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Hi Hammy ,if it's your interpretation of the Europa ,based on a modern , go for it ,it will only succeed if it looks proportionally right ! ,might look better based on the Type 62 .
Hi hammy. Replied to your mmessage.will have a chat. I would go down the thought of the mx5 and put a modern twist onto the Europa shape. Like they did with the etype to mark it's anniversary.
I agree with Gary. They each have positives. The hip line on the original is very distinctive and it would be nice to try to maintain this in some way.
I can see cooling being a challenge with the MR2 option.
On a slightly different level, the MX5 was a modern-day successor to the Elan, so a Mazda Europa would be quite a nice tribute (with a small t).
Finally, the colour will make a massive differene. It's a rare car in that red just doesn't suit. A period colour will make a big difference.
Keep going, Hammy. It's great that we have the chance to have this discussion.
Thanks mate and you're right about the mx5 and elan. The ps image looks like an elan front and europa rear..... mmmmmmmm a Euran, Eulan or Elopa lol
Is it just me or does this rear diffuser look like and 80s hot hatch front bumper mod that had fogs in in?? Looking at the number plate maybe a veedub? Or maybe Renault 5 gt turbo?
Hi hammy. Replied to your mmessage.will have a chat. I would go down the thought of the mx5 and put a modern twist onto the Europa shape. Like they did with the etype to mark it's anniversary.
Yes you have a similar mind to mine mate, when things can end up like this why does everything have to be a replica and why do people who say that always have bushy grey beards
PS and BTW apart from being a huge Lotus fan, I believe that the above is quite possibly the best looking car in the (current) motoring world. God if Foose could do an E type then that would be it Im sure.........
Thanks again to DGS4ME I have another image with better lines. Definitely going to be mazda now. The image is good but on the actual build I will pull the nose out and down a bit
The die cast I have had on my shelf for many years is becoming a constant point of reference, this explains what I meant in my last post about stretching the nose a bit.
Getting quite excited about this project now and thanks to all for your feedback. May have to start another thread as I cant change the name from replica which it clearly will never be but should be a great looking little car.
A couple of badges I already had, irony of the eu in eunos or fate??? Maybe some nitrous (NOS) too??? layball:
2 more hours with my most used tool recently, the angry grinder was out again with a vengeance. Being very careful and drawing on my memorys of my MX250 GTO build and what the clams looked like I got stuck in...
That'll be me then with said tool when my mate came round to fetch his jetwash and was trying to comprehend what the hell I am doing and if as a mate he should have me sectioned........
Whilst deconstructing the shell I have been mindful to cut and save any difficult profiles that may come back and bite me and make me think 'God I wish I hadn't hacked that to death and jucked it in the tip'
Started on the front clam and got well stuck in....
Now mindful of the weak points in the shell I have it propped up on a pallet to relieve any unecessary pressure. Note my Tribute Kobra donor in the back ground which for now has turned in to my daily driver, why not 2.8 straight 6 and the sun is shining!
Time to pack up and go out for lunch with a gorgeous young lady.... livin' the dream boys!
Some of the valuable booty to get on ebay. I'll be keeping the hinges though as they are very expensive to source flat hinges of the size. Another lesson from the 250 build. Cant believe these lights are £195 each from SJ sportscars!
The best part of todays work was removing the rear bumper and realising the bodywork underneath has the exact bumper profile. Bumpers wont feature in my build so that will save loads of work and gives me more valuable ebay booty! Speaking of which I toyed with the idea of 911 headlights and a mate came up with a cracking idea of the 993 lights. Well at £400 a pair 2nd hand that's a big risk and then I found a set of scratched 993 lenses on ebay for £40 and I was the only bidder! Maybe I'll have to make two of these, one classic based on the mk1 mx5 and one modern street racer on steroids!!! Am I getting ahead of myself? YEP but its the enthusiasm and final vision that always grabs me and gets me motivated.
1800 Donor sourced and picking up tomorrow nice and local..
Trust me the photos make it look 50 times better than it is......
But it does have 10 months MOT and mechanically and structurally is sound. Half hour tonight with the angry tool and the rear is quartered...
Now my friends and neighbours that weren't already questioning my sanity are definitely now for sure! The donor has been lowered but not enough yet but gives me a start point before I spend any money, also has a very doggy state hardtop which I reckon will come in handy to do the door window and windscreen profile.
That donor/base car looks horrible as an MX5, but its time is coming. The red "Europa" is erring towards a Porsche front end. Keep the Europa identity!
That donor/base car looks horrible as an MX5, but its time is coming. The red "Europa" is erring towards a Porsche front end. Keep the Europa identity!
I will mate and yes you're right the Mazdas days are numbered
An interesting project. They were a great car in their day and fun to drive. I hope it all comes together for you. Looking forward to the pictures as it comes together. Good luck.
The afore mentioned lenses arrived today and would not take much work to fit and wouldn't result in tampering with the Lotus' original lines. I know this is early days but for £40 the pair I had to get them and if theyre not used I know they'll probably be used on something else
The original boot hinges, 44 years old, over 10 years cooped up in a bush (sounds like my military profile) and 5 minutes with wd40 and metal polish
Now you have all your parts of the project together the fun really starts making them fit.
I think your major issue is going to be the difference in heights of doors/side profile of the mx5 vs the Lotus. Draw a line on both cars that joins the top of the wheel rims together and study what is above the line on both cars. The side sill and scoop on the red lotus is going to come in handy for hiding some of that issue, as will the front spoiler.
Now you have all your parts of the project together the fun really starts making them fit.
I think your major issue is going to be the difference in heights of doors/side profile of the mx5 vs the Lotus. Draw a line on both cars that joins the top of the wheel rims together and study what is above the line on both cars. The side sill and scoop on the red lotus is going to come in handy for hiding some of that issue, as will the front spoiler.
So got some drawings and had a look and naturally with Chris' eye and experience he has a point. I think if I slam the MX it'll get closer...
and if I mix up the 2 PS images it could look pretty cool but by no means a replica. I also think (excuse picture) that its going to very cool but then I would.
PS. also toying with the idea of a targa top a la elise......
Picked up the donor today which I bought at face value off a lad at work for a great price with 10 months MOT. I wasn't aware of some of the extras. Its an 1800 eunos with full stainless system inc manifold, induction, strut brace and oil catch tank with some nice interior add ons too
It also has some classic mirrors and a great fuel filler which works on the remote from inside the car (great for an MX250 gto) I'll have these bits polished up
Couldn't resist this, obviously with the bumpers etc still on the MX its not on right but hey!
It also comes with a hardtop seen in the background
layball:
