Lot details Registration No: DUR168K Chassis No: 1395P Mot Expiry: May 2017
- Rare surviving example produced by GS Cars of Bristol with Colin Chapman's approval
- Styled by William Towns using a standard Lotus Europa Twin Cam
- Retrimmed interior in Oatmeal leather, replacement Spyder chassis c.1992
The result of a collaboration between Mike Rawlings of Bristol-based Lotus dealer GS Cars Ltd and stylist William Towns hatched in 1974, the GS Europa blended many of the design cues of the time in striking GRP bodywork clothing a standard Europa Twin cam. On seeing the finished car, Colin Chapman gave the design his blessing, and sanctioned the product's use of the Lotus name. It is believed just fifteen examples were built before production ceased in the late 1970s. Survival rates are unclear, but only about five are known making this an extremely exclusive piece of Lotus history.
In the current ownership for the last decade, DUR 168K is finished in Carnival red with re-trimmed Oatmeal leather. Retaining its original engine, a recent test by Classic & Sportscar found it to perform well, with only a few minor marks to the paint being noted. Benefiting from the fitment of a replacement Spyder chassis around 1992, a detailed history file accompanies the car including assorted photographs, GS Cars sales brochures, invoice from Allon White for the retrim, old MoTs, photostat of the original logbook, copy of a 1975 press release, copy 1977 Motor article, correspondence from Roger Fowler of GS Cars, report by Mike Rawlings on the model's technical details, Swansea V5C and MoT to May 2017 with no advisories.
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