Introduced in September 1972, the first 100 Big Valve cars were special. To honour Team Lotus’s victory in the 1972 and 1973 F1 World Championships, John Player Special (JPS) was released to commemorate the success. The cars were number-badged (numbered JPS dashboard badge) and painted black with gold pinstripes to honour that 1972 F1 World Championship title.
All cars had five-speed gearbox , becoming the first ever John Player Special commemorative motor vehicles. The “Special” name and colour scheme was planned to be dropped after the first 200 cars, reverting to the Twin Cam name, but such was the positive reaction to the new car that the name and pin stripe scheme remained until the end of Europa production although colours other than black were made available.
In the end the numbered plaque distinguished the first, original, 100 JPS cars from other black Europa Specials. The JPS was one of the very last Europa models released before production ceased altogether.
Pictures
Specs & Performance
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| price $ | $7290 |
| engine | Type 74 Inline-4 |
| position | Mid Longitudinal |
| valvetrain | DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl |
| displacement | 1558 cc / 95.1 in³ |
| bore | 82.6 mm / 3.25 in |
| stroke | 72.6 mm / 2.86 in |
| compression | 10.3:1 |
| power | 94.0 kw / 126 bhp |
| specific output | 80.87 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 170.27 bhp per tonne |
| body / frame | Fiberglass over Steel Tub |
| driven wheels | RWD |
| f brake size | mm / in |
| r brake size | mm / in |
| curb weight | 740 kg / 1631 lbs |
| transmission | Type 352 Renault 4-Speed Manual |
| gear ratios | :1 |
| top speed | ~197.9 kph / 123 mph |
| 0 – 60 mph | ~7.0 seconds |
Prices
1974 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Special 74/3814R – sold for $33,000. Groundbreaking Mid-Engine Sports Car. Big Valve Version of the Famed Lotus-Ford Twin-Cam Motor. Impressively Original, Low-Mileage Example. Accompanied by Books, Records, and Period Sales Brochures. The Ultimate Evolution of the Lotus Europa. Auction Source: The Scottsdale Auctions 2015 by Gooding & Company
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