rotus8guy

Taking this discussion off of the new member intro thread where it had developed a life of it's own. Several of us have in touch recently with Dennis Hedges, the former shop foreman for Chris Custer at Rotus. Some curiosity about production history, why is Mazda's car, the first built #2, Rob's car second out of the shop labeled #7? And chassis #s go up above 100 with a total run of only 40 something? Other news of interest, the original production jigs and fiberglass molds are at Dennis's shop. He says he has no plan's to use so they can be had. Cheers, John

I just checked my paperwork, mine is chassis #101. First registered in 1995. I think it was the May 1994 Carlise Show that Chris and Dennis used my frame for their display. I just got off the phone with Dennis, he didn't have the paperwork handy, but he said he still had it somewhere and will call me back with the numbers. His recollection is that total production was 40 something and mine was 3rd or 4th to the last. Anybody from our Rotus support group want to go in on the Rotus jigs and production equipment? Cheers, John

Oops, my bad. I just noticed that you already said you have chassis #57. Still leaves open the mystery of how many where made, and where we all fall in the sequence. Cheers, John

WGHRotus, I'm curious what your chassis number is? I know Rob and Mazda have very early cars, and it's difficult to know how many Roti are out there since Chris Custer didn't number them sequentially. Mine is number 151 (I think) and I haven't heard of one produced after that

Havn't been there yet but it's definitely on my to do list. Dad's Mum was from Douglas, so I need to go see the old sod.

Downforce, maybe? But who cares, they look great! Nice idea. jb

Re: Pins The little holes in the latch part of your seatbelt hooks. They take cotter pins to keep the belts from coming off accidentally.

And that was just one guy. You should try JFK when you've got 47 planes on the ground freq, all trying to talk at once Wat a Zoo! John 737-800 Capt Delta AirLines

Rod, I love that shot. Moody, pensive, I've never seen SoCal look so ..... English jb

Distract? Notice this is in Off Topic? I was never a Bush fan, but probably for different reasons than you. Increasingly hostile!? Maybe cause your guy is the target now, did you somehow miss the BushChimpyMcHitler stuff for the last 8 years? Sheesh.......

OK, not to get in a semantics argument, but that's not a panhard rod. The S4 Seven has (on one side or the other, book says right, your photos show left) a triangulated trailing arm. It's not adjustable (as far as I know) so if your tires rub, spacers, and or less wide tires would be your best bet. hth, john

Rob, I'm now in East Point, much easier access Come by any time (I know we both have weird schedules) to measure and contemplate. I'm still waiting to hear from my paint/bodywork guy 'bout the status of my fenders. He was pretty swamped when I dropped them off, due to the hailstorm that had just torn thru the southside. That and a new windshield from Dennis and I'm practically back on the road. Cheers, John

Just to clarify, Chris Custer used Toyota parts where Colin Chapman used English Ford parts, so Rotus is a linguistic joke. The use of Mazda rotaries is an interesting coincidence. They used any motor that would fit. I got to meet and talk with Chris while my frame was being built, so I think I got this right.

Been there, done that! jb

The technique the anonymous TurnFast advocates for heel and toe, ('tho it does actually use the heel and the toe) is one that's more suited to cars with a roomier footbox and wider pedal spacing than a seven. The way I was taught to do it is to brake with the ball of the right foot partly off the right edge of the brake pedal, and roll that foot to the right to blip the throttle. Works best with tightly spaced pedals (like a seven). YMMV Cheers, John

Wow, I am envious. I do think I will have the Rotus on the road this spring. Spent Saturday doing electrical work on the house that will let me use my TIG to finish my radiator brackets. The fenders (wings) are at a body shop to be fixed and resprayed, and I talked to Dennis Hedges about a new windshield. Don't know if I'll make LOG in Birmingham in May, but I'm tryin'

Cantab? Sorry not familiar. I'm a Yank, New York by birth, Atlanta, Georgia resident due to job, but I've found I kinda like it here. Mostly pleasant climate, mountains and ocean not too far away, clubs for a pretty good music scene. John

Wow, beautiful cars, beautiful scenery, and you can watch the Crusaders play Too bad I'm on the opposite side of the planet, or I'd love to join you. Cheers, John

Rob, I think the wire stone guards are worth the effort to mount them (tho' I haven't got mine mounted yet) KAR120C had them, so they are almost required. Tastes are very personnel, but those soft covers, emmm, not my choice. Cheers, John

I'm not in the market for a new seven, getting the Rotus back on the road consumes plenty of my time, but I'm always thinking of new projects. So I'm trying to accumulate data on various sevens. I can find details on locosts easy but Caterham numbers elude me. They publish wheelbase and track but little else. Anybody care to post more info, like frame width, front wheel center to rearmost dash edge, overall frame length, etc. Or a link to a detailed diagram? All to further my plans for World Domination, via a 1200 lb 700hp birdcage Seven Cheers, John

Thanks, I suspected Dick was the go-to guy for a Birkin part, and now I have a contact for him. I didn't realize you were in SoCal, I'm writing this from just down the 110 from you, my room at the Wilshire Grand. Off early tomorrow for JFK. Cheers, John

Gert, She is lovely, good to see you're using her appropriately. I've got another question for you. I'm looking at alternatives for new taillights. my rear fenders need some bodywork, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to fix the ugly pods I grafted onto the fiberglass to keep the Rotus from scraping the wires off the Toyota pickup/Landcruiser taillights it came with. The taillights on your Birkin look pretty sharp. Where can they be sourced? Thanks in advance, John

Rob, Good to see you at it again. Tomorrow I trailer my Rotus from PTC up to the new digs in East Point. I found a great connection for body/upholstery work last week at work, so some of the detail stuff like carpets that I never finished may get done. I need to swap my brake light to a mechanical switch also, could you post a pic of yours? Cheers, John

likewise :cheers: jb

No, sorry I'm from NY 'riginally, been around the ATL for 20 years. My dad was from Chicago, my paternal GF was from Cleveland, beyound that the trail goes to somewhere in the Great White North. jb