Wanted: Lotus or Caterham pre 1980

[rubo]

Hi all

I'm looking for an ORIGINAL Lotus Seven S2 or S3.
Preferbly with the original engine and frame.
I'm looking for something that is possible to drive on public roads (so not something with an insane racing close-ratio-gearbox etc.)
I don't mind if its a project or if the car needs the finisihing touch. It does not need to be a perfect show-car.
My pricerange is something about up to 30K$ for the right Lotus-car.

As an alternative I'm also interested in a Caterham but it must have been build and registered before 1980-1982 (I live in Denmark, and we have some very strickt rules when it comes to registration of these types of cars)
Pricerange here is something less than 25K$ for the right Caterham-car.

Let me know if you guys know of anything or got something in your garage;)

Best regards
Rune

[Ian7]

Hi
You might also try www.simplesevens.org for authentic 7's
good luck

[11Budlite]

Hi Rune,

Besides the SimpleSeven site that Ian mentioned, here's a few of the places I check for Lotus/Caterham Seven's for sale:

http://forsale.classicandperformancecar.com/results.aspx?v=l&p=1&ma=24

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/29/

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/lotus

http://www.uksportscars.com/

http://lotusowners.com/forsale.htm

http://www.prewarcar.com/pre1966/postwar_searchresults.asp?make=Lotus

http://www.mikeabbasclassiccars.co.uk/cars_for_sale%20PAGE%203.htm

http://www.millwood-mc.com/used.html

http://www.paulmattysportscars.co.uk/home.aspx

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/

http://www.sevenselans.com/carsforsale.htm

http://www.sussexsportscars.co.uk/

http://www.woodcotesportscars.com/default.asp

They don't always have Seven's for sale, but I check back occasionally for new listings.

[rubo]

Hi Bruce and IAN7

Thanks to both of you for the links.

I'm looking at roughly 10 different pages every day to spot new 7's on the market, and among your links there were a few pages that I didn't know.

Thanks for your help:)

Best regards
Rune

[Ian7]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C85730/

brutally expensive, but desirable if you have the means.... :-)

[rubo]

@ IAN

Yeah I've looked on that too..but way to expensive considering the unoriginality:eek: (at least for me..)

But thanks for the notification:)

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

http://66.163.168.225/babelfish/translate_url_content?.intl=us&lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.technicalshophappy.com%2fsa le%2f032s7.html

Here's a 79 caterham...and has a twincam for 1,800,000 Yen (about $18000 which seems like a heck of a deal)

[rubo]

@ dingo..

Thanks a lot! Will deffently look into that!:D

Since you found this one I was wondering if you have any good japanese car-sale sides?

Best regards
Rune

[11Budlite]

Rune - how about this one? They even have a guide you can download on importing from Japan: http://www.terra2imports.ca/caterham/

[rubo]

Hi Bruce

Thanks a lot!

Looks like the japanese prices are a little more reasonable than the US and the European countries.

Best Regards
Rune

[rubo]

http://66.163.168.225/babelfish/translate_url_content?.intl=us&lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.technicalshophappy.com%2fsa le%2f032s7.html (http://66.163.168.225/babelfish/translate_url_content?.intl=us&lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.technicalshophappy.com%2fsa le%2f032s7.html)

Here's a 79 caterham...and has a twincam for 1,800,000 Yen (about $18000 which seems like a heck of a deal)

Anyone that can find the contact information of the company on the page?:confused:
My computer is messing the googletranslation and the japanese completely up:P

Has anyone found it?:)

Best regards
Rune

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

TEL: 03-3657-2260 FAX: 03-3657-2954 - Not sure if this will help. You can always try calling and see what happens.

I cant seem to find an e-mail though. Looks like they're located in Tokyo and open 10AM to 7PM (closed thursday) according to the translator.

[rubo]

TEL: 03-3657-2260 FAX: 03-3657-2954 - Not sure if this will help. You can always try calling and see what happens.

I cant seem to find an e-mail though. Looks like they're located in Tokyo and open 10AM to 7PM (closed thursday) according to the translator.

Thanks a lot for the help:) I might give them a call later this week.

/Rune

[rubo]

FOUND:D

Not searching anymore...Yesterday i bought and drove home (200 miles) in my new Seven!:D Awesome feeling!

After about 1 years intensive search I found a pretty original Seven S3, it does have a Caterham-chassis though, with the original engine.
Looking forward to the summer, and when I've fixed the small problems I think it'll be a great car!

Thanks for all you guys help!:)

/rune

[MHKflyer52]

Congratulations.

Post some photos when you have the time as a lot of the folks would and do like seeing other cars

[rubo]

@ Martin

Thank you:)

I sure will! I too enjoy seeing different cars

When I get down into the car I might also have some questions for all you guys:)

[slngsht]

FOUND:D

Not searching anymore...Yesterday i bought and drove home (200 miles) in my new Seven!:D Awesome feeling!

After about 1 years intensive search I found a pretty original Seven S3, it does have a Caterham-chassis though, with the original engine.
Looking forward to the summer, and when I've fixed the small problems I think it'll be a great car!

Thanks for all you guys help!:)

/rune
Congrats!

[11Budlite]

Post some photos when you have the time as a lot of the folks would and do like seeing other cars

I agree with Martin.

Congrats Rune!

[rubo]

Thanks a lot guys!:)

I have the pictures and add from the dealer. Located on the link below

http://mmdb.dk/british-open.dk/index.php?id=2049 (http://mmdb.dk/british-open.dk/index.php?id=2049)

Looking forward to get started on fixing the relative small problems.
It has an oilpressure when it idles around 20 (i think the unit is foot per squareinch but sure)..and 40 when its doing 60 mph..it seem a little bit low? but is that normal for the S3 with the 1600 crossflow engine or?:confused:

/rune

[slngsht]

if you are seeing those oil pressures in PSI when the engine is warm, I don't think they seem that low.

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

That's about right. You only need about 25 psi under load in a crossflow.

Those gauges are likely not the most accurate anymore either. Just make sure you're not dipping under cornering/acceleration/braking. Mine has a bad tendency if the oil is less than full to suck air on hard right handers

[Kitcat]

Once warm, my 1700 cc Crossflow hits single digits at idle, maxes out at abt 35 psi at 3K rpm and above. No problems with the engine thus far at about 24K miles. That includes many hard miles of track day use.

Is the oil pressure gauge accurate? Good question.

[sparecr]

Not low. We like to use the rule 10psi per 1000rpm on most of our engines.

[rubo]

Alright good to know!

Again thanks a lot for the help!:D

As always fast and helpfull!

I will just keep "cruising" or whatever it is that you call driving a Lotus on the road:P;):D

/rune

[Al Navarro]

The "proper" (what the UK owners use) term is "blatting" . Notice my use of quotes in the first part of that sentence.

[rubo]

Haha blattering it is;)

Now that I have opened the questions, I'm quite sure it needs new frontdampers.
Considering also replacing the rearsuspension..

Here comes the million dollar question..

What suspension stiffness should I choose?..as it is now (the original SPAX) the rear suspension is quite soft (the front suspension also SPAX is almost gone). I'm not planning to take the Seven to the racetrack so I'm not looking for something raceproven, but then again tighter than the original..something in between.
I don't need to be able to ajust the stiffness.

What type do you guys have on your Sevens? And what would you recomend?
Different spring-stifness on front and rear?

/rune

[scannon]

The "proper" (what the UK owners use) term is "blatting" . Notice my use of quotes in the first part of that sentence.
I've heard the proper usage is to go for a Blat. Hence my license plate. :D

[rubo]

Hi all again

Now i've owned the Seven for 7 (not kidding) weeks, and its just a BLAST!:D love to drive it.

I promised you guys some pictures..so here we go!:D

[MHKflyer52]

Nice 7 you have their Rubo, what year is it, what engine do you have and so forth as most of the members of this forum are most likely asking the same questions and woundering also whos MGA is that sitting next to your 7.
Have fun and enjoy your 7 and post some more photos when you have the time.
I see you have posted some photos in the Members Rides section...looking good.

[rubo]

Nice 7 you have their Rubo, what year is it, what engine do you have and so forth as most of the members of this forum are most likely asking the same questions and woundering also whos MGA is that sitting next to your 7.
Have fun and enjoy your 7 and post some more photos when you have the time.
I see you have posted some photos in the Members Rides section...looking good.

Hi MHKflyer

Thanks a lot!:)

As you probably have seen also, I posted a Thread were all the information you asked about are mentioned( http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4096 (http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4096) )

I realised there was such a "Members rides" after I had posted the pictures in this thread.
But a orginal 1969 S3, original 1600 x-flow engine

The MG A next to my Seven, is my dads. I still live home, so I can borrow the garage. He actually got it just about a year ago, bought it in California, and got it shipped to Denmark, were we live. The MG is also a great car, but not nearly as ultimate and raw as the Lotus:)

/rune