One of the best classic buys?

"190e30-Now with COSWORTH" (190e30)
09/26/2013 at 16:24 • Filed to: NPOCP

So I surf the interwebz pretty often. Most of the time I do this, I'm either on Oppo or looking at cars. I've noticed that the Lotus Europas have come waaaay down in price. One that's a bit rough but is perfectly driveable and working can be bought for around $7k, and for a super clean low mileage example, around 10. I know they're old, unreliable, not particularly good looking, and slow, but am I missing something here? A truly lightweight classic lotus, low-slung and tiny,mid-engined, and potentially the ideal autocross car (until something breaks).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/196…

DISCUSSION (12)

ddavidn > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/26/2013 at 16:28

I would LOVE one of those. I saw an S1B around the classifieds for about $14... never seen one at $7k.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > ddavidn
09/26/2013 at 16:30

There were two on my local craigslist at $7400 and $7200 about a year back. One was a twincam and needed a full service and paint, and the other wasn't but desperately needed paint.

Chairman Kaga > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/26/2013 at 16:30

A couple of years ago there was a good story (maybe series) about a Jalop who went cross-country to buy one, then drove it home.

I love 'em. I'd never buy one, but that doesn't inhibit the adoration. So funky. A true Colin Chapman car. Classic.

dieselwagon > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/26/2013 at 16:32

There are as many reasons to buy one of these as to not buy one. The reasons for not are perhaps more convincing.
There is only one Lotus to own.*

Kinja'd!!!

(*if you're someone like me)

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > dieselwagon
09/26/2013 at 16:36

Did we get those in the US? That's been one of my favorites for years, but I've never seen or heard of a single one in the US.

What was it? The Lotus Carlton, Opel Omega, and Vauxhaull...? (Help me out here, no idea)

davedave1111 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/26/2013 at 16:36

They are pretty cheap at the moment. Actually, it seems to be a good time for all Lotuses, right now. You can find an Elan in kind of decent nick for maybe $10k, or a decent one for $15-20k (converting from UK prices, actually) and I very much doubt you'll ever be able to say that again.

Exiges and Elises have held their value pretty well, but everything older is dirt cheap.

dieselwagon > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/26/2013 at 16:39

It's a Lotus Carlton/Omega. Based on the Opel/Vauxhall Omega/Carlton.

Basically, if it's LHD it's an Omega, if it's RHD it's a Carlton.

Wikipedia to the rescue: "While the base Omega A and the Lotus Omega were never federalized for sale in the USA, the Lotus Omega is now allowed to be imported into the USA under the DOT's "Show and Display" exemption."

Just so we don't forget, 176mph from a sedan in 1990. Awesome.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > dieselwagon
09/26/2013 at 16:40

Got it. All is clear now, thank you

a164353 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/26/2013 at 17:34

All I can say is the guy who sold me my e30 had a couple gorgeous, race-ready examples. I was pretty taken. Wasn't aware of the price situation; but it's extremely enticing.

Cloud81918 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/26/2013 at 18:13

I love them, but try driving one before you buy one. They are crazy tight and I'm 5'10". The ergos are weird and everything feels shoddy and cheap. Getting through the door is hard and nothing feels right. I think the Elise is many time easy to get in an out of. The windshild is an inch away from your knuckles when your hand is at the top of the wheel. Really they are a bit of a nightmare. The Esprit, even an early one, is a huge improvement.

But all of that said, they are superlight and crazy low. They have great classic curves too. And while all of the horrible issues I listed above come into play they are fun to drive. Near motorcycle fun with a slightly higher chance of death.

Burner2202-6 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/26/2013 at 20:44

Ive noticed a tonnn of these pop up on ebay in the past couple of weeks. So if you want one i guess now would be the time. But i cant bring myself to even think about buying one. If i wanted mid engine classic i would go porsche. If i wanted cheap lotus for the track, i would go Elise. If i wanted a classic lotus, i would break the trans and buy something else.

SLR999 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/26/2013 at 22:46

Take that pic at Woodward this year?