comem47 229 Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 (edited) Spotted something interesting on Chip Foose's Overhaulin show last night. For those of you that may be unfamiliar with the show, he takes people's project cars that have been languishing for years for whatever reason and does a makeover on them with Foose stying changes (so those who are only into accurate restoration may not like it). The cars are done behind the owners backs (wife gives keys, owner thinks lesser work is being done, etc). In the beginning he used to "steal the cars' (with wife/relative's permission) and they owner would be dealing with fake police giving him runaround until the reveal is ready. Well enough background. last night's part one was all about a Lotus Europa that had been given away to a friend who is having the car fixed up and then will be surprise given back to the original owner. Both friends do volunteer work in Jay Leno's garage and Jay approached chip about it. What Foose is doing as a total styling/engineering makeover. Out goes the original Renault engine and a Lotus donated Elise engine (with Porsche transaxle) in a redesigned/beefed up frame. The body is losing some length, getting new headlamps and GT-40 like radiator ducting and the doors tops are styled up into the roof. Overall the body will be much stronger for the power upgrade. The paint is going to be a Foose spin on the Gold Leaf color scheme. As I said, not for the purists, but an interesting take on what the Europa could have been. Part 2 is next week. Edited May 27, 2013 by comem47 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loose Cannon 582 Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 There have been many efforts to make the Europa a bit more macho over the years, the 47D and GKN spring to mind. It will be interesting to see what Foose comes up with. I haven't noticed any new editions of Overhaulin' for a quite a while now, but then I don't watch much TV. It would be interesting to know if these shows are on the way to the UK and what channel (or if they have been on and I've missed them) Quote In the garage no-one can hear you scream Link to post Share on other sites
pete 1,804 Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Quote hindsight: the science that is never wrong Link to post Share on other sites
comem47 229 Posted May 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 (edited) Yup, I'm very aware of the Type 47(that Bill Colom among others raced in the US years later than when new) and AFAIK the one and only GKN-47D still resides in the Boston MA area with the owner of approx 25 yrs or more (saw it once at a British Car show at the Larz Anderson Museum of Transportation in Brookline MA). Foose's design spin sounds interesting in concept with the Elise engine mounted inline (as original Europa, vs Elise transverse). Anxious to see the outcome and I hope they show some track time. Edited May 27, 2013 by comem47 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JLStrange 0 Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 I recorded it last night and watched it today. Very cool! I think I would have left the rear bumper in the stock position but can see why he wanted to change it. Looking forward to seeing Part II. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom74 0 Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 (edited) Like you I understand why Chip wanted to change it but I would have left it in the stock location or modified the rear a bit more. From what it looks like in part 1 the rear of the car is at a little angle and will overhang above the bumper. With a fiberglass body it won't take much of an impact on anything to damage it. We will see in part 2 if it this will be addressed. Looking forward to seeing the finished car. to me it looks like most of the changes will make it look awesome. Plus the added power, which I hope won't be too much for this light car. Edited May 28, 2013 by ramjet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ramjet 1,086 Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Welcome to TLF Richard. What brings you to TLF? Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom74 0 Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Thank you. Honestly the post about the Lotus featured on Overhaulin brought me here. As a minor auto enthusiast I follow some interesting cars, articles, and shows. As I have never owned a lotus I have seen many out here around the Los Angeles, CA area. Don't have the space or money to be anymore involved. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ramjet 1,086 Posted May 29, 2013 Report Share Posted May 29, 2013 Well, you're welcome anyway. The more the merrier. Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. Link to post Share on other sites
Guy W Johnson 1 Posted May 29, 2013 Report Share Posted May 29, 2013 I watched Overhaulin last night, for the most part I like the work. I am not sure about the Europa's new look. Guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
comem47 229 Posted June 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 (edited) Well I watched he 2nd part of overhaulin last night and it looks like they did an excellent job on their reinterpretation of the design. The craftsmanship looked excellent. Unfortunately we never saw the new owner drive the car as they usually do (and I was hoping to see it at the track as the owner used to race the car.) I may be wrong but it looked like the owner gained some pounds in the many years since the car was parked and he seemed to have a difficult time climbing in (I hope I'm wrong on that). Could be embarrassing for all involved. Edited June 3, 2013 by comem47 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guy W Johnson 1 Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 I would have liked to see more of the interior. I would also like to have seen side by side picture, or how ever they do that fade from old to new. Guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JLStrange 0 Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Caught the second installment tonight. WOW! Foose did an amazing job with one of my favorite Lotus. I would have liked to see a slow walk around of the whole car instead of the jerky shots of bits. Heat has to be a problem with the bigger engine and supercharged. I never heard how they dealt with that. Also looked like the hood wouldn't clear the engine; never saw a picture of that. None the less, a complete redesign from chassis to dash. GREAT JOB! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ramjet 1,086 Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 What? No pictures? What about us lot that don't get the show? Not feelin' the love. Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. Link to post Share on other sites
comem47 229 Posted June 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 (edited) Here's a couple of samples. Best I can do short order http://velocity.discovery.com/tv-shows/overhaulin/videos/jay-leno-schemes.htm http://velocity.discovery.com/tv-shows/overhaulin/videos/custom-lotus-dash.htm Edited June 3, 2013 by comem47 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cdorhout 0 Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 There was something fishy with that reveal last night. First of all, they didn't show the car at all. Then they accidently showed the rear of the car, and it didn't have the relocated bumper nor the new circle taillights. The only glimpse of the car was showing the guy climbing into it. Oh, and the car had skinny tires in the rear (I paused it during that spot because it looked so weird). I think they didn't get it finished in time, so they sprayed a stock Europa the same color red and assumed we wouldn't notice. The show is still on my DVR, so maybe I'll go back and look tonight. I loved the way the car was looking though, wow! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
comem47 229 Posted June 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 I don't buy that the car wasn't done on time. They showed them multiple times lifting the body on/off the car. These TV "deadlines" are always inserted for dramatic effect and this episode was likely taped a long time ago (and we see it now). They can make it appear to be a crisis down to the wire thing, when in fact many weeks have passed (at the end of the first episode they said "weeks" remained to complete it). The "will we make it ?" drama is good for ratings and done all the time. I really do wonder though if the car fit him correctly in their allocated time. (done, but not for him) We probably never will know since the typical ride shot wasn't done and especially at the track. For all the time they invested making it a 2 episode show we really deserved a more extensive ending. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guy W Johnson 1 Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Overhaulin has not always made the dead line. The green challenger you see below, the engine was not rebuilt on time. I got to see the car at a Mopar show. According to the guy they had to wait for the engine to be rebuilt. Guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ronin 37 Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 My old Europa. My first Lotus toy back in 1982. I molded an RX7 air dam into the front and blended an RX7 spoiler on to the read deck along with rear flairs. Just think what a real Lotus owner could do with their budget and man power.. That guy couldn't even get his ass into the car at the end because it just sat around rotting for years and come on he traded it for a set of shitty wheels. He's no Lotus guy. This is how you modify a Europa. http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/01/rotary-buzz-re-amemiya-20b-europa/ Quote I think it's fast enough…maybe Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom74 0 Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 There was definitely something strange about the reveal. Not sure if it wasn't finished or what. They didn't show the car much at all after it was completed. Unfortunately I can't remember if they had even raised the engine deck/hood or even started the car. heck did they even show the completed dash that they were raving about? Let alone see the owner or anyone else for that matter drive the car afterward. Now from what they showed of the completed car I thought it looked fantastic. All the modifications sound like it would make one awesome car. Just wish they would have showed more of the car and less air time of Leno and the other guys. Really did not have the normal Overhaulin feel to the show. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bentzion 5 Posted July 13, 2013 Report Share Posted July 13, 2013 They probably needed more time to finish the car.....I'ts a lot to have to do in two weeks!! Quote If the only thing constant is change, then why do we resist change the most? Link to post Share on other sites
Bentzion 5 Posted July 14, 2013 Report Share Posted July 14, 2013 I stand corrected.....It took a lot more than two weeks to complete the car found a photo of the interior: Guess they couldn't make the Porsche gauges work. Quote If the only thing constant is change, then why do we resist change the most? Link to post Share on other sites
ronin 37 Posted July 14, 2013 Report Share Posted July 14, 2013 (edited) I talked to Jay Leno a few weeks back and he said it wasn't running yet. Starter issues or something. Edited July 14, 2013 by ronin Quote I think it's fast enough…maybe Link to post Share on other sites
Rick Edwards 20 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 I talked to Jay Leno a few weeks back and he said it wasn't running yet. Starter issues or something. Now THAT is about as showbiz as it gets!! Quote Twitter @radioRedwards Link to post Share on other sites
Vulcan Grey 251 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 They did do a massive amount of work! Mostly as a result of some of their choices, like the gigantic wheels... But seeing all that work actually did inspire me to go into the garage an work some more on my Esprit! So the show was good for something! Quote Travis Vulcan Grey 89SE My Lotus Photo and Projects Album Link to post Share on other sites
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