1967 Lotus Europa Coupe

By the mid-1960s, Colin Chapman and his company had produced no less than 36 distinctive Lotus automobiles. Yet, Mr. Chapman did not want to rest on his laurels and wanted to build an inexpensive mid-engine production car with a race version for Team Lotus and for sale to privateers. Thus the Type 46 (or Europa) was born. It made its introduction in 1965 and had a box-section central spine chassis with a John Frayling designed fiberglass body. Chapman secured drivetrains from the Renault 16 and modified them to produce 80 horsepower.

As 1966 came to a close, the Type 47GT racing model had been born. It appeared at Brands Hatch and won in the hands of John Miles, who would go on to win eight more times during that season. Powering the 47GT was a Cosworth/Ford twin-cam engine, bored out to 1594cc, and tuned to produce 165 horsepower. The engine was mated to a Hewland magnesium FT200 limited-slip transaxle. Tecalamit-Jackson fuel injection was standard with twin Webers available as optional equipment.

The Type 47GT was a versatile vehicle that could be supplied with or without an engine or transmission. The rear independent suspension was sourced from the Lotus 59 single-seater and with the front suspension from the Triumph Vitesse. Ventilated disc brakes were placed at all four corners. The lightweight chassis weighed a mere 600 (to 650 kg) and the bodywork had a drag coefficient of 0.29.

By 1968, production of the 47 had come to a close after an estimated 50-70 left the factory.

This particular example was one of five identical 47GTs delivered new, in white, from the factory to Portugal's Team Palma. Four examples were sold to gentleman drivers, but this example was retained by Team Palma. Each of the cars were given Cosworth 1.6-liter twin-cam engines. GT-105 would later receive a Cosworth FVA.

The first race for GT-015 was on July 30th of 1967 at Circuito de Montes Claros. One of four 47GTs entered, it finished well back. In August, Fernandes won at Vila do Conde - the second outing for the car.

GT-015 then traveled to Brazil in December for the Mil Milhas Brasileiras at Interlagos. Unfortunately it fell out on lap 180 from suspension failure. A week later it raced at Interlago where it placed fifth.

In 1968 Fernandes ran in the GP do ACP at Granja do Marques where it won by almost fifteen seconds over José Lampreia's 47GT-026. The remainder of the 1968 season included two DNFs and a 9th. In 1969, the car passed to Ernesto Neves, who ran four races that year for a 13th, 2nd and two unclassified finishes.

For 1970, the original engine was replaced with a Cosworth FVA engine. Neves used it in three races that year to earn a DNF and two 3rds.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2018