1971 Lotus Europa Series Two S2 in Blue & Engine Sounds on My Car Story with Lou Costabile 

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I had a Matchbox car that was a Lotus Europa. This has to be the very first real example of an actual Lotus. I've never seen a real, running Lotus until this video. I had this toy Lotus as a kid whenever I collected Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars. Leave it to Lou to run across one of these unusual classics.

Well I happen to love it! 💙😁 I feel lucky to have seen only 1 in the past 50 yrs. Thank you Mr. Bungay and Lou 👍

Very nice Europa! The Lotuses (Loti?) of the period are very cool and peak Colin Chapman if you ask me. This is a great example of “the breadbox”. A real unappreciated piece of history. Thanks as always Lou for bringing this to us!

Another great day and another great car at The Amelia. This Lotus looks & sounds ready to race. It was nice to hear Mr. Bungay got it back again, too. Thanks, Lou!

Years and years ago I used to help out my fathers buddy that was in the used car business by going to the dealer auction with him to deliver cars and bring back cars he had purchased to his lot. One day there was a mustard yellow Europa sitting there in the waiting area to go up to the line, all the cars had the keys in them. I thought great! Here’s my chance to try to drive a Lotus Europa! I got behind the wheel, we’ll sort of squeezed in and ok, great, now try to get my size 12 4E feet in the well for the pedals. Nope! Wouldn’t happen! I couldn’t get both feet on that cramped little space to operate the clutch and gas pedals! My big feet stopped me in my tracks and probably from getting kicked off the auction property! Glad to see this owner get his car back and he has the fun of driving it. Lou, I didn’t see you in the car?

A miracle he was able to buy it back!!

First time I saw a Europa I was 17 and had no idea what it was. But thought it was the coolest car I had ever seen

Not a huge Lotus fan but love this owners story like a good wife some cars meant to be owned by certain people. Glad your color coordinating your wardrobe with these stories nice touch. Lol

I went on my Suzuki 500T, from 75234, in the hottest part of the summer all the way to the West side of Fort Worth, Texas to see the same-colored car. I was in love with it. It was a long ride.

I have a similar story - bought and sold in the 80s, found again about 10 years ago but I haven’t been able to buy it back. Like that it has remained pretty original. 👍👍

Hey Lou! Oh man, this is one helluva cool and beautiful car, man. Raw, even-with that staccato burble from out back. I certainly have heard of the Lotus Europa but never actually seen one! LOVE this baby blue English/French lil' cutie chick. I just put on my tubesocks with baby blue stripes on top and my light blue Amos Otis KC Royals tee (Otis is totally one of my tubesocked, stocking feet baseball dads) in homage.....lovely car and awesome story with this older gent. Synchronicity ;). Thanks big brother Lou! :) JV Johnny

I owned a 1970 series 2 with a Gordini powered engine. Lovely car here!

I used to have 2 Matchboxes of this car... dark blue and purple/pink... I think this is the first real one I've ever seen.

I was at this same West Coast Lotus meet in 1988 with my 73 Europa. I was also asked if I wanted to sell and since I had received 1st place for Europa I asked double what I thought the car was worth. The buyers were two Japanese fellows and was offered the $12K asking price there and then. They had the cash neatly packaged in 1K bundles stored in a workout bag. I said I couldn't take the cash right then because I needed to get back to Los Gatos and told them they could call me if they still wanted the car. Figured they would never call once they knew the price was double the going rate. But they did call and took the car for the agreed price. I was told that the car was already sold to a buyer in Japan for $25K. They drove away with the car I bought new for around $6.5K and had 125K miles. I never saw or heard anything about the car after that. I recently bought a 1970 S2 (#331R) from the original owner in Sacramento Ca. The original owner purchased it from BMC in San Francisco and when I received it there were still stickers in the door jams form the oil changes on Howard St. in Frisco. It is currently restored, repainted "Hugger Orange" and running great, just love it. It's a perfect fit for a person like me at 5'7". On a twisty road it handles even better than the Esprit.

Thanx Lou! My little Lotus flower! :P

The Lotus Europa is such a unique car, a bit unusual looking but cool nonetheless. My parents had a real estate company in Niceville, Florida back in the 80's and there was a lady who was a realtor there and her husband had a Europa. I remember seeing it in their garage and it looked so tiny. He also had a 1970 LT-1 Corvette sitting next to it. I've been a fan of Lotus cars ever since seeing that white Esprit in the James Bond movie, "The Spy Who Loved Me", and the Europa is pretty cool!!! "Add Lightness", the Lotus way!!!

I have a 1970 S2. It's also a Type 64 (Federal) and in original condition (with the 'banjo' air filter housing and steel wheels with chrome hub-caps... you don't see those options very often). So nice to see another in such good shape.

Wow. Had a model car of these as a kid in the early 70s. I’ve only seen a couple in person and I’m from the UK. I love this guy buying it back. My wife thought I was mad has to be the most commonly heard phrase of the passionate man. Fair play sir.

That is a cool car. The exhaust note suggests something extra back there but even better not tampered with. Thanks for video guys, really interesting 👍

I was hoping you were going to go for a ride with him Lou but I figured you probably wouldn't fit you are a tall fella lol 🤣 thanks Lou.

Great story... great car... in a great color...

That was fun. My cousin ordered one while he was serving in Viet Nam. I used to sit in it and dream of driving before he came back from his tour of duty. I only got one drive as a kid, my understanding is the underside cracked and then it got stolen.

Mid-engine and light weight must add up to a descent handling country road very enjoyable Sunday afternoon drive, thnx Lou & the owner. . . :>/

Had seen one in my neighborhood for years in white. Didn't know the Renault connection whose 4cyl QC bore tolerances are legendary, thought it was a Ford based block. Loved it in Gran Tourismo as this was the Only way to Sim drive one with minor handling mods of course.

Very cool car! Thanks for sharing guys! 👍 Thanks Lou, love your channel and i always look forward to the videos!🤟

back in the 60s, 70s there was a Lotus dealer in the Oak Lawn area on Cicero ave.

Love the unique, nifty styling and the way it sounds. Very cool

Very cool 😎 always liked the early Lotus

Definitely very unique styling... Almost looks like a Lotus version of a Chevy Nomad....

amazing car!

Hermoso este Lotus Europa de 1971 con ese elegante color celeste! Además de tener una muy curiosa historia por parte de su propietario! Me llamó la atención, en el minuto 7:15, lo de la plaquita en la parte posterior izquierda del vehículo que evoca a viejas glorias de la construcción de Lotus en las competencias de 1963, 65 y 68! ¡Excelente vídeo, y saludos!

Very cool!😎

Those are beautiful cars... From the tip of the front bumper, to the back edge of the doors. Otherwise, it looks like a committee designed it... The sober ones got the front half, and at 5:00 they left and the drunks clocked in to design the rear end.

chingon MR LOU

Silly offer !! He is smart to sell high buy low 👍. The black and gold racing color was well-known in those years, Lotus F1 Team.

Very cool exotic that are few and far between....

I've always been fifty fifty on the looks, but love the midengine ....I owned a 9-14/4 for a few years and would love to try out a Europa to compare the two...

I always wanted one.

Interesting that it has a Renault engine too...

I saw one of these today on the Big Island, Hawaii. What transmission/transaxle does it have...Renault?

Interesting for sure, but it sounds more like an old tractor than a sports car :( I'm sure it goes faster than an old tractor :)

Is that what they used to call, "the bread truck?"

Great looking ride....that ends at the doors. Thereafter it's looking like a delivery van. 🤔. But as always appreciate you bringing us interesting and unique vehicles. This one is very much both aforementioned adjectives

Why are they letting cars on the fairway of that golf course?

Somehow some (subjectively) ugly cars are beautifull. :) Wonderfully kept example.👍

I don’t reckon we will see this Lotus clutter up street corners like, say, Toyota Corollas!

I have a twin cam - the seats are better in the S2 - feels like you are in bed...

That thing is as hideous as the Bricklin

Well I happen to love it! 💙😁 I feel lucky to have seen only 1 in the past 50 yrs. Thank you Mr. Bungay and Lou 👍

Well I happen to love it! 💙😁 I feel lucky to have seen only 1 in the past 50 yrs. Thank you Mr. Bungay and Lou 👍