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65/0038R Restoration process

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JasonH:
Hello all.  I am finally getting to putting a record of what I am doing to 0038R. Last year I was feeling the need for a driving and running car so I took a look at the Bring a Trailer website and found a resto-modded type 65 that had some really cool photos to get me all stoked up.  So the bidding started.  As the days went by I was becoming more and more enamored with "my" new car.  Well not yet.  This thing had the Toyota 4ag motor swap, and was going to be awesome.  Well the final day of the auction was upon me and as usual in the last few minutes of the auction there was just me and one other bidder.  I had a number in my head where I was going to stop bidding.  I went about $1000 over my mark.  However, the other guy's mark must have been higher (or he just wanted to win the "competition").  With auctions my logic overrides my passion When my limit gets surpassed the pressure builds with each bid, and finally I quit.  This was one of these cases so I passed and let him "win".  After the frenzy I returned to my senses and remembered... There will always be another one.  Feeling a bit dejected since now I won't be spending the rest of my summer cruising the mountain roads of Colorado in my really cool Europa.  I told the story like I did above to a co-worker, and he said he had never heard of a Lotus Europa.  "Who makes them" was his next question.  I proceeded to explain...  I then show him the shots of the cool Europa that I missed out on, and he replies: "Oh!  I know that car.  My mom has one in her garage.  :huh: Her roommate parked it there years ago, and she wants it outta there"  My response was:  Lotus... Europa...  Like this (pointing to the sleek nose and the blocky butt).  He replied yes.  I then say " ask your mom's roommate how much he wants for it"  The rest is history.
The car was owned by a gentleman by the name of John D Bauer but I didn't buy it from him.  The fellow I bought it from bought it from John, and he told me that John didn't drive it much because the wheel bearing kept going bad. I also heard that John had several Europas so I can imagine if one didn't work he would just drive the one that worked!

Here is the data from the Registry:
As invoiced:
Vin Number: 65/0038R
Date Built: 2/4/1970
Date Invoiced: 3/19/1970
Engine #: 821-30/0819
Transmission #: 336-56/? 4 Speed
Original color: L09 - Royal Blue
Condition:
Current color: Black
Stored since 1990
Very Rough
Bought on eBay 2/05

Link:   http://lotus-europa.com/regs2.html#7002040048R

BDA:
I don't like auctions because if I win, I know I was willing to pay more than anybody else!

Congratulations on your score! Serendipity is sweet! Are you planning a resto-mod or a restoration?

JasonH:
I wish I had the shot of the car in the garage.  There was junk stacked 5 feet high on top of it and all around.  It took 3 hours just to excavate it from the garage.  What got me stoked up was that it sported some period Italian aftermarket wheels.  At first I thought Campagnolos?   Nope.  Cromodoras.  Shod with some seriously wide 215/50's  Ok... I'll take em!  My first look in the window was a dried out but not destroyed interior.  The seats... In perfect condition!  Yeah!  Overall the body was in great shape.  There were no signs of damage repair, and the chassis was solid with no rust.

BDA  Since this car is in such original shape I will be going the restoration route with some tweaks (that can be reversed)

The body still has the sealing tape that sealed the chassis on the underside (however it is not completely intact)  I had never seen that.

BDA:
Nice wheels! I assume the 215s are on the rear. What size fronts does she have?

JasonH:
BDA  There was no stagger... 215 up front and rear.  I have since changed out the rubber.  With rubber that doesn't rub!

I am still trying to get used to uploading images.  I seem to need to resize everything and I am not sure how to post multiple images.

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