Lotus Europa Community

Lotus Europa Forums => Classifieds Forums => eBay - Craigslist Ads - Other Listings => Topic started by: tedtaylor on Thursday,August 13, 2020, 03:36:44 PM

Title: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: tedtaylor on Thursday,August 13, 2020, 03:36:44 PM
FYI only.
https://lascruces.craigslist.org/cto/d/las-cruces-1970-lotus-europa/7164579174.html   $3,500

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/gilbert-1969-lotus-europa-s2/7164887056.html   $4,900

never ending supply of Lotus Europa projects out there!!!
Title: Re: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: Clifton on Thursday,August 13, 2020, 04:24:01 PM
The Phoenix one was in Tucson for $2200. I was tempted. The guy now is trying to flip it.
Title: Re: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: 4129R on Thursday,August 13, 2020, 10:56:43 PM
The Phoenix one was in Tucson for $2200. I was tempted. The guy now is trying to flip it.

Condition "good".

I would hate to see his condition "fair".

All the inside is "cooked".
Title: Re: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: Clifton on Friday,August 14, 2020, 05:30:58 AM
That's why I never drove down to get it. In the original add it was parked outside in the dirt, cooking in the desert. Arizona is brutal on anything not made of metal.
Title: Re: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: SwiftDB4 on Friday,August 14, 2020, 08:17:02 AM
And even the steel looks really questionable. New frame probable. Seems ridiculous at $4900.
Title: Re: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: 4129R on Friday,August 14, 2020, 08:53:13 AM
Only someone who was desperate to renovate one, or who wanted say bits from the engine or the whole gearbox, or other parts made from unobtainium, would consider buying that car.

What it is worth depends on who wants to buy it.

If you allow say £7,500 for painting, £3,000 for upholstery, £350 for dashboard, £300 for crashpad, and it starts making an expensive wishlist.

£11,200 already. Add another £5,000 for the other bits, and at least 60 man days work, and that is what is facing the buyer.

 
Title: Re: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: tedtaylor on Friday,August 14, 2020, 01:25:23 PM
Only someone who was desperate to renovate one, or who wanted say bits from the engine or the whole gearbox, or other parts made from unobtainium, would consider buying that car.

What it is worth depends on who wants to buy it.

If you allow say £7,500 for painting, £3,000 for upholstery, £350 for dashboard, £300 for crashpad, and it starts making an expensive wishlist.

£11,200 already. Add another £5,000 for the other bits, and at least 60 man days work, and that is what is facing the buyer.

your glass sounds half empty?
look at it this way.... you need a starting point, and there they are...
Title: Re: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: Sparkrite on Friday,August 14, 2020, 02:41:47 PM
Rough old dogs are almost always the worst cars to buy and end up costing more than you calculate.
Title: Re: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: 4129R on Saturday,August 15, 2020, 12:18:00 AM
your glass sounds half empty?

Just speaking from lots of experience.

When they have been inactive and cooking for years, there are an awful lot of things that need changing.

All the rubber including 5 tyres, all the cables, and probably the wiring loom.

Work back from what it will be worth when finished, take off the cost of parts, and what you have left is its value to you plus your labour to restore it.
Title: Re: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: Nockenwelle on Saturday,August 15, 2020, 02:20:29 AM
 :I-agree:
If this car would be given to me under the condition to restore it I would reject it. The Europa is still a cheap car even in good condition so the better car is the smart buy. Even if you're after a restoration project you can find a much better starting base. This car is a parts car.
Title: Re: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: tedtaylor on Saturday,August 15, 2020, 05:21:06 AM
come on people.... it's not like the Model T Ford or VW bug produced in the millions with many examples available to choose from.   there are only just so many hand-built limited numbers made to begin with, so ANY example is worth something to someone.
i had a "carcass" once i was able to part out....even selling the VIN tags to someone for their carcass project.
Yes, it's toast, yes, it's rough, yes, it's in horrid condition, but YES it is one of only few remaining left to restore.
if say 4,000 total Europas were build/distributed world-wide, and a fraction were totalled/wrecked, and  a fraction were modified for track/racing, and a fraction were abandoned/scrapped, and a fraction were kept pristine/drivable all these years, then that leaves only a fraction of "projects" left over for whatever....
i find the experienced owners on this forum are oft too many times too picky (since they own a nice one), so in reality, only those desirous to get one at the onset, in the first place, are willing, happy, and lucky to even find one available.
As the apropos expression goes..... "it is, what it is"...
 ;D
Title: Re: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: 4129R on Saturday,August 15, 2020, 06:31:55 AM
I am speaking from experience of doing nut and bolt restorations of 6 basket cases, and 1 runner, 4129R.

My basket cases have been a real challenge.

That looks worse, and worth less than the 6 x TCS & 1 TC that I am restoring.

2 of mine came in bits, and the other 4 basket cases had been sitting in gardens for years, but"The Cooker" looks worse.
Title: Re: CHEAP projects, west coast
Post by: TurboFource on Saturday,August 15, 2020, 09:22:39 AM
What Ted said....