Description
Kelham Hall | Newark, Nottinghamshire
Viewing: Tues 16th June from 12pm
Auction: Wed 17th June from 9am
Location: Main Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 5QX
1973 Lotus Europa Twin Cam 'John Player Special'
One owner and 7, 000 miles from new!
Estimate
£30, 000 - £35, 000
Registration No: OCT 750M
Chassis No: 73112236P
MOT: Exempt
Purchased new by the vendor, a now retired motor trader, and cherished by him ever since!
A remarkable, warranted 7, 000 miles from new
Extremely original example
Offered with a significant history file comprised of original books, the purchase invoice, documented history record, and numerous MOTs
Due to be freshly recommissioned for sale
Surely an unrepeatable combination of mileage, condition, and ownership—find another!
Launched in 1966, the Lotus Europa was the first mass produced, mid-engined road car and was based on a prototype built to compete for a Ford contract to build a Le Mans racer in the early 1960s. Exemplifying Colin Chapman's design philosophy of "simplify, then add lightness," it used a minimalist steel backbone chassis while also relying on a low-drag fibreglass body for structural strength. The four-wheel independent suspension was typical of Chapman's thinking, the rear suspension consisting of two relatively large trailing arms, one lower locating link per side, the axles being used as upper locating links, very similar to Formula racing car designs of that era. The resultant astonishing roadholding prompted road testers to describe the Europa as the nearest thing to a racing car for the road. The first Series I cars were fitted with a modified Renault 16 1, 470cc 82bhp engine and a four-speed gearbox. By 1971, this had given way to a 126bhp Lotus-Ford Twin Cam 1, 558cc unit that was good for 0–60 in 7. 0secs. with a top speed of 125mph. In 1972, a ‘big valve’ Special came out that could hit 60mph in just 6. 6secs., yet still return 25-30mpg, the most desirable of these cars being painted in black and gold John Player Special livery in a nod to the contemporary sponsors of the Lotus Formula One cars.
The very epitome of a time-warp, this Lotus Europa JPS Special is surely one of the most original and best-preserved Europas in existence. Manufactured on November 8th, 1973, it retailed through the Lotus and Saab dealership Mallett Bros. (Car Sales) Ltd., of the Northgate Garage near Sleaford, Lincolnshire. Being a JPS Special, the original colour scheme was Black with Oatmeal cloth trim, and its equipment included a five-speed gearbox, tinted glass and air horns. It was sold almost immediately to our vendor in Nottinghamshire and has remained in his hands ever since, covering just 7, 000 miles across its whole life.
The owner, a lifelong member of the motor trade until his retirement, has always been an incorrigible tinkerer. He has recorded his attentions to the Europa in meticulous detail, beginning thus: “During the first week I had to fit a decent radio and cassette player. The other important job was to improve the headlights, so on went a set of H4 units. The radio I chose was Bosch with VHF waveband and power aerial.” Then, in April, 1974: “On went a pair of front and rear fog lights, a headlight washing system, and electric clock.”
The Europa had done almost all its present mileage by 1976. The vendor recorded in October, 1978: “Off road for winter. Clean chassis and suspension parts to spray with Super-Trol, an anti-rust protector.” However, he took it off the road entirely in 1981, but all through the ’80s he continued to run the engine and transmission every four months and change the oil annually. During 1988 and ’89 he stripped and overhauled the front and rear suspension, and the brakes were overhauled in turn in 1991. That year, the Europa went back on the road with 6, 637 miles on the odometer, but only briefly. In 1996, the engine and transmission were separated, cleaned and resprayed, but the car seldom saw the road. For much of the 2000s, the annual programme of checks and MOTs was continued, with occasional short runs. A top-end overhaul occurred during 2012 and 2013, which saw new piston rings, gaskets, seals and valve spacers fitted, and in 2018 the vendor reported: “Everything functioning well, engine performance great.”
Supplied with the V5C, an historic V5, the original service book and workshop manual, the sales invoice from Mallett Bros. (plus other invoices), the Lotus Classic Certificate of Provenance, a letter from Lotus, MOTs from 1976 to 2017, many tax discs, and the vendor’s extensive maintenance record, this is an outstanding example of a car which has been cherished purely for its own sake, as an object of beauty and first-class design. We venture to say with confidence that you should not find another as good and as original as this.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people).
