Club Lotus to Bring 60 Years of Lotus Europa to Concours of Elegance 2026
For 2026, the Concours of Elegance is thrilled to welcome Club Lotus, the oldest and largest Lotus club in the world. The Club will mark the 60th anniversary of the iconic Lotus Europa with a special, carefully curated display, offering guests a rare opportunity to see this groundbreaking model gathered in one place.
Founded in 1956 by Colin Chapman, Club Lotus has spent seven decades championing the engineering ingenuity and racing spirit that define the Lotus marque. In 2026, as the Club itself marks its 70th anniversary, it will bring to the Concours a carefully curated display of Europas, offering a rare opportunity to see this groundbreaking model gathered in such numbers.
When the Europa was unveiled in 1966, it represented a bold step forward for the sports car world. It became the first mid-engined Lotus road car and just the fourth production road car ever to adopt this race-bred configuration.
At a time when many rivals still relied on cart springs, drum brakes, and aging engine designs, Lotus was redefining expectations. The earlier Elan had already introduced all-round independent suspension, disc brakes, and a lively twin-cam engine to a wider audience. The Europa advanced this philosophy further still, placing the engine behind the driver to deliver balance, agility, and handling purity directly inspired by Chapman’s Grand Prix success.
Lightweight, innovative, and unmistakably Lotus, the Europa encapsulated the brand’s ethos: simplify, add lightness, and let engineering excellence speak for itself.
Today, the Europa is a rare sight on the road. Club Lotus’ display at Concours of Elegance 2026 will feature a diverse selection of examples, celebrating the model’s evolution and its enduring appeal among collectors and enthusiasts.
Each car will stand as a testament to Lotus’ fearless innovation during the 1960s, when the company was reshaping both motorsport and road car design.
The display also forms part of Club Lotus’ own 70th anniversary celebrations, with the club’s presence at Concours of Elegance 2026 celebrating both the Europa and Lotus’ extraordinary contribution to automotive engineering.
This display is just one highlight of what promises to be a truly memorable Concours of Elegance 2026, set against the stunning backdrop of Hampton Court Palace. Keep an eye out for more class and feature announcements in the coming months as we count down to September’s showcase of the finest cars in the world.