Castillia Europa

[WayneB]

Came across this OTT Europa.

Its a 1972 Hispano-Aleman built Lotus Europa, from Spain.

They were going to produce them in 1974 (probably buying the tooling and rights from Lotus when Europa production ended at Hethel) but remains a one off.

It has a Seat engine (Spanish Fiat)

Notice the Elise S2 /Evora type radiator duct on the front hood! I remember Julian thompson used to work in Spain, maybe he remembered this car and it influenced the S2 Elise?

They already made a Spanish version of the Lotus 7 at the time, and I seem to remember a Spanish version of the Renault -Alpine A110.

http://www.lotus-europa.com/vintage_photos/H-A-CASTILLA1.jpg

http://www.lotus-europa.com/vintage_photos/H-A-CASTILLA2.jpg

http://www.lotus-europa.com/vintage_photos/H-A-CASTILLA3.jpg

[Martin]

Wow!
Never heard of it. Thanks for enlightning me :)

[GregWO]

Never heard of it but looks pretty cool. Thanks Wayne!

[eurosport]

Neat find, Wayne. Looks like they took a few cues from the 62 as well. :steeringwheel:

Eric

[GregWO]

Does that prototype still exist?

[WayneB]

I dont honestly know Greg.:huh:

Its probably still in Spain though.:yes:

I will see If I can track it down.:weight_lift:

[WayneB]

If only everything was that easy!

I cant read Spanish, but it does still exist and has been reciently restored.

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3741/seathispanoalemn1800006ba4.jpg

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/8098/seathispanoalemn1800001rg4.jpg

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/720/seathispanoalemn1800008ya5.jpg

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5413/seathispanoalemn1800003fm7.jpg

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/975/seathispanoalemn1800004zb5.jpg

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/743/seathispanoalemn1800009fh0.jpg

[GregWO]

WOW :mf_dribble: How cool!!!! Thanks Wayne :thumbup:

Google has a translate feature. whats the linky?

[WayneB]

Here you go.:)

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.foro.pieldetoro.net/foros/showthread.php%3Ft%3D79266&prev=/search%3Fq%3DHispano-aleman%2Bcastilla%2Beuropa%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX&usg=ALkJrhhRAcv4IMRHiCy4V2ITyfjRjVK9Gg

[GregWO]

COOL... I read all I could find on that site. One of the links posted states the owner/creator had it on a ship for 35 years then recently decided to restore it. Then a later link posted his obituary that he died in a plane crash.... TODAY! :no:

translation (http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/391398/baron-rojo/ben-heiderich/accidente/&prev=/search%3Fq%3DHispano-aleman%2Bcastilla%2Beuropa%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX&usg=ALkJrhjm4kNiHTWdqpTPXutzAT4VINKP_Q)

[clockwork]

That looks a well developed motor,here is a U.K flavoured one! http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t347/clockwork012/P1030128_edited.jpg please feel free to alter or remove if they offend anyone http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t347/clockwork012/P1030127.jpg Clockwork :thumbup:

[WayneB]

Thats a hairy looking Europa (kinda like the GKN 47D)

Is that a Rover V8 powerplant?:huh:

Hard to see unser that gorgeous set of tubular exhaust manifolds!:icon18:

[clockwork]

Bigger ! Ford lump,post details later,interesting car.Clockwork :)

[clockwork]

A very late update,here`s a pic. I took some years ago,same car http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t347/clockwork012/09860078.jpg Clockwork :)

[Martin]

Thanks for posting that. Some how I have totally missed this thread!
I love the Europa and honestly I love seeing these things all beefed up like that. The blue one, although close to overkill, is still rather exciting. :mf_dribble:

[Kylie]

Yeah I learnt something too. These wide bodied cars are awesome. Looking at that last pic with the exhaust manifolds, first that that came to mind was how the hell do you get to the engine to work on it each time !! Looks impressive all the same :yes: