That's where I purchased her in March of 1972. IIRC I was their 2nd Europa buyer. I was told at the time that the 1st buyer was a LB Police officer. I wonder if he still has his?

Cheers,

Mike
Title: Re: Just to say Hi
Post by: LotusJoe on Wednesday,August 14, 2013, 02:56:18 PM: Hi Mike,
We are practically neighbors. I work in Costa Mesa near the airport and live in Long Beach. I have a '73 TC Special.
Title: Re: Just to say Hi
Post by: Bainford on Thursday,August 15, 2013, 05:38:05 AM: :Welcome: I'm a bit late to the party, but welcome to the forum, Mike. Glad to have you aboard :beerchug: Cheers
Title: Re: Just to say Hi
Post by: buzzer on Friday,August 16, 2013, 07:15:55 AM: Yes welcome on board, I am pretty new here myself, more members more activity. However does seem like 90% are the other side of the pond.. Me being in the UK.
Pics would be great.
Good luck with progress. I am currently ground up rebuilding of a 73 special

Dave
Title: Re: Just to say Hi
Post by: mike.fobes on Sunday,August 25, 2013, 08:58:16 PM: By the way, pictures of my Europa project are in the photo gallery tagged 1153R
Title: Re: Just to say Hi
Post by: EuropaTC on Sunday,August 25, 2013, 10:29:06 PM: Great pictures Mike, I love the nostalgic 70s ones.

Some very neat work going on there as well. We don't see many white Europas over this side of the pond, is yours still in the original paint ? If so, that's lasted very well over the years.

Brian
Title: Re: Just to say Hi
Post by: mike.fobes on Tuesday,August 27, 2013, 06:18:47 PM: Thanks for your comment Brian -
The original color was Cirrus White and it remained that way until it was powder blasted earlier this year. I'm having it gel coated right now. In it's next life it will be in Lotus colors (green with yellow stripe). I ditched the aluminum mags for original Lotus steel wheels with hub caps. Can't wait to get 'er on the road.

Mike
Title: Re: Just to say Hi
Post by: EuropaTC on Tuesday,August 27, 2013, 11:17:20 PM: Quote from: mike.fobes on Tuesday,August 27, 2013, 06:18:47 PM
(part quote)
I ditched the aluminum mags for original Lotus steel wheels with hub caps

:)

40yrs ago the first thing most new owners would have done would be to throw the steel wheels in the skip and fit alloys, and over here the slot mags you have were the top of most folks' list.

Now we're all a bit older, restoring the cars and "originality" is the mantra with some folks getting obsessive about what was or wasn't OEM finish. It's a funny old world, isn't it ?

Brian