At first glance the asking price for this next car might seem a smidge high given the seller’s statement that the “car stalled/ran out of gas in 2015” and “been sitting since”. While we would all love to drive on the same tank of gas since 2015 (mostly because that gas only cost 1/5th of […]
As European 2-door classics like Porsche 911, BMW 3.0CS and Mercedes SL have inflated into trust fund money required status, there is a little car that continues to be affordable, despite its mid-engine layout, and sub 10k production figures. It is called the Lotus Europa and Colin Chapman designed the suspension, and Ron Hickman designed the exterior. Hickman is better known for his invention of the “Workmate” — the foldable bench/vise/sawhorse design that was manufactured by Black & Decker after Hickman sold it at trade shows for a few years. Anyway, Hickman left Lotus to pursue his Workmate side hustle in 1968, but not before he penned the gorgeous lines of the Europa…but now that I look at it…I can’t help but think that rear end is just an early version of his form-follows-function industrial design work. Find this 1971 Lotus Europa S2 offered for $18,500 in Old Saybrook, CT via craigslist. Tip from Cory.
I don’t like posting cars that are on the expensive end of the typical DT price range ($1-$20,000) but occasionally a car comes through that could be offed for $50k…if not today, then in a few years. If this next car was a similar condition Porsche 911, Austin-Healey 3000, or Fastback Mustang it would certainly […]
This next car comes from Erik202 who writes: I know this one is slightly above the DT budget but maybe there are some readers who’ve been saving that Christmas money from grandma up for the last i dunno, 30-40 years and can to afford stretch a little for something cool. Find this 1970 Lotus Europa S2 […]
The Bentley S2 was only built in low volume, something less than 2000 ever left the factory between 1958 and 1962…so it seems mildly implausible to find one offered for less than $10k..but it is offered from an estate sale and the car does need considerable work…so maybe it isn’t a scammer? Seems like money […]
The Porsche 944 was another chapter in the watercooled front engine Porsche sport coupe saga that started in the late 1970s with the 928…but the 944 is in essence a beefed up replacement for the 924. The 944 is actually one of the better cars of the 924/944/968 extended family to pick up from a […]
The Lotus Europa has always been a favorite car over around these here parts — we DT writers love its lightweight composite chassis, mid engine high revving powerplant and cheap entry price. Time has driven the nicer examples to higher prices, but you can still get nice cheap Europa for the price of a 911 […]
Most of the automobiles features on these pages are inexpensive classics or late model maniac machines…with an emphasis on cars you can drive and enjoy on the cheap for years on end. However…there are sometimes cars that cross our path that offer a combination of exclusivity and cool factor at an economy car entry price…BUT […]
The Europa was a sporty two seater built by Colin Chapman’s Lotus Cars in Norfolk, UK. Only 9300 of these high-butted gems were built between 1966-1975 and in today’s world of overpriced junk (see Porsche 912 prices…ahem) the Europa is still surprisingly affordable as long as you avoid over priced examples for sale on various […]
I know what you are going to say. You guys have been featuring too many watercooled front-engine Porsches on DT recently, can’t we get back to Volvos? First, CFlo has been on vacation, so the Volvos will return, but second (and more importantly) — there is no such thing as too many inexpensive German sports […]