1973 LOTUS EUROPA JPS SPECIAL 5 SPEED 48 YEAR OWNERSHIP

The Lotus Classic Certificate of Vehicle Provenance shows that this Europa Special was supplied with the high compression Big Valve engine and five speed gearbox, finished in black (L15) with an Oatmeal interior. A letter on file from Andy Graham, the Lotus Archivist states that being a ‘Special’ model it would have had the Gold pin striping as standard, hence the Special is more commonly known as the JPS. This car was number 48 out of a run of 100. 

As was common with Lotus cars of the era, under a specific agreement between Lotus and HM Customs and Excise, the car was despatched minus the powertrain and suspension to the supplying dealer - Doonfoot Garage in Scotland on the 30th October 1972, followed by the powertrain  on the 21st March 1973 when the car was sold. This agreement enabled the buyer to avoid the very hefty Purchase Tax, applicable to new cars at the time. Doonfoot Garage sold the car to a David Bell from Glasgow and he is recorded on the Certificate of Vehicle Provenance and the original Service book that accompanies the Lotus. 

The current recorded keeper purchased the Lotus in 1975, the invoice for this sale shows that he traded in a Vauxhall Viva GT. By 1979, the Lotus had covered some 52,318 miles when MoT'd and 59,874 miles when MoT'd the following year. A period of working overseas meant that the Lotus was not used regularly for quite a number of years, spending most of the time still insured on a ‘Laid-Up’ policy. Around 2000-2001, the Lotus was recommissioned before returning to the road when MoT'd in 2001 showing 61,406 miles. Further limited use continued, with MoTs carried out in 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023 with the mileage recorded at just 62,840 miles. Our vendor states that the current recorded mileage of 62,989 is correct.

The Europa is accompanied by a workshop manual, brochure, owner's handbook, service book, V5Cs, the aforementioned MoT certificates and invoices including one from 2023 when £3000 was spent with Classic Sports Cars Ltd. 

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