DRIVEN: 1972 Europa Lotus Special, The Oddest Looking Lotus - But One Of The Best

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This week I'm driving the incredible Lotus Europa Special. Courtesy of a very kind owner, I finally get to experience one of the strangest looking sports cars of all time. With breadvan styling, and a small 1.5L Lotus engine - how good can this car possibly be?

#Lotus #Europa #JPS

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[jodk]

When i first saw a Europa, i was a kid, and it was in the 70s. I found the looks to be sharp, distinctive, a breath of fresh air. ..and that first impression has stuck with me ever since. Because so many comment on how horrible they think it looks now a days, i have adjusted my eye sight to be able to see that one could argue that it is weird looking. ..but to me it's still the same cool looking car i fell in love with around 45 years ago. Very cool to see one on your channel.

[petersimpson]

The joy of "driving". No ten minute segment on infotainment and how big the wheels are. The things that modern life demand of vehicles too often detract or distract from the experience. Certainly not the prettiest Lotus, but in that colour scheme and on those wheels, it's spot on.

[BM]

I drove one of these back in 1968, it was brand new with the Renault engine. It didn’t matter that some of the head lining had come unstuck or the bonnet lifted up over 80mph because of the pressure buildup in the plenum, it handled like nothing I’d ever driven before. At the time I owned a 1963 3.8 E- type roadster and seriously thought about swapping to the Lotus. I now own an Evora.

[MrRoyck]

Now this Lotus has the original pop and bang, love that vintage raw engine sound devoid of modern day synthetic engine sound. Nice one Jay

[reinmansmith]

One of the beauties of driving/riding older cars & motorbikes is that you can actually enjoy pushing them on normal roads without going at ‘hyper’ speeds. Modern performance cars/bikes have so much performance they can only be pushed hard (safely) on the track. Therefore they can rarely be given their head without risking either yourself or your licence! Personally, as others have said, I don’t mind the looks of the Europa, I think it’s aged well 👍

[jerrywarren]

My cousin sold his Firebird 400 prior to his tour in the Army in Vietnam. He ordered a Europa (red on black), which was delivered to my Aunt's house near where I grew up was he was still overseas. I was so thrilled when the someone from the dealership turned onto my Aunt's street and then into the driveway.
For months I would grab the keys and go sit in it. As the weather warmed, the trim around the visor started falling off as the glue let go in the heat.

I only got one ride in it. Loved the low to the ground experience and feel as it went through turns. The motor was low on vitamins and really detracted from the experience. The car was not up to crappy MA roads and I believe the body started cracking after a few months on the road, then the car was stolen.

[tikkathreebarrels]

Dear God, I'm a teenager again! At about 08:40 when you shout "come ON!" you got exactly the right sound of the intake roar on twin DCOEs: that's a proper blokey party trick.

[briandouglas]

My first experience in a Lotus was a test drive with my brother-in-law to be in a 1973 Europa Special, red with gold pin striping. I was 13 years old, at the time, but that ride still is still an automotive high point in my life. There is a descending 270° cloverleaf freeway off ramp in my home town that is marked 25mph. We went in a 55mph and came out at the bottom doing 70 mph! The tires had begun to moan a little, but the car just stuck to the road. We braked for the signal light on the other side of the overpass and the Europa simply hunkered down into the road and stopped. No rebound. It was all uncanny.

I've always loved the unique styling, especially the Twin Cam body. To my eyes, it and the original Elan are the essential Lotus ethos. Yes, I love the Esprit, the Elise and even the mid 70s Elite, but the Europa is the one that most clearly IS Lotus.

[andrewgurney]

Nothing odd about that car, it's still stunning today, just as it was 50 years ago.

[steveness]

Lotus Europa's are very SPECIAL indeed. I've had a blue 73 & a purple 74 . Magical

[wizerd]

I own an S1 slightly uprated. It is so much fun to drive like you noticed and it is an absolute magnet for attention. Park next to a million pound car and that fades into obscurity next to the little Lotus.

[kylelewis]

I saw my first europa when I was in high school in the 80's at a tiny little used car dealership. My buddy and I turned around and had a good look at a burgundy '72. The staff, quite correctly, didn't let us drive it but I have always remembered how different it looked than everything else on the road.
Its great that you are getting to the point in your career that people are giving you cars to film with without reservations.
Cheers man.

[afrancis]

That has really brightened my day. So glad you enjoyed it as much as you did.
Always look forward to seeing you back in a Lotus.

[johnireland]

I remember seeing Jacques Cousteau (the oceanographer) driving one of these in Los Angeles (where they made his television series). His offices were down the hall from mine, and his staff always referred to him as The Captain.

[thebeard]

Exactly What modern cars don't have...

FEEL

The elise series of cars continued that until the end

Good Video 👍

[chrismoller]

WOW! ... great review, WONDERFUL CAR! loved every second watching this.... what a gem!

[JBsC]

The JPS lotus europe of 1973 or 74 was awesome in black and gold. As a teenager I thought it was awesome as it came out. Never drove one. Thanks Jay

[shand]

A couple of weeks ago I was out and about in my local area and saw a McLaren 570, a Mercedes AMG GT, a Lamborghini Huracan Evo, a Ferrari 458 and a Europa. Of all those it was the Europa that I wanted which was by far the rarest and most interesting. In the 1970's I had a Matchbox Europa and I have loved them since.

[tonycave]

I had a 1972 Europa Twin Cam in yellow for several years in the late 1970s.
Wonderful car to drive on winding roads.
Acceleration and handling were phenomenal.

[kennethbutler]

I also have a 1972 Europa, but mine is a Twin Cam/Special Frankenstein. Factory pinstripes and rocker panels (it was made in Sept, the final month for TC's). Special wiring but TC dash. Original paint! I love it to death.

Your HP figures on the TC and Special are fiction though lifted from original printed articles. The US version was actually 105 HP in US spec (Stromberg's, no Webbers in the US spec) but the factory advance of 5 degrees was for emissions. When you advance it to 12 degrees, it bumped to 116 HP. Also, electronic ignition etc. helps too. The "big valve" head only added 2-3 HP; it was a marketing scheme only. The sloppy shift linkage can be addressed; mine isn't akin to a fishing trip for gears. Lots of literature on what to do there.