Films: 1969 Lotus Europa: Orange Slice
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Made To Drive | S12 E1
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Made To Drive | S12 E14

1969 Lotus Europa: Orange Slice

After building a race car, it was only natural to get one for the street too.
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Jim Strong
Jim Strong
5 years ago

Saw my first Europa in probably 1979. It was a bit of a beater, but there was something magic about it. I remember walking around the car, looking for badging to figure out what it was. It was so unique and odd. I fell in love with it. didn’t see another until maybe decades later. Love this car and what a great video! Just curious Spencer if you read this, if you can tell me if this pic is your race car. Love the mod target by the way.

abarth595
abarth595
6 years ago

Well done to you Sir, and of course petrolicious. Your Europa has 30 years on my S1 Elise, and the Lotus position is just the same.
cyclesguff.blogspot.com

Johnathan Sievers
Johnathan Sievers
6 years ago

The Europa is one of those cars whose driving experience is nearly impossible to describe. The car has nothing that is not necessary to propel it down the road and through corners with a sense of connectedness that is unknown in modern cars. It fits even my 6’2″ inch frame like a 1,500 pound driving suit that is hard wired to the tarmac. I last drove one over 35 years ago and the experience is still burned in my memory. I still want one just as bad as I did that day, although time and other temptations have tempered my willingness to deal with the car’s many shortcomings. I may well never buy one … and my driving life will be lesser for that fact. But who knows, when time is full the Lotus may yet appear and I will be unable to resist being carried away on this sublime British magic carpet of an automobile – a car unlike anything that has come before or after.

gellefson
gellefson
6 years ago

Growing up in the 60’s in the middle of Oklahoma I didn’t know much about cars beyond Ford, Chevy’s and Mopar (Dad was a New Yorker fan) and the occasional Beetle. Then one day I saw a early review of a Europa in some car magazine and it was like an revelation. What a cool car! There were other cars out there beyond 2 ton wallowing whales. Ever since, despite their shortcomings, Europa’s have always been a favorite. Seriously planning on getting one after I finish up my 62 MG Midget Mark I. By the way, fantastic video and love this guy’s attitude. A car doesn’t have to be a trailer queen to be perfect.

carl helmetag
carl helmetag
6 years ago

Love car and the video! And wonderful to see it being worked on in the driveway on a floor jack.

As the owner of a Lancia Montecarlo in which, like the Lotus, a great deal of work has to be done on your back under the dash, I have a great deal of sympathy for the “Lotus position”

Roland A.
Roland A.
6 years ago

Wonderful.

Hubert
Hubert
6 years ago

And I thought, I´d be the only one in the world having a sewing machine and doing the interior myself! It is fantastic and inspiring seeing the Lotus being maintained in front of your home.

Jimmy D
Jimmy D
6 years ago

Beautiful video, great car, and refreshing to see an owner with a floor jack and typical garage – I can relate! Agree with M. Barone, would love to see clips of the race Europa.

jolocho
jolocho
6 years ago

So is this or the Esprit the practical car?

Robert in LA
Robert in LA
6 years ago
Reply to  jolocho

This is the daily driver. Yes. I know. The exhaust is sticking out of the number plate panel hole, there are stop watches on the dash, and no license plates are showing during the video. But this is the street version.

MICHAEL JOHNSON
MICHAEL JOHNSON
6 years ago

Another great video. Fantastic cars, thank you petrolicious.
Love the Renault engine and brilliant orange color, reminds me of BMW 2002 Colorado color.

Evan Bedford
Evan Bedford
6 years ago

Bravo! Enjoy! Love the little RAF sticker.

Bill Meyer
Bill Meyer
6 years ago

I guess you’re such a horses ass because every darned day you have to wake up and be you. All day.
Usually when you insult peoples efforts I just shrug but this time the owner whose car and taste in color you dismiss is a person I have got to know from some vintage racing events. Spencer is a sincere, committed enthusiast with real passion for these cars. You, Guitar Slinger are a complete zero.

Michael Mrak
Michael Mrak
6 years ago

This is a brilliant car. I have always loved them, but with a 6’3″ frame it is a bit tough to get into, so I never seriously looked. You know that the Brits have made tons of modifications to this car and have all the parts to put a Focus engine into it. It may not be the same old school engine, but it’ll be much more reliable and quicker.

PS I too would love to see your track car.

Mike Barone
Mike Barone
6 years ago

Fantastic to see another Renault-powered Europa.

Would love to learn about the race Europa and how it was prepared for vintage racing. Anyone have a link?

And what are those great looking side mirrors?

Dennis White
Dennis White
6 years ago

I hate these guys! I’m challenged just using my q-tips for cleaning! Really impressive.

Robert in LA
Robert in LA
6 years ago
Reply to  Dennis White

You know, if you want to build some skills with your car there is no time to start like the present. When I learned you pretty much had to learn from some one who had ‘the knowledge’. I apprenticed with the bad-boy of Boston Porsche repair at the time: Woodrow Chan. Later I moved to Peter Seferian’s Cambridge restoration shop. Now, given the number of really very good videos, the on-line forums, and the ease of finding local clubs for your favorite marque, learning is far easier. You can watch a video of someone doing a procedure right before you do it, with all the tools, sequences, hard points, and torque values called out.

Sandee Weiner
Sandee Weiner
6 years ago

One of the BEST Petrolicious film ever! Second only to the “Uncompromising Legendary Lancia Stratos” presentation with Phil Toledano! Spencer Canon, you are my hero!

Interesting to see so many 914 owners chiming in; yes, I admit, I’d pretend I was driving the “unattainable Europa” when I drove my 914! Someday, someday I will have one – another life perhaps!

“Lotus position” LOL.

Charles Vasta
Charles Vasta
6 years ago

Great video featuring one of my favorite handsome if quirky looking (in a good way!) sports cars. Too bad that they don’t show up around my neck of the woods very often. Passionate down-to-earth guy without exuding some of the entitlement attitude or mock humility of a few of the other owners of featured automobiles. Finally, the (thankfully) mostly unobtrusive music seems to fit the story quite well and complements rather than distracts.

Randy Foulds
Randy Foulds
6 years ago

I am also a 914 owner and see a lot of similarity. I’ve had many 914, each has a different feel and yes, 100hp is enough.

Robert in LA
Robert in LA
6 years ago
Reply to  Randy Foulds

Curb weight for these cars is listed as being between 1,350 to 1,570 pounds depending on the model. So these are really very light for a car used primarily on the street. I agree with you that 100 hp is enough to move the car briskly. Given how low the car sits, compared to the size of the wheels, the CG and the Roll Center have to be exceedingly close. Spencer tells us that there is some roll in the corners, but it cannot be much.

Jeremy Mayne
Jeremy Mayne
6 years ago

Very nice. Great to see a knowledgable and passionate owner keeping these cars alive and well. As a 914 owner, I look at the Europa as a kind of vintage kindred spirit, both with styling and packaging that seems born directly from their engineering. Unique and oddly wonderful is the result.

AllLatteorwhat?
AllLatteorwhat?
6 years ago

Great car and great guy who perfectly knows what it’s all about driving and restoring an old car.

NomadMac
NomadMac
6 years ago

Always a great way to start Tuesday morning. I look forward to it all week.

Jim Strong
Jim Strong
6 years ago
Reply to  NomadMac

agree 100%

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