How I Accidentally Turned My Lotus Into an Oxcart and Then Saved It
Earlier this year, I resurrected my 1974 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Special from its warehouse hibernation, only to find myself on a tumultuous journey of mechanical misadventures and ultimate redemption. The drive back home was anything but mundane, as the fuel filter's constant clogging turned a simple trip into a hands-on saga of parking lot fixes and gas-soaked shirts.
One may wonder why I bother with such an unpredictable vehicle? The answer lies in the quest to set the car's suspension right, making it the exhilarating ride it's always meant to be.
Low and Behold: The Europa's Stance
Lotus Europas are known for their impossibly low profiles, just 42 inches high at the roof. However, the U.S. regulations forced a slight nose lift, making the Europa appear almost like a boat on plane. When I first bought this car in 2013, it had been sitting dormant for 30 years. Getting it back on the road involved extensive work, but a full restoration was out of the question.
Financial constraints meant doing only what was necessary to make the car drivable, which left its legendary handling experience on the back burner. Fast forward to winter 2019: the mission was clear—address the tired suspension and lower the nose to its proper stance.
The Quest for Lowering: Cheap Thrills and Spax Shocks
The Europa's suspension setup involves double wishbones in front and coil-overs on both ends, ideal for its lightweight 1600-pound frame. Adjusting the ride height and firmness typically demands adjustable Spax shocks and stiffer springs, a $1,200 recipe. In the spirit of frugality, I opted for more affordable yet creative solutions.
After sourcing the specifications from Europa user forums, I purchased 125-pound rate, 10-inch front lowering springs for a mere $85. A stroke of luck on eBay landed me a used set of adjustable Spax shocks for $200. Although uncertain of their lineage, they met my basic criteria, and the journey began.
Spring Fling: The Suspension Overhaul
Removing the old springs was no easy feat. None of my four spring compressors fit, pushing me to improvise with custom tools. Luckily, the job got done, and the parts, including adjustable sway bar links, were installed by spring 2020.
The result—a visually stunning lowered nose—came at the cost of ride quality. Despite adjustments, the nose-bottomed out on anything but the smoothest routes. Over time, this discomfort became glaringly obvious and unsatisfactory.
Chasing Comfort: The Realization and Reversion
Adding insult to injury, lowering any vintage car without camber-correcting suspension usually induces negative camber. My alterations basically mocked this golden rule. Though adjustable front wishbones exist, their cost and complexity led me to elongate the bolt holes—a hack, if there ever was one.
As if on cue, the lane-changing quirks started haunting me. This, pinned on mismatched springs and refusal to pay for an expert alignment, only made things worse. In a last bid to confess my sins, I realized the used Spax shocks were never meant for lowering springs. That's when the penny dropped: time to revert to stock springs.
Restorative Steps Backwards
Back at the starting line, my plan focused on swapping back to the original springs, keeping the adjustable Spax shocks. With the car up on the lift, the task flowed smoother than expected. Rear shocks were simpler, but the front ones demanded careful navigation through the vehicle's fiberglass body—not an everyday task, for sure.
Alongside this, resizing the sway bar links completed the restoration. The Lotus rose back to its original height, ready to symbolically stretch its legs again.
The Final Verdict: Nostalgia Meets Reality
Initially fraught with clunks and thuds—traced back to my sway bar kludge—the Europa's restored ride quality emerged as a delightful surprise. It's a bittersweet reminder: sometimes to move forward, you need to step back. My botched mods now rollback to a drivable, almost nostalgic state. So, onward to new adventures, but let’s keep those boat jokes at bay.
In this journey of fuels, tools, and old-school hacks, the Lotus Europa emerges as a testament—craftsmanship, patience, and sometimes, taking a step back can indeed be the best way forward.
Interested in the full chronicle? Explore more and don’t miss out on my latest mechanical escapades.