Back to back: Europa or 914?

220 Cars and bikes are about to change owner during Brightwells Leominster sale on 26 September. We pick out just two of them for our little comparison.

The Lotus Europa is a 1971 model with 1,565cc engine, sold originally as a part-built ‘kit’ to avoid Purchase Tax - placed on new cars back in 1971. Most major components came ready-assembled and it took the first owner only nine hours to put the car together, with period photographs to prove the build, as well as the original invoice for £1,557.75. The car was raced and sprinted by its owner for some years (more period photographs on file) before a gradual decline saw the car deteriorating after being left in the open. Up until 2007, when a new owner decided it was time for a thorough restoration. According to Brightwells: ‘Totally rebuilding it from the ground up in a process that took considerably more than nine hours to complete!” It comes with a no reserve price, but since this car looks splendid in every respect and comes with an extensive history file, we guess it should make a really good price.

The Porsche 914 that Brightwells offer in the same sale is estimated at £19- to 21,000. Could the Lotus make that sort of money? The 914 is a 1972 car with 2,056cc engine that was sold new to Texas, but restored in the UK between 2012 and 2014. It now comes with a engine built to racing specification and an upgraded gearbox, suspension plus limited slip diff. There are more racy features such as a dry-sump and an interior with race seats and six-point harnesses, some fibreglass body parts and small petrol tank making it some 40kgs lighter in total. The history file contains some old MoT certificates and invoices totalling a whopping £25,000. Now, which one would be the car of your choice..?

(Words editor, pictures courtesy Brightwells)

Published:

Tuesday September 18th, 2018

Dr John S Mills

23 September 2018, 23:42

having driven both, over extended periods, though owned neither - very generous friends - I opt for the Lotus. Gave one a huge feeling of invcibilty on the twisty bits...

Peter Noyes

23 September 2018, 21:28

Back in 1972 I bought a new 914 with the 1.7 engine for a price of $4500 prox and sold it with just over 32,500 miles in 1986 with 32,000 miles for $7500 prox. At the time of the original purchase I also considered the Datson 240Z and the BMW 2002. A friend strongly suggested the 914 due to the targa roof. Thinking back, while I did enjoy the Porsche a smarter move would have been to buy the BMW which I could have used as my regular car for business, certainly not a bright yellow 914. The earlier purchase in 1960 of a new MGA provided me with a lot more FUN with shifting much more positive. My girl friend back in 1972 refused to ride in the Porsche thus we continued to use my old 1967 VW Bug for weekend drives. Leap ahead to today and I purchased a new Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring roadster back in 2009 with 6 speed tranny (5 more than enough) and this a very enjoyable car to drive and enjoy for backup fun driving for filling all the positive statements made about the MX-5's with it's service free dependability and modern features such as roll up windows, AC, and so many other features the MGA and Porsche just didn't have. We also now own and drive (on occasion) 4 other motor vehicles.

Nicolas Van Frausum

22 September 2018, 08:55

Both mid engined cars are a true delight to drive. I once owned a RHD 1970 Lotus Europa S2 (with the 1600cc Renault engine) and a LHD 1975 VW-Porsche 914 (with the 2-litre engine) at the same time and must admit the Lotus was much more in its elements in the countryside. It is very agile and offers the driver fast cornering and great handling experience but it didn't feel very safe on the motorway due to its lightness and limited rear view. It is very low too. The 914 on the other hand offers more or less the same driving experiences but feels much more safe, it is reliable and offers plenty of room (and luggage space) even for tall drivers. The targa roof is a big plus. I still have the 914.

Back to back: Europa or 914?

Comments

Make a comment, ask a question, give your opinion, share additional information or start a discussion by filling in the fields below.