Questions on JPS Barn Find

[Fotog]

I think it's so that you are familiar with cars.

I am. I've done more than my share, but I can't leave well enough alone.

Hey Fotog, I just realized you're in Huntington Valley. I'm in Hilltown Township, Bucks. That Mustang in my pictures was driven to Penn State Ogontz every day from '82 to '84 - with a stop sign as a driver's side floorboard. I was a political prisoner of DC for 35 years, but now I'm back in the Commonwealth, where I belong.

Well!  I'll send you a PM, and plan to come see you sometime. 

[Bryan Boyle]

You'd have to ask the appraisers and the buyers. Apparently, the fact that there were a limited number of them makes a difference to some people.

At the time of the announcement for the JPS edition, the base TCS list price was $6200 and the 5-speed tranny was an extra $240. The JPS Europa (which was a black Special with the plastic badge was $6500. If it didn't come with tinted glass, there was only a $60 premium for them. Tinted glass cost an extra $84 (for all glass) or $65 (for windshield only) so if the JPS came with tinted glass, the price actually reflected a discount! Also a jPS came with some nice tchotchkes (a rally jacket, a pair of cuff links, and a key fob). I don't understand the pricing. The expected higher resale price of a JPS was a selling feature. Also interesting is that the list price of a black Europa with pinstripes was a $200 option!

For those interested in the history of prices, availability, dealer issues, options, etc., here are scans of the dealer newsletter (https://www.lotuscorps.org/literature/1971-74_lotus_dealer_news.pdf). I did not realize that they are actually searchable till just now!

And there was, no doubt, a dealer premium.  Here's the Lotus East invoice to the original selling dealer (I guess it was a trade transfer from Fairview Motors in PA back up to NJ) and the LaMonsa invoice to the original owner from August 1973.  Them's 1973 dollars.  That's not chump change (for back then)  Note Lotus East invoiced it as a John Player Special. 

(There is still a dealer at that address...used high-end motors now.  Used to go past it a lot when I was 'seeing someone' who lived in Mahwah.  Never knew back then who had been there previously...)

[MAK]

Bryan
you are amazing - where in the world di you come up with this?

[Bryan Boyle]

Bryan
you are amazing - where in the world di you come up with this?

I save bits and bobs of the Europa stuff that I find or acquire along the way.  Been working on them since 1981...just look at my sig block...lol...in my blood for all my adult life.  Even used to get holiday cards from the factory (was friends with Mike Pomfret back in the day before he retired; he was a great resource, and gracious host when I visited the factory in the late 80s...and returned the favor when he came over to visit his relations in NJ...). 

I know, there should be a 12-step program, but it's mostly harmless (if not financially enriching), right?

Those docs came with a pretty extensive set of invoices that stretched back to the original owner's purchase.  I've added my own to the back from what I've bought for the car from RD, Lotus-supplies, Bean, JAE...pretty extensive if you read through them.  Including a burned valve engine refresh at 25K (+/-), radio install, alternator upgrade...and some minor body work to the right front (and new bumper).  It's rare that the maintenance receipts and parts purchases are this complete.  Doesn't make the car worth more...but helps the subsequent owner, right?