theDreamer

Croc is correct in that they all look the same but not everyone thinks they’re big and awkward. I quite like it as it is very distinct among sports cars. I had a fellow come up to me at the cruise last night and tell me how great the car looked. He had followed me into the city and really like the look from all angles. He was especially impressed with the stance. When he told me he’d been driving the Z28 I realized that we had passed each other several times on the four lane section. Croc is not totally correct in that I find it is only a sauna in the really warm months. Early spring, late fall in New Jersey wouldn’t be much different that here in Ontario. The wife and I find it quite comfortable as last night’s drive home in 6° Celsius (43° Fahrenheit) proved. I also love your colours. The photo was taken two years ago at a British car show. We got caught in numerous showers, some very heavy throughout the day.

Greasy fingers smearing snappy co-over (OK so it’s supposed to be shabby clo-othes but at least I didn’t open with; Snot is running down his nose)

Like so many I’ve only ever seen the track via TV or racing photos. I had no idea that it was built up as high as it is along the “new” start/finish, pit lane area. Thank you for letting us mere mortals live vicariously thru your adventures.

This was a strange auction. The seller seemed reluctant to give out much info or engage with bidders. He never did respond to all my questions or direct texts. To recap: No videos at all! No cold start, engine running or car being driven from a any point of view. No photos of the underside, or of the extra parts like the hood, doors etcetera that were to come with the car. No information on any service work done in the past 20 years. No info on disconnected or lose wires as visible in the several posted images. This led me to believe that the car would need a full service including all fluids, (engine, transmission, differential and brake system) belts, (cam and auxiliary) tires and probably some, if not most of the hoses as well as other rubber parts. This car does not have a heater but it does have the extra louvers in the bonnet for the cold air intake heater so it could be added. Even though heat from the engine does filter into the foot wells a heater is an item that people like the wife and I would need to use this car in the colder months. (Which we are experiencing now.) The seller removed the reserve with about 45 minutes to go when the bid was at just $17,500. It ping ponged back and forth with the last bidders doing that “Wait until the last few seconds to bid” dumb a$$ ploy. The car sold for: Hammer price: $26,500 Bidder premium: $1,855 Total sale price: $28,355

Well, I have a used luggage rack coming from Great Britain which should arrive in two days. I bought it so I can avoid doing this ever again.

I love the image of your new to you 7 as seen in the rear view mirror. When I picked up my MV Agusta F3 in 2012 I had the same view every time I looked in the mirror. For nearly four hours I was staring at that gorgeous red upper fairing. I could not help myself from thinking about the opening line of the Richard Thompson song “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”: Oh, says Red Molly to James, That's a fine motorbike… So I called her Red Molly. (I do not know when we started anthropomorphising our possessions but all my guitars and our toys, (both motorcycles and cars) have names.)

I’ve seen the aftermarket Catherham nose cone badges (the ones with a single threaded fastener) used to fill that spot as well as a fastener. (see images) I’ve also seen one where the owner ran the wires thru a hollow thrended fastener that they used to attach the rear plate light with.

Welcome to the addiction. Which engine?

Nice route! We have nothing like that in southern Ontario.

This is what the removable hoop bracket looks like.

Actually that is a very useful piece of kit. I’ve see people remove the spare tire to use it to carry other items like a large water tight suit case, a picnic basket and even fuel jugs. I suggest if you believe you’ll never ever need it then do as others have done and saw it off flush with the rear panel. As for the large plate and light, cut the tubes off a couple of inches from the plate bracket. Then find (or machine) a bar that is about 3 to 4 inches long that will slip into the tubes on both the car and the plate bracket. Have the bars welded into the bracket tube ends. Then slip the other ends into the open ends of the tubes on the car. Drill through the tubes and the bar so you can fit a hitch pin clip through the parts to hold them in place. This will give you your plate bracket, wiring and light but without the large gap from the missing spare. But save the off cuts! If at some point you wish to return it to use for a spare tire (or other items) just make two more inserts for the off cut tube bits. Have these welded into one of the open ends of each off cut tube. Slide them into the tubes on the car and drill the bar using the holes in the existing tubes. Measure the distance from the weld bead around the plate bracket tube bars to the holes in the bars and then mark the open end of the tubes accordingly and drill them as well. Two more hitch pin clips and there you are.

You might try John Watson of the Historic Lotus Registry. He may have info on when the car was ordered or shipped, possibly a few more tidbits. He will ask for the cars chassis number as stamped by the company that made the chassis and the Lotus number which was used as the cars VIN back in the day. It will be stamped on the data plate. Where the chassis number is depends on which company made it. This is the relevant page for your car on HLR site: http://www.lotus7register.co.uk/ser2page.htm Good luck with your search.

@sergio brambillasca This car appears to have been a Caterham racer. I have discovered some interesting things about the cars used during this period. The Caterham Scholarship entry level cars were live axle 1600cc (not 1700) Ford 'Kent' Crossflows with rear-exit exhausts. The spec included a Caterham lightened & balanced flywheel, uprated competition clutch cover and drive plate, Caterham distributor with Ignitor electronic ignition, two twin choke Weber 40 DCOE carburettors with K&N filters. Power was rated at 100 bhp at 6000 rpm. I did not find any info on the transmission used but would expect it to have been the four speed. In 2001 the name changed to the Caterham Academy as too did the cars. The entry level was now the 1.6 K Series Rover in a De Dion chassis. Again, no info on the transmission used. However, I’m sure someone here would know. If you send your VIN and car details to Martin Phipps ( Martin.Phipps@caterham.com) he’ll search out any documents the factory have on your car. At least you’ll know how it left the factory.

Welcome to the asylum hehehe

I looked up the UK plate number and this is what it was: Vehicle make CATERHAM Date of first registration March 1997 Year of manufacture 1996 Cylinder capacity 1600 cc CO₂ emissions Not available Fuel type PETROL Euro status Not available Real Driving Emissions (RDE) Not available Export marker Yes Vehicle status Untaxed Vehicle colour BLACK Vehicle type approval Not available Wheelplan 2 AXLE RIGID BODY Revenue weight Not available Date of last V5C (logbook) issued 26 October 2009