Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Classifieds Forums => eBay - Craigslist Ads - Other Listings => Topic started by: MAK on Tuesday,April 29, 2025, 03:52:58 AM
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On UK eBay, here it is on dealer's website, converting lbs. to dollars it's all yours for $62,898.
https://www.uksportscars.com/view/lotus-europa-twin-cam-special-5-speed-1973-stunning-jps-black-with-gold-stripes/
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I think that car will be available for a while.
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Beautiful car!!! I wish it were worth $62,000.
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This car is so impressive with the upgrades etc. and it will go for good money but not what they are asking. Only wish I could afford it
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This Black TCS has been for sale by UK Sports Cars for some time now. I swear the first time I saw it the price was only £42,995. You have to go through all the documents to see that NO WHERE does it state this is a Factory JPS Europa. The truth is this was a kit car! Yes, the painted body and chassis where shipped first and the engine/transmission later for the owner to assemble.
We all understand the cost of restoration but at the end of the day this is just a black TCS with a good record of its history and restoration BUT NOT a JPS.
Of interest is that Andy Graham goes out of his way to NOT claim this as a JPS but states quite emphatically that ALL colours were available from the beginning of production. (As some books state the the first 100 were all black JPS.)
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Why does it have a gasketed windscreen ? Have never seen a TC without a bonded windscreen.
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You have to go through all the documents to see that NO WHERE does it state this is a Factory JPS Europa. The truth is this was a kit car! Yes, the painted body and chassis where shipped first and the engine/transmission later for the owner to assemble.
Firstly all black TCS sold in the UK were known as JPS cars after the John Player Speccial cigarette F1 sponsors paint scheme, and none were numbered that were sold in the UK.
Secondly, a lot of Lotus cars at that time were sold as "kit cars", to avoid paying purchase tax as payable on a complete car.
Thirdly, if you knew the right contacts, that "kit car" was delivered to a lock up garage close to the factory, and a friendly Lotus mechanic would assemble it for you in a few hours for a modest cash price.
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Interesting! In the States, a real JPS is known by the plastic badge that was stuck to the dash. As I'm sure you know, other than that plastic badge, they were no different from any other black/gold 5-speed Special.
I thought the kit Europas were only S1 or S2s. I didn't realize that TCs or TCSs were sold as kits.
I am impressed with Lotus' customer service where they assemble (away from the prying eyes of the govt. of course) your car for you!
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The car in the OP is a UK vehicle, by the looks – gasketed windscreen, single wiper, different plenum fan, different dash etc.
As 4129R says, the UK views JPS cars differently than the US.
Mario Andretti had a "JPS Commemorative Esprit", for instance. (link below)
https://www.thelotusforums.com/jpsregister/jps.htm
Lotus also produced Gold Leaf, Camel, Essex paint jobs. Porsche went with Gulf livery, too.
I think Colin also had his plane in JPS black at some point.
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4129R:
Firstly, it is the same over here too. All TCS’s came with the same gold pin striping but the black ones got the moniker John Players Special. However it has been written that a specific number were designated JPS from the factory and there were no options as it came with everything already. Furthermore some have mentioned that this specific production run were delivered with some special extras like JPS decals a matching jacket and perhaps a little piece of paper to mark the occasion. I know the JPS Espirts were well documented and came with “gifts” of one kind or another.
Secondly, I think we all know about the British tax laws and how Lotus got around them. I find it odd that some authors claim the first run of Europa TCS’s were all black JPS but never mention that they may not all have been factory assembled.
GavinT:
Correct, as the link in the OP shows this car is for sale in the UK by the independent Lotus & Caterham specialists shop “UK Sports Cars.” If you read the documentation it lists it as “P” for the Home Market.
And yes, the Brits view things very differently to the rest of the world. I gave up trying to explain to the diehard Caterham faithful’s that I own a C20xe powered Caterham HPC. Why? Because most say it’s not a HPC. Only factory built with an “H” for chassis type in the VIN is a true HPC. Everything else is a near worthless clone.
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An interesting discussion on the subject:-
https://forums.autosport.com/topic/98159-purchase-tax-on-specials-kit-cars/
Can you access this link in the USA/Canada, as it is worth reading?
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Would have thought if you want top money for a car you would spend an hour to tidy the wiring up. So many cars let down with untidy bunches of wires.
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Well for the Europa community and all the Specials out there, I hope he gets close to his asking price. It truly is a stunning car.
The only flaw I saw is the badly stained sun visor on the driver's side, and didn't like the clock either.
Dakazman
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Well for the Europa community and all the Specials out there, I hope he gets close to his asking price. It truly is a stunning car.
The only flaw I saw is the badly stained sun visor on the driver's side, and didn't like the clock either.
Dakazman
According to a few folks I know, it's been advertised since June of last year at that price. These things are worth what someone is willing to pay. 75,000 USD for a Europa, no matter how shiny the paint? Nah. IIRC a gent back in the '04 timeframe...spent close to 100G on a restoration. I mean it was perfect in every way. Not a ripple in the fiberglass, spent strong money having switches repopped, hand finished woodwork, leather interior, wilton carpets, shipped the engine over to wilkins for a no-holds-barred blueprinted motor, overspent on the body and paint at a well-known shop in PA...the lot. Sold at a loss, was next picked up by a philly lotus member for less than 40% of what the resto cost. It was beautiful. Even the phillips head screw heads lined up. And not worth even close to what he spent.
Maybe in a few decades, with inflation, the original ones in good nick may be worth that number. Few of the upcoming generations are interested in these cars, and as time goes by, even fewer sources for parts will be available (the enthusiast market and vendors of the 70s and 80s is aging out...). The supply of frames is dwindlng, knowledge of how to set up a carburetor (where do you plug in the laptop to map these things?), even ability to handle a manual tranny (what, no flappy paddles?) is becoming a lost art.
That the market (dreaming outliers such as this one notwithstanding) is pretty much, accounting for inflation, pricing these cars at the same general price for the last 20 years (you could have bought a runner in the mid aughts for 5-7K$ is now 15-20K$ 20 years later...parts cars for 2-3K$..I know, I deconstructed 4 of them) says, to me, enjoy what you have, but know that when you go to sell it...what you put into it should be considered the tuition you paid to have a part in owning a low-production, not well-understood by the public, and generally an oddball exercise to generate income for the boss to go racing.
As an investment? Probably the worse one you could make.
Just my contrarian opinion. Maybe he'll get his 50K UKP. Good for him. But that's not the indication that the market will support that for the middle of the bell curve, as much as we might want it to.
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As an investment? Probably the worse one you could make.
I have to agree (sadly). I can remember how long it took for the price of lightly used Europas to exceed the purchase price! I wish it wasn't true. I think Europas are underappreciated and undervalued but you can't argue with the market.
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"I think Europa's are underappreciated and undervalued, but you can't argue with the market."
Europa's were always a somewhat of a "niche" car, you couldn't be too tall, your feet couldn't be too wide, you have to be able to get in and out, being able to stare at a truck hubcap without getting freaked out, and by the 70's they cost more than a Corvette.
So here we are 50 years later - outside of the fact that they are now cheaper than a Corvette all of the above still applies, BUT those of us that wanted one 50 years ago - still want one, there are just too few of us that can still get in and out.
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"I think Europa's are underappreciated and undervalued, but you can't argue with the market."
Europa's were always a somewhat of a "niche" car, you couldn't be too tall, your feet couldn't be too wide, you have to be able to get in and out, being able to stare at a truck hubcap without getting freaked out, and by the 70's they cost more than a Corvette.
So here we are 50 years later - outside of the fact that they are now cheaper than a Corvette all of the above still applies, BUT those of us that wanted one 50 years ago - still want one, there are just too few of us that can still get in and out.
I think we all feel the same, at least on this forum, that the Europa is much underappreciated. Also, that these are “niche” market vehicles.
As to size, well the same can be said for a Super Seven, (in somewhat continuous production for 68 years) or any of the smaller British sports cars.
As far as costs go, my one brother bought a left over 1972 Vette coupe with some demo miles on it in 1973. I think it was $6000 out the door. I bought my 1973 (registered as a 1974) with around 15k miles on it for $5500 out the door. My brother with the Vette coupe asked why I didn’t buy a Corvette? I replied that my Europa was about ½ the weight of his 350, automatic coupe with approximately 120hp to his 195hp. So power to weight was similar but, the Europa was far more unique, cheaper to insure and got way better gas mileage then his car. Plus, was a hoot to drive! So why would I want to buy a Corvette?
Oh and I can still get into and out of a Europa. I did a test fit in one at a British car show a couple of weeks ago. It just happens to be for sale... :help: