neil

Haven't looked for Europas in a long time, missed a couple good buys 4 years ago... but if I get another project before finishing the ones I have, my wife may suggest I start sleeping with it instead!

By the time I have time and money for that project I may do the GT40 or Daytona Coupe thing, or a mutant RX8 Propane/Nitrous freak.



"50:50 weight distribution isn't actually ideal" I agree, it is just an easy term to describe the intent of design, but I am impressed by my RX8 GT suspension and balance, even stock!



neil



I think Chris Harvey is the author of a couple great referance books on Europas and what to beware of when shopping for one.

Rotary911Porsche

Finding a Europa is fairly easy of you are willing to travel.

http://lotus-europa.com/forsale.html

A great twin Cam just sold in California for around $10,000. I would have bought it in a second if my Porsche were already sold. Some reason the Porsche people seem to be afraid of my car because of the rotary and the rotary people seem to be afraid of the Porsche.



I really like the GT40 kits but they are a little too high for me. The Factory Five type 65 coupe and their GTM Supercar both look great.

inanimate_object

I'd sooner get a replica: http://www.banks-europa.co.uk - you're not bastardising an original (despite it definitely being an improvement), you can get a spaceframe chassis and actually have something that can handle more power than a hairdryer, and it'd probably be around the same price considering what old english cars like that go for over there.

Rotary911Porsche

Depending on which Europa I get I may choose to leave it stock. I got to drive a stock Twin Cam and it had quite good performance for 120 horse. If I get a basket case to start with I would definately go more wild. I might stick with piston power since I have a good friend that works magic on heads.

One problem (?) with my car right now is that I can never really get into the throttle. It is simply too fast for spirited driving on the street. One Europa owner explained to me that he can drive his car at 80 percent and still not be in too much trouble with the law. My car at 80 percent is in hyper legal speeds. On the track near Demming NM the car is still accelerating hard at 130 in third gear. Then comes that sharp right hander. It really is true about Porsche's turning better under hard deceleration. But trust me, you don't really want to try it on the street.

The problem with the Banks Europas is price. The USED one for sale right now is asking $38,500. He claims $60,000 new. I think I could build one for less.

black93fd

back a long time ago like (60's-70's) there was a 4 rotor mid engine corvette (CONCEPT CAR) sadly General motors decided that the money that would be needed to convert their facilities to manufacture rotaries was to much to spend on something that may or may not sell well to the general public. in a nut shell the rotary is a great motor but not largely popular. we are truly a rare breed .

defprun

Rx-7's are considered Mid-Front engined since the motor is behind the front axle...and so are S2000's...

GreyGT-C

probably not a true mid-engine (in the traditional sense) because it would be harder to replace the engine every year in the thing after engine failures.. Mid-engine with quick disconnects on everything... then you might be on to something cool there.........

boogerboy

hey im building a n/a 13b for my 914 right now. small world huh.

neil

I forgot to mention when I first stumbled into this subject. I believe Mercedes Benz 1970'ish protype was a mid (behind driver) engined 4 rotor vehicle. Got to see it at Laguna Seca in '83. Sounded wicked! Have a picture of it. Couldn't get close enough to see the engine... they were somewhat secretive about it all. Pretty cool tho.

neil

ONE OF OUR nORTHWEST GUYS showed us this link..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LV8c......ted&search=

Probably the best use of a Delorean yet!