Croc

Worst case is that you leave it at my garage and we sort out recovery later. There is always a plan.

I’m just happy that Yellowss7 has gone on an Alaskan cruise otherwise this spat could turn into a real food fight!

Quite a lot surfaced for sale this week. NEW Lotus 7 S2 http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/lotus/1557321710/1557321710ss.htm Stalker V6SC http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/lotus/1437589044/1437589044ss.htm Stalker XL V8 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/super-seven/2277011.html Caterham https://www.ebay.com/itm/1995-Lotus-Super-Seven-1700-Super-Sprint/362668143672?hash=item5470b4b438:g:R94AAOSwBG1cucXN REPEATS Rotus 7 https://www.wirewheel.com/1994-Rotus-7-for-sale.html Caterham SCCA https://www.wirewheel.com/2001-Caterham-race-car-for-sale.html Caterham SV Hayabusa http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/other/1458694360/1458694360ss.htm Caterham https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/caterham/super-7/2267958.html and here https://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/d/annandale-2001-caterham/6888020198.html Stalker V8 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/2167534.html Caterham SV https://vintageracecarsales.com/portfolio-view/2013-caterham-seven-480/ Caterham SV http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/201216-nos-caterham-sv-roadsport/ Caterham http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/2000-caterham/ Lotus 7 S2 and a Lotus 7 S4 Project http://taylormadeclassiccars.com/vehiclesforsale.html Super Seven Sportscar (Fejer) http://sodo-moto.com/listings/super-seven-2tg/ Birkin http://sodo-moto.com/listings/1991-birkin-seven/ Birkin http://sodo-moto.com/listings/1990-birkin-seven-so-cal/ and here https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/d/fullerton-1990-birkin-super-seven-lotus/6905895104.html Caterham https://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-Lotus-Super-Seven-Caterham/254230446412?hash=item3b3150c14c:g:lscAAOSwYMlc2aVp Rotus 7 https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Lotus-Super-Seven/273877263638?hash=item3fc45b6516:g:Pb4AAOSwTEpcrjgh Lotus 7 S1 https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1065332/1958-lotus-seven-for-sale-in-stratford-connecticut-06615 Caterham https://providence.craigslist.org/cto/d/barrington-1989-lotus-caterham-super/6898592517.html Birkin https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/d/petaluma-lotus/6894895589.html Replica https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/d/hollywood-lotus-7-replica/6902046756.html Blakely 7 https://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/d/miami-blakely-lotus-antique/6904149976.html Stalker https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/d/littleton-1959-lotus-super-seven/6895453482.html CANADA Caterham https://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camions/sherbrooke-qc/caterham-super-7-sylver-jubilee-1982/1410777802?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Birkin https://www.kijiji.ca/v-voiture-collection/laval-rive-nord/rare-birkin-s3-2002-lotus-super-7/1436724607?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Replica project https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/delta-surrey-langley/1976-lotus-super7-kit-replica/1437955743?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Wolf 7 https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/mississauga-peel-region/1992-wolf-racing-lotus-super-7/1436702029?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true MCC 7 Project https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/mississauga-peel-region/the-last-mcc-7/1432118799?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Westfield https://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camions/laval-rive-nord/2016-autre-autre-cabriolet/1436824430?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

No not really. I am used to those having a panic realization on the first day that they have out of date belts, out of date helmet, worn bearings, etc and failed tech. Phone calls at 2pm the day before asking me to find a hotel room - oh and it has to be cheap. Trust me, after so many years doing this I have seen it all with ill prepared participants. You have a whole month to procrastinate yet. Plenty of opportunity to improve!!!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Have you ever completed a full lap without spinning? Hypothetically.... :jester:

Sense? Hello? Bob talks to a stuffed duck and Pee Wee Herman and drives a seven! Sounds like a particularly right blend of crazy to me...

Should be room. CSL is at the engine builder in North Carolina. Ferrari will be sent to Wil's for its long planned repaint and more fettling. Range Rover is headed to Vermont. Blue Holden is still over at TJ's. Just leaves Cossie, Caterham, Torana and Mustang behind.

I swapped emails with him two weeks back on a few things. All was good based on that exchange.

Updated list for this week. NEW Wharton 7 https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/d/hollywood-lotus-7-replica/6902046756.html REPEATS Lotus 7 S4 https://www.wirewheel.com/1974-Lotus-Seven-S4-for-sale.html Rotus 7 https://www.wirewheel.com/1994-Rotus-7-for-sale.html Caterham SCCA https://www.wirewheel.com/2001-Caterham-race-car-for-sale.html Caterham https://www.wirewheel.com/2014-Caterham-Seven-for-sale.html Caterham SV Hayabusa http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/other/1458694360/1458694360ss.htm Caterham SV https://vintageracecarsales.com/portfolio-view/2013-caterham-seven-480/ Lotus 7 S2 and Lotus 7 S4 Project http://taylormadeclassiccars.com/vehiclesforsale.html Super Seven Sportscar (Fejer) http://sodo-moto.com/listings/super-seven-2tg/ Birkin http://sodo-moto.com/listings/1991-birkin-seven/ Birkin http://sodo-moto.com/listings/1990-birkin-seven-so-cal/ and here https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/d/fullerton-1990-birkin-super-seven-lotus/6891963985.html Caterham SV http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/201216-nos-caterham-sv-roadsport/ Caterham http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/2000-caterham/ Caterham https://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-Lotus-Super-Seven-Caterham/254230446412?hash=item3b3150c14c:g:lscAAOSwYMlc2aVp Birkin https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Lotus-Super-Seven/223532240562?hash=item340b8f4eb2:g:lAsAAOSwWM1c2338 Caterham https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/caterham/super-7/2267958.html and here https://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/d/annandale-2001-caterham/6888020198.html Stalker https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/2167534.html Lotus 7 S1 https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1065332/1958-lotus-seven-for-sale-in-stratford-connecticut-06615 Caterham https://providence.craigslist.org/cto/d/barrington-1989-lotus-caterham-super/6898592517.html Birkin https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/d/petaluma-lotus/6894895589.html Stalker https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/d/littleton-1959-lotus-super-seven/6895453482.html CANADA Caterham https://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camions/sherbrooke-qc/caterham-super-7-sylver-jubilee-1982/1410777802?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true BIrkin https://www.kijiji.ca/v-voiture-collection/laval-rive-nord/rare-birkin-s3-2002-lotus-super-7/1436724607?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Replica project https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/delta-surrey-langley/1976-lotus-super7-kit-replica/1437955743?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Wolf 7 https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/mississauga-peel-region/1992-wolf-racing-lotus-super-7/1436702029?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true MCC 7 Project https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/mississauga-peel-region/the-last-mcc-7/1432118799?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Rotus 7 https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Lotus-Super-Seven/273867745636?hash=item3fc3ca2964:g:Pb4AAOSwTEpcrjgh

I just checked the site to see who registered. So far we have: 1. Tom G 2. Me 3. Tom C (Mr. Birkin USA) 4. Graham (Fast G) 5. Blake 6. Scott L (915n14 or something like that) 7. Mike M. (Kitcat) Who needs help registering? Seb with his Swedish nanny? Steve? Jay? Paul? Will anyone need storage? Need to shuffle a few cars out to create room. I have blown up a few lately so time for them to be fixed anyway.

The Datsun A series engine was actually derived from the 1960s BMC A series that used to be in minis and a whole host of British period classics. Datsun bought it under license. I had an A15 in a Nissan Pulsar that I had early on in my driving life. Perfectly functional, reliable but not particularly powerful or refined. I seem to recall over about 80-90 flywheel HP in its standard form. The car for sale seems to have some trickery in its engine so it may have added some ponies. Equivalent to a hot crossflow engine possibly? Plenty of go in that package given the lightness of the car. The deal with that Birkin for auction is you buy it, clean up the body, and fix its flaws. Cheap way to get a nice Birkin given its current pricing.

The item you quoted me on was an auction that has now ended and is relisted here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/223532240562?ViewItem=&vxp=mtr&item=223532240562 Compare photos - dull patinated bare aluminum body with a black nose cone. Same car just re-listed. So lets parse the ad text... "LOTUS 7 REPLICA, BIRKIN S2" Located second line of title under 1967 Lotus Super Seven Then if you scroll down to the detailed ad text then we get: "2005 Assembled Vehicle (Birkin S2) VIN AE9B1RK1NW1AB1045" Rotus is not mentioned in that ad at all. Seller knows he has a Birkin. Then we have this ad https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Lotus-Super-Seven/273867745636?hash=item3fc3ca2964:g:Pb4AAOSwTEpcrjgh Its clearly a red Rotus that also happens to be titled as a 1967 Lotus Seven. So we clearly have two separate car ads with the same title and neither of them are 1967 Lotus Sevens either. Vovchandr has very helpfully explained what happened with his annotated picture. Ebay admittedly do make it a confusing page layout immediately after an auction has ended but I cannot control that. Anyway, I don't mind - buy one of them! Do you like dull aluminum metal finish or the shiny red?

Congratulations Andy. Given you now have a K series engined seven you will probably want to access the technical resources of Blatchat website with the Lotus 7 Club of UK. The only other K series engined Caterham around on this forum is owned by Tom (Yellowss7) so he will be a huge engine resource too. Otherwise everything else is within reach in the USA. Good luck trailering it home - the weather has been atrocious all over the country this last couple of weeks. How far do you have to drive? Kitcat - I think you are thinking of the wrong car Mike. This was not the Bringatrailer auction car.

No I thought that was passe - a bit old generation. So I settled for elegant pirouettes executed with panache. :cooldude:

And courtesy of Simon450 on this forum who checked on this with Caterham UK this morning, they recommend replacing the A frame and radius arms each year if you do a lot of track work. For the record my 420R has 3000 track miles on it since built March 2018.

Breezy - Just for clarity, the articles you link are for the de Dion tube. While this had a bad batch series of failures a little while back, it is not the A frame part that failed for me. The A frame bolts up to the de Dion tube but is not the same part. John - I am still thinking. A stronger part will negatively alter the handling characteristics since the part needs to actively flex (unlike the de Dion) - so I don't want this. A standard part has gone back in for now while I work out the real risk. Just because one group of people have witnessed a relatively common failure does not mean it is representative. I don't know anyone in the US or on this forum that has had this problem (other than very early live axle Cats). While I am still working through the technical forum at Blatchat, it seems it is present but low level. So this gets me to the BaT guys experience being somewhat unrepresentative because they see cars driven very hard all the time on track. So that logically leads to this is more an issue for those with certain driving patterns - track work, slicks/wide wheels, rough roads, spins/off track excursions, etc. If so then making it a more frequent inspection item is a suitable response as a failure takes time for metal fatigue to occur. This only affects my UK 420R as the US CSR is IRS and does not have an A frame (or deDion).

Like his owner, the stuffed shirt? :seeya:

Andy - its a stock 420R SV. Stock bushings from the factory. No modifications from standard that would otherwise stress out the suspension. Standard Avon ZZS 13 inch tires/Caterham wheels. A critical piece of the fact pattern was from discussing with the Bookatrack mechanics what the failure rate is on these A frames. They called it relatively common - they keep spares in the truck for replacement. More common on race cars with slicks. They had a few there waiting for people like me to come along. They were scathing of the A frame part - called it poor quality. I tend to agree having studied it closely for the first time and seen the thickness of the tube and how flimsy the powder coating was. A failure at normal driving speeds, normal conditions would likely not give rise to any issues. You could drive slowly home like I managed to drive back to the pits in my example. But because these are performance cars, it is not always guaranteed the A frame will fail at low speeds in a controllable way. The driveshaft bearing destruction was unusual - the mechanics had not seen that before. I suspect it was because of the way the suspension was loaded when it failed.

The crack definitely started off weld - almost opposite it. At the weld point it was all fresh metal fracture. So I and the professional mechanics present believe the weld was not a contributing factor - tube failed not weld. There was a minute touch of corrosion at the point of fail too. Agree with you on the drivershaft - that would be horrific for damage potential.

Hillman! LMAO!

Nice car Bob! Good luck with the sale!

This is the original part in case you wanted to know what it looks like https://caterhamparts.co.uk/61-a-frames

The cause was likely a rock had impacted the A frame at some point in its past (March 2018 kit build). There was evidence of fresh steel in the fracture except for 5% of the fracture. This would have been evident as a dent or abrasion of the powder coating under close inspection and then over time as the metal flexes it gives rise to fatigue and fracture. Given the pathetic state of our roads and/or frequency of off track excursions (e.g. by spinmeisters Simon and Mike amongst others), it’s not unreasonable to think someone else may experience this. I was surprised to understand how much twisting force is transmitted through to this A frame tubing. It’s a cheaply constructed part with thin wall tubing. Consider inspecting this as part of your winter mechanical inspection/service exercise. Did not stop me from enjoying the day - held me off track for 2 hours then back on. Needed an underwear change though....

This is applicable to S3 and S5 Caterhams’ with de dion suspension. The A frame is a triangular construction of powdered coated tubular steel than anchors the de dion tube and rear axle to prevent lateral movement of rear suspension. I discovered yesterday that these are under more load from torsion forces than I originally appreciated, and that it is not uncommon that they break, when under load. Yesterday at Croft Circuit, 4th gear, 100mph, going through the first left kink on the back straight, mine broke. Freshly repaved circuit, so no bumps and no warning. When it snapped, it strongly stepped out right ending up as a lurid drift. At the same time, the driveshaft hub popped off the driveshaft producing a sound like trying to mistime changing gears without a clutch and which did not go away when you push the clutch in. At this point my steering corrections forced the hub back on the driveshaft thereby shredding the three peg hub and all its springs and bearings within the hub. After stopping to check, I could drive slowly back to the pits with an unusual level of rear steer waywardness.

Oh I feel this car problem - I just went through this with the Fiat ignition locks and am still sorting out the door locks at great frustration. If you know the car it comes from then you can usually save some cash by searching for the model but your photo escapes me. My Caterham ignition lock is from a Rover Metro but yours is something else? It will undoubtedly be some dignified piece of British automotive shit as a well deserved donor. I echo Tom’s comments earlier on this thread. You can usually have your parts from Caterham UK (or Redline) in less than a week to your door. It’s usually the quickest for sourcing parts of any make of my cars.