jimj wrote:Even if it was free, the cost of getting it up to any sort of acceptable, useable, state would cost more than its, then, value. Only buy it if you want the (expensive) fun of doing it.
Jim
Agree. As noted, the cosmetics (particularly paint) run very high. Of course, you don't have to spend that money -- my Europa has been in my possession for quite some time needing new paint and hasn't gotten it yet. The reason is that a pro job plus what I have in the car hasn't been returned by S2 selling prices. But that may change.
The engine itself, if redeemable (most are, and this has likely been sitting long enough that it is not high mileage to begin with), is 6-7k by itself because it's a Weber head. Unlike your Triumphs, you are best leaving head work to professionals, otherwise the car (like all period Loti) is readily DIY, with important bits available. Certain cosmetic bits test this, but they're important only for the concours set.
Many of the wear parts (uprights, calipers, discs, rod-ends) are Triumph, so the good suppliers you're familiar with will be an asset for inexpensive replacements.
As longtime member (and I miss his posts!) Gary Anderson illustrated, (see archives for Sow's Ear), you don't have to have a fortune to restore these while still avoiding being a DPO. You just have to be resourceful.
If your wallet permits, you will save money by buying a good runner over a project like this. Although they have been popping, Plus 2's (and Europas) do not enjoy the current market values of the original Elan. Which is why they are frequently poached for engines and an opportunity to start with a mostly complete project like this is getting rarer.
If you have the time, this will be a rewarding endeavor. As noted already, there is no Triumph that compares. This is coming from someone whose first car was a '69 Spitfire on which I had thorough experience and which I loved dearly. The similarities end at the shared bits; Chapman was a genius and any of the period cars outshine the higher-volume competition.
FYI the only bonded-chassis production Lotus was the S1 Europa. And its chassis is replaceable, it's just a whole lot more work.