Bruce K

Johnv - I am suddenly unable to view only the last post on each forum page. I did not change any settings - what gives? Also, I couldn't PM you.

All cleared!

Sorry, John - I was not aware of that restriction.

To all - the following Super Seven was repaired by a friend of mine, who is now selling it for a friend of his. The car is listed on Hemmings. Following is the ad. Note that the price is negotiable. MANY additional images available: https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/super-seven/2605195.html

Perhaps, but if you know your bid is market price, and you want to end the process immediately, a 5 figure bid increase is certainly one way to do it. The only risk is that the buyers circling around do not know, or are unwilling to spend, market price. In that case, you could end up paying more than needed. However, with the universe of sophisticated bidders surrounding BAT now, I am not seeing this happen any more. When it's my money, however, I endure the time and tension required to win via incremental bids - but I'm old-school, and I know it.

I don't believe those bidders were defying logic. There are many Atom models, each numerically higher model worth more than the preceding. An older Atom 2 with low miles just sold for $56K on BAT, which is about market value for several years now. Two weeks prior, an Atom 3 sold for $72K, but again, that was market. Look at the following BAT sales from several years ago: Recall that an Atom 3 Turbo compares favorably to a Caterham 620R, their top model. New, a 620R will set you back about $90K depending on options. I tried to buy a lightly used one a year ago, and couldn't drive the price lower than $85K. The BAC Mono has proven similarly resistant to depreciation. I am not disagreeing that used cars have increased in value - only that some cars, particularly the ultimate lightweights, have retained value well for years now. 2016 Ariel Atom 3S Turbo Sold for $76,100 on 2/19/21 846-Mile 2016 Ariel Atom 3S Sold for $79,000 on 9/2/20 2016 Ariel Atom 3S Sold for $72,000 on 6/30/20

There are a few issues with the Blue Stalker, including the intensely raked windshield, which Scott has redesigned in cars built since about 2018 (see my previous post on this issue). I also dislike the appearance of the modern light array, although it has the benefit of incorporating downforce canards. In defense of the car, however, I spoke with Mike from NY back around 2017. He was the original owner, and the person who specced this car. As Anaximander noted in a prior post, Mike elaborately optioned this vehicle. The heavily-upholsted racing/touring seats are not my choice, but if you want comfort and support, they were among the best available at that time, and very expensive. Mike also included every important handling, convenience and performance option, and claimed at the time that his Stalker significantly outperformed his newish Porsche Turbo. We all know that claim to be true only to about 90 or 100 mph, but that range includes almost all ordinary motoring. Mike also ordered costly custom wheels that were, indeed, fabulous in appearance. Without checking again, I do not believe this blue Stalker could be reproduced currently for just $77K, and the purchase would certainly entail a 2 to 6 month wait for construction. For reference, a new, fully optioned Caterham 620R currently costs in the neighborhood of $90K. Remember: The miles on this car are quite low - about demo level. Thus, while at the high end, the $77K selling price can be justified. Also, Anaximander - I did purchase a Simpson neck brace because of your reminder - thanks!

Anaximander - agreed re: Safety. If safety is your primary concern, you do not like autocross or trackdays or sports cars in general, and you are probably not reading this post or anything on this forum. And regarding Sevens in particular, the act of navigating them is akin to maneuvering a superbike equipped with four wheels. No motorcycle is "safe", and Caterhams can at best be described as "safer". Stalkers and Divas rank higher, as safer still. Even Cobras and GT40's are only a rung up the ladder of safety. We are not in this sport because we studied the actuarial tables - we are in this sport because of a shared desire to burn life's candle down to the quick. And for a taste of that, hammer the throttle on an R500 Superlight with lots of runway ahead of you.

Anaximander - thanks for the compliments. However, I am not the party responsible for all the carbon fiber and most of the upgrades. I improved the car, but in ways the judges could not discern, including unmounted canvas doors for fall, a heater install and lowered floorplans. The artist responsible for all that visual impact was the previous owner, Miles Jackson. He installed the CF nose cone, fenders, light bezels, Tillett seats, license plate surround and more. He also deleted the cat and installed the big, bad, polished stainless R500 exhaust. He also installed the inapparent roller throttle bodies and multiple major and minor fettlings of other sorts. The car is so gorgeous, when I first laid eyes on it, I suggested to Miles that, instead of selling it, he should drain the fluids and mount it on a living room wall!

Panamericano - Agreed, and thanks for the compliment. Also (as you noted) high praise for the marque, especially considering the incredible competition. And you were correct regarding presentation. I spent the entire prior afternoon on that little car, wheeling the finish, detailing, vacuuming, removing brake dust from the interior wheel drums and so on, plus an additional hour after we arrived at the concours. But I felt we needed to put our best foot forward, and, in the end, the effort was rewarded.

Anaximander - I agree with all your observations, and thanks for reminding me to purchase a new neck brace for trackdays with my Caterham. However, the issue of windshield frame proximity to passenger heads is still relevant, belts or no. The upper front corners of the Stalker street cage are not supported with upper longitudinal bars on the right and left side - only in the middle. Thus, in an accident, the windshield frame could deform and fold back to meet the heads of occupants. In the new design, there is more than an additional 6 inches of deformation space - something our forum members should be aware of. This issue, plus the beneficial effect the design change had on the profile of the Stalker (more "Se7enesque") were the reasons I focused my personal Stalker search on later models (circa 2018 and up). Also, my Caterham was recently invited to attend a prestigious Concours - and won an award! The story is an endorsement of Caterham design and execution, as well as an endorsement of our chosen genre of sports cars. The saga is provided under "New Topics" on the "Forum" page (hotlink: Caterham wins coveted Concours award . . .).

The 34th annual Eyes on Design Concours was held near Detroit MI on Father's Day, 2022. As has been the case for decades, the event transpired on the vast lawns of the historic Edsel Ford estate in suburban Grosse Pointe Shores. Hundreds of estimable collector cars were exhibited. The Concours theme this year was Built for Speed, and many original Offenhauser-equipped Indy roadsters, Cadillac's new Le Mans hypercar, multiple early and historic NASCARS. dragsters, Paganis, Lambos, McClarens and more were displayed. I exhibited two cars: My Porsche 935 tribute, and my Caterham R400 Superlight with full CF treatment and upgrades to R500 specs. The 935 is admirably authentic, and was the reason for the Selection Committee's invitation, but when they learned of my Caterham, they asked if I could exhibit it, as well. Both my cars were placed in the "Track Toys" category. "Toys" seems an ironicism, as category exhibits included a $2M, 12-cylinder, 7-speed dual clutch Ferrari Barchetta, a new $360K BAK Mono, an original 1980's Lotus Formula One racecar, a suite of BMW Mini "Art Cars" designed by Jeff Koons and more. Because it was the original reason for my attendance, I thought it possible that the 935 might receive some recognition. Imagine my surprise when the "Design of Distinction" ribbon was pinned on the Caterham! Here are images of both cars on the grounds of the Concours. Note the ribbon on the hood of the Cat. My Cat has CF fenders, dash, nose, seats, light bezels and more. The Daytona Blue paint is show quality. Still, given the competition, the award shocked me. After all, my Cat is worth less than the tax due on sale of the Barchetta! In retrospect, with their ribbon, I believe the Awards Committee was recognizing the genius of Chapman's original seventh design, plus the skilled evolutionary engineering that has improved the product for 65 years now:

FYI, Scott instituted a design change since the construction of the captioned Stalker. His windshields are now less raked, making ingress and egress easier and head injuries from accidents more difficult to sustain. Purely from a design perspective, I prefer the newer, more upright windshield, which approximately matches the seatbacks in rake and provides a more authentic Seven profile. In counterpoint, the new rake is probably a bit less aerodynamic. Following is a photo which was provided to me by the blue Stalker's original owner, who resided in New York. I believe his name was Mike, and I almost bought this car from him several years ago. Note the aggressive windshield rake: Following that is an image of a newer Stalker, a 2018 or 2019 build - note the more upright windshield:

Pardon my ignorance, but what does the acronym "GLWA" represent? I checked the internet, and neither "Gay and Lesbian Welfare Association" nor "Great Lakes Wrestling Alliance" are suitable matches. Also, I owned a Cat S3 with 1800 cc Cosworth BDE motor, Quaiffe straight-cut five-speed trans and DeDion rear. It was a track monster that easily held off the newer Zetec cars, and the supercharger-like whine of the straight-cut box was always a hoot. Driving it on the street always seemed a page torn from IMSA logbooks - trips to the party store had me practising my lines. From BlueBDA's informative BAT videos, I'll bet his car provides similar all-around fun.

The Diva is a really attractive roadster - reminds me of an LS-powered, fiberglass version of the Ford-powered Panoz AIV roadster. Personally, however, I am no fan of older automatic transmissions in sports cars. I do enjoy the paddle-shift DCT in my Alfa 4C, and the new 10-speed automatic offered by both Ford and Chevy are brilliant and work very well inside Mustangs and Camaros. But, in general, automatics are heavy, and inconsistent with the Seven ethos.

That video is CRAZY! How do those pilots keep their concentration at such extreme speeds for so long! Really worth the watch.

GregM - a lot to absorb and evaluate regarding your new DSK purchase. I'm reading all these opinions and facts, and you haven't even driven your car a mile yet! Please be sure to provide updates and progress reports - I'm now really curious regarding DSK performance, especially your rotary-powered model.

GregM - I have no insights with which to deny your point about rotary apex seals lasting longer if rotary fuel is pre-mixed with oil, and the idea seems sensible. However, I am interested to know if engine power output suffers due to the oil added to the fuel. Diesel oil has a converted-from-cetane rating of 25 to 30 octane, so I presume that pre-mix oil would be similar, and would therefore lower the overall octane rating of the 93 octane fuel I ran in my RX-7. I also suppose that plugs would have a shortened lifespan. Are there other demerits, like carbon buildup?

I owned a last-gen RX-7 and never once pre-mixed, nor did my dealer advise it. I agree that rotaries do not run as clean as conventional 4-strokes - the oil they bypass clogs the cats too quickly, which is why we have not seen exploitation by manufacturers of their other innate qualities. And the only 2-stroke that has passed Euro standards is the Langen, which is strictly a bike engine. Bear in mind that Euro standards, though nearly equal between bikes and cars, still heavily favor bikes because they are based on grams of emissions per mile, which favors featherweight bikes in comparison to ton-plus cars.

I am a bit confused - how is a Wankel like a 2-cycle? 2-cycles run dirty, and Wankels do not. 2-cycles are also smelly, and in general are not running properly unless they produce visible fumes - both untrue for Wankels. 2-cycles require pre-mixed fuel, and Wankels do not. 2-cycles use excessive fuel, while Wankels are only medium-thirsty. To me, the motors are similar only in their high power-to-weight ratio and use of hydrocarbon fuel. I absolutely agree that a Wankel is a great fit for Seven. Sevens have little mass with which to absorb vibration, and Wankels produce almost none, even at zingy engine speeds of 9 and 10K rpms. Because they produce competitive hp, but are a bit low on torque, the light weight of Sevens provides ideal compensation. it would be great to see a line of Sevens once again, like the Rotus, featuring the Wankel.. The RX-8 motor produces 250 hp and 162 ft/#'s stock and weighs only 210 pounds. A Duratec with less hp will tip the scales at 240 pounds. The Wankel is a great engine choice.

Thanks for the appreciative remarks - anything for a fellow Sevenista! You can use the same technique for a Brunton or nearly any other car. I've used the technique 7 total times, though I have modified it in recent years. Lately, I pay for the appraisal, so I can make the deal on the car. Then, if the car is east of the Mississippi, I hook up my enclosed hauler and drive over to perform a final inspection and pick up the car. The savings on commercial transport usually pays for my road trip, and very often I end up buying other bargain odds and ends to go with the car. Because of the pre-inspections, there have never been any unwonted or unwanted surprises. That's a shame - I didn't realize Idaho was track-unfriendly. Such much beautiful flat land - too bad. Sorry you lost out on the DSK, but now you can concentrate on that Brunton. If you want torque thrills, the Brunton is your baby. I was on the M-59 yesterday with my Alfa 4C, which is a low-weight, high-output 4 cylinder sporter similar in theory to our Sevens. A last-gen ZR1 rolled up next to me and offered challenge. I refused, because I was already doing 85 and also because I did not wish to be shamed.. Good thing - the Vette driver decided to put on a show. When he dropped that hammer, it was instant Saturn V, including the noise. Within about a hundred yards, he'd added 70 mph to my velocity. With the Brunton, you will not reach the same top speeds, or achieve the same top gear acceleration, but between 0 and 100 your two cars will likely be thinly separated, if at all.

Cueball1 - Having purchased cars in via this process before, I would recommend the following: Because we know that DSK's were built with strong chassis and developed suspension, your primary need is to ascertain the condition of the RX-7 driveline components, and then the general cosmetic and mechanical condition of the balance of the car. Therefore, I recommend that you contact a performance or tuning shop specializing in Japanese imports. Ask for a shop with RX-7 experience, which should be easy to find in urbane Phoenix. Vet the shop's credentials. I have always worked with cooperative owners, who took their cars to the shops I hired. That makes things much easier. If that is not a possibility, you will need to work out the details, and find a single skilled tech who will go out and visit your car. Find out the cost to assess a) the specifics of the rotary drivetrain and b) the general mechanical and cosmetic condition of the remainder. For any skilled car mechanic, the rest of the vehicle is basic - does the car start, stop, steer and accelerate properly? do all the instruments work? are the bearings properly adjusted, loose or noisy? condition of the shocks? any corrosion? condition of exhaust? do the brakes pull? condition of pads and rotors? any leaks? condition of windshield? etc. Combine the best couple of lists from the internet and make a checklist. Have your man inspect his specialty - the RX-7 components - and then the balance of the car, combining his acquired mechanical skills and your checklist. Make sure your technician takes pictures of everything - dozens of quality images. Tell him you want his frank appraisal - the hard truth. I bought my 935 Tribute our of Connecticut in this manner, and, using the same technique, avoided a beautiful but mechanically hammered Porsche Turbo out of Florida. I also did the same with the Clabber Girl NASCAR racer out of California and a Backdraft Racing Roadster out of Florida, and these last two turned out to be excellent acquisitions. Just make sure you have all the photos and a completed checklist before deciding. I also request all past maintenance records and any receipts. From all this data, you can an accurate assessment of the vehicle. NOTE: The expert review process has also saved me money - when repairable problems were detected by the mechanic, I used the information to leverage a lower price. AND the reviews never cost me more than two to three hundred dollars each - much less than 2-way airfare and lodging. GOOD LUCK, and let us know what transpires!

W650GB500 - I visited your website, which reads that you have a racing Ferrari 288 GTO for sale. Is that true? If so, that is a big WOW. There were only 5 "Evoluzione" track versions produced, with only 3 of those still in existence. If authentic, that car should be worth millions. I looked for a photo on your site, but could not find one - perhaps you could post some here. I own an authentically-constructed Porsche 935 Tribute, with Stage 3 front and Stage 1 rear clips, and thus am sympathetic to the allure of old-school race cars.

Cueball1 - perhaps you should not give up on that DSK. I have purchased a few sports cars without actually laying eyes on them or driving them. In every significant city, there are appraisers that can be trusted to review cars, and provide expert opinions. This is especially true of major marques like Porsche and Mercedes, but with a little creativity, folks with dependable judgement can be found for Lotus, Triumph, Healey, Caterham and more. In some cases, I obtained my reviewer from repair shops with 5-Star reputations and experience in the marque I was shopping. It's not like the old days, when 15 Polaroids required a big envelope. Now, you can recieve 100 images in a single email, and cost-free communication is instantaneous. In each case, the cost of the appraiser was significantly less than the cost of two-way travel and the incumbent lodging, and this calculation does not include the irreplaceable saved time. A side effect of all this Caterham discussion is a visceral upwelling of lust for the open road behind the Momo of my little blue demon. Anyone else feeling it?

When I said "Caterham's Arch chassis", I was referring to chassis purchased by Cat from the subcontractor Arch. Other than that, your response was very illuminating. I did not know about the switch to the Caged vendor. The history of improvements is a valuable addition to this discussion. And I was happy to learn that I have the penultimate Caged chassis in my 2010 S3 (kit was purchased in 2010 and assembled in 2011 by the NY state Cat dealer)! I, too, have read or heard that today's Cat chassis is 100% stiffer than original Lotus S3. Having owned two earlier, 20th century versions of Cats, I can testify that my current car has a tauter feel. The boulevard ride is still surprisingly accommodating, but my current car does not flex in corners or through potholes like the older models.