Overhaulin; Foose Europa

[aurfalien]

Hi,

Has any one checked the Overhaulin episode where Chip Foose rebuilt a 72' Lotus Europa?

OMG, totally richter scale!

Totally dope!

http://www.chipfoose.com/ws_display.asp?filter=Overhaulin_Season_6_Lotus

Edited December 27, 2016 by aurfalien

[espo]

Saw this episode several years ago. He was  redoing the Europa for a friend who didn't have the time or the money at the same time. We've all been there , the only problem is that we aren't Chip's buddy.  He did a great job as always.

[DrKerry]

Just saw it tonight!!!

[keyser]

It was Leno's friend not Chip's. 

Wheels look weird. I like Chip, but this looks like a Fiero with add-ons. Just a few more things, and less Dubs. What'd they do to motor? BDA or nice Toyota or Nissan in that with a snail would be fierce little car. I don't remember all they did. Leno should have commented more, and I rarely want him to talk.  

Not a Lotus fan either, but 26R and 47 were really good racecars.

Should be a Lotus 47 restomod so he could at least track it. 

[aurfalien]

I can see echos of this car in a Fiero.  I would've liked to have seen a fatter, taller profile of tire in the Foose version.

But I must say that Monsignor Chip is awesome.

I enjoy his show but wished his cast was more serious like him.  There's a bit of cheese in that garage at times.

[DrKerry]

I think they put an EVO motor in it..... I know they put a supercharger on it too.

Edited December 27, 2016 by DrKerry

[DrKerry]

From Foose website......

 

 

When we received the vehicle the original motor was in pieces on the floor. It only produced 80hp in its day, but got a dramatic increase with a new 1.8L Elise motor pushing it to over 200hp. Of course this required a whole series of changes to the frame as it was way too much power for the existing car. The new engine was mounted in a transverse position, but the chassis was for an in-line engine and gearbox, requiring a custom adapter to link the new Porsche Boxster 5 speed transmission to the new motor. Magnaflow did a custom ground-up build on the exhaust. To top it all off a supercharger was installed to boost the horsepower beyond 300hp.

Edited December 27, 2016 by DrKerry

[Joe Handley]

Good god, over 300hp in that?!

[cobraman]

I like it. I could not get in and out of it but I like it.

[Johnt671]

This car is way smaller than a Fiero. I saw one at the AACA museum in a drive in setting. The speaker pole was taller them the car. The roof only comes up to my waist. My Fiero is around a foot taller than this Lotus and wider.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Good god, over 300hp in that?!

Europas weighed from about 1300 pounds to around 2000, depending on year and equipment, with the later twincam-engined ones being the heaviest.

Performance was sparkling, even with the little Renault engine, and the cars had razor-sharp handling. 300HP would be really thrilling.

The Europa is one of the ones I always lusted after but never owned...though I've driven a bunch.

And if you're much over 5'10' and 165 pounds, you're going to be uncomfortable.

Frankly, I suspect the big wheels don't help this car at all. Unsprung weight as a percentage of total vehicle weight is important, and in such a light car, very light wheels and tires are necessary for optimum ride and roadholding.

The real magnesium wheels and paper-thin real racing tires shown on the race-version are what these cars need to work best...if you're interested more in exploring their limits than in boulevard showboating.

Edited December 28, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[oldcarfan]

It doesn't look bad at all. My one thing is that the wheels/tires need to be just a bit smaller with more sidewall and the fronts seem to be the same size as the rears. They need to be a bit smaller to look right.

[aurfalien]

It doesn't look bad at all. My one thing is that the wheels/tires need to be just a bit smaller with more sidewall and the fronts seem to be the same size as the rears. They need to be a bit smaller to look right.

Agreed.

Low pro etc look great on a car designed with that in mind.

But I feel one simply can't slap any tire/wheel on any car.  The Richard Mille car Keyser posted a pic of has the perfect profile.