1/12 Nichimo Lotus Europa Special Kit Collectors Guide

This is the 25th installment in a growing series of guides created to assist Collectors and Hobbyists of "Big Scale" Automotive and Motorcycle plastic model kits. Most of the kits featured are Vintage, many are out of production, and most are the earliest examples. I've collected and built kits since the 1960's, and have gained much knowledge about these "Big Plastic" kits. Most of the information contained in this guide is not available in any other forum (that I am aware of). Emphasis is always on Identification, Kit History, Features, ect. Less information is provided on the actual building of the kit due to rarity. Feel free to email with additional information, corrections, or comments.

** The Original c.1970's 1/12 Nichimo Sports Car Series Kit #1, Lotus Europa Special (Motorized) **

IDENTIFICATION; An original example of this Motorized first release kit from Nichimo is very rare today. In fact, any version of this kit has always been relatively scarce. This kit and it's 2 later releases were the only 1/12th Big Scale kits ever produced by Nichimo. If you look at the photo above, you will see that the description on the top/front of the box includes "MOTORIZED!!". If you see this box, it's the first, and only motorized kit. A second issue kit looks very similar, but will have a small Green box of text that states "Display Kit" and "Special Edition". The 3rd, and last release visually differs from the first two kits and is a "Display" (non-motorized) kit. Many times you will see the last release kit described as a "Wing" kit. See photos below; 

1st Issue                                      2nd Issue                                      3rd Issue 

All three kits used the same molds and parts, but an original kit is motorized, and the last "Wing" kit added an additional decal sheet with competition graphics and an additional parts tree with the rear Wing type spoiler. The original issue kit has a box with text primarily in Japanese. There is no kit number, but there is a price of 4,000 Yen printed on the side of the box. Opening the kit, you find well packaged contents. There are two well llustrated instruction booklets. One is written in Japanese, and one is written in English. The instructions for an original issue are the only ones that have a build sequence for the electrics and motorization. See photos below of the parts contents below;

The body molding and chassis tub are bagged in a separate cardboard insert within the box. The parts blister card contains 5 Rubber Tires (Dunlops), Mabuchi RE 26 Motor, Gearbox, 4 Tubes of Glue, Tweezers, and assorted Hardware. The parts blister is a large one, and unique to this original issue. The Decal Sheet is very large and contains Gold Pinstripes and Logos for the JPS Special Edition. There are also assorted competition related contingency decals. Beware of degraded or damaged decals. NO ONE makes replacements. The kit has well over 300 parts, with parts molded in White, Black, Chrome, Gray, and Clear. There is also Vinyl tubing for Wires, and Rubber Hose for the cooling system. The kit is loaded with features. The Hood, Doors, and Trunk open. The steering works through the Steering Wheel with functioning Rack-In-Pinion. All 4 suspension points operate through scale working Coil Over Shocks with metal springs. Nichimo even included a real Rubber Dunlop spare tire. As for the electrics, the Mabuchi electric motor and gearbox build-up inside the Lotus 4 cylinder engine. The rear wheels are driven in a scale manner via scale half shafts and universal joints. The On/Off switch is hidden under the Drivers Seat (left hand drive). You have to cut-out a plug in the floorpan for the switch knob to protrude out of the bottom of the car. This means if you don't want the non-scale switch, there won't be an empty hole to fill. The battery box sits (without glue) in the rear trunk, and did not sacrifice any scale aspects if it is left out. All things considered, Nichimo hid the electrics as well as anyone could. My personal opinion is that these vintage motorized kits are the most collectable. Motorization added another dimension to the build that was lost to the bean counters on later more modern kits. "It's a nostalgia thing man!" All things considered, this is a classic kit. It's very rare. The subject car is rare and the Nichimo kit(s) were the only Lotus Europa's ever produced in 1/12th "Big Scale". The kit is well made with high quality parts and a very high parts count. It is also the only 1/12 Automotive kit Nichimo ever made. Prices for an original kit are impossible to estimate due to rarity. A 3rd issue "Wing" kit is easily found in the Vintage kit market in the $100.00 range. A definite keeper for the collection.

       ** 1/12 Nichimo Lotus Europa Special (Motorized) Kit History **

Nichimo was always known for their high quality Automotive kits in 1/25th and 1/16th scale. When they released this huge 1/12th scale Lotus kit, it was their first in this scale. In the 1970's, kits of road going Sports Cars in 1/12th scale were the sole domain of Otaki. If you took Nichimo's name off this kit's box, and replaced it with Otaki, This Lotus Europa Special kit would have fit right in with Otaki's lineup in the 70's. Very similar packaging and quality. Maybe even a little better. My guess is that Nichimo had the same problem Otaki did, ie; Too many features that drove the kit's price beyond what the market would bear. Add to that, the fact that a Lotus Europa Special was a car that most normal human beings had never seen, and you get a kit that did'nt sell. I used to see a White Lotus Europa parked in my neighborhood as a kid, but never saw it run (Lucas Ignition?). Even though I saw it, and thought it looked awkward, I never did know what kind of car it was. Today, the car is no longer parked there, but there is still a very large oil spot..... Nichimo re-issued the kit twice, both times as a Static Display Only kit without the costly motorization parts. The cost was still high, but less so. Bear in mind that this was a very high quality kit with a very high parts count. It is highly likely that not many people justified buying one. Hence, it's a really rare kit these days. As a side note, Nichimo never built  another all new 1/12th Scale Automotive kit after they produced the Europa kit. Only Lotus Europa re-issues. Too bad, because Nichimo can make a kit like no-ones business. The Lotus Europa, or Europe, was originally designed in 1964, and a prototype car was built to be the proposed new Ford GT40. The design was submitted to Ford by Colin Chapman, but there was a disagreement over the name. Chapman wanted to call the car a Lotus, and Ford insisted on badging the new car a Ford. Of course, the GT40 design went to Lola instead. Colin Chapman and Lotus were primarily interested in racing, and only sold street cars to finance the race operations. That being said, the rejected Ford design was used as the basis for the world's first mass-produced Mid Engined Sports Car, The Europa, beginning in 1966. This first car was known as the S-1. It was powered by a modified Renault 16 1470cc Four Cylinder Engine of 82 horsepower. The Transmission was a 4 speed manual. In 1968, Lotus produced the S-2 version Europa with several refinements, and it was this version that was Federalized for importation to the United States (with left hand drive and emissions controls). Lotus produced the JPS Limited Edition Black & Gold models to commemorate Lotus' Championships in Formula One Racing for 1972 & 1973. The cars were Black with Gold pinstripes, were each individually numbered, and had special badging. Power was provided by an upgraded Lotus/Ford Twin Cam 4 cylinder engine with special Dual (2) Dell'Orto/Weber Carburators. This new engine produced 126 horsepower. Additionally, an optional Renault 5 speed (type 365) gearbox was made available. A total of 3,130 S-2 Lotus Europa Special's were manufactured, and production ended in 1975. The Nichimo kit in this guide represents a car with the 5 speed transmission. This Nichimo kit also represents a Federalized left hand drive John Player Special Limited Edition from the 1973 model year. Decals are optional to build a regular Europa Special, or a JPS limited edition car.

** Kit Features **

** Fully Motorized with a Mubuchi RE-26 Motor

** (5) Rubber Like Semi Pneumatic Dunlop Tires

** Opening Hood, Trunk, and Doors

** Over 300 Parts Molded In 5 Colors

** Functioning Fully Sprung Suspension

** Operating Steering Via Rack-In-Pinion & Steering Wheel

** Highly Detailed Lotus/Ford DOHC Engine

** Decals For John Player Special Limited Edition

** Pros And Cons **

Pros. The only "Fully Motorized" 1/12th scale Lotus Europa Special kit ever produced. Kit is loaded with features and parts are of a very high quality. Lotus Cars always have the Racing Pedigree, and make great modeling subjects. Electric components (if used) are well hidden and make minimal sacrifice to scale.

Cons. Very rare Vintage Big Scale kit. Locating an unbuilt kit with mint parts is a real challenge. If any parts are deteriorated, damaged, or missing, replacements are next to impossible to replace.

I hope you have found this guide helpful. If so, take a moment to give a vote below. Keep an eye out for more Vintage kit guides in the future. Feel free to email with comments.