Croc

Shane - read post 784...the end of it. I have to admit I misread the image you pasted above. I was expecting something else in the morning for a moment there! :ack:

' True - it was 13 Caterhams. It was 20 sevens of which 13 were Caterham, 2 Birkins, 1 Stalker, 1 Locost, 2 S1s, 1 L7. I admit I am jealous - my garage is not big enough! I only fitted 6 sevens in my garage (one is hiding next to the Holden) I need to expand it to keep up with Bruce! http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/CSR/2015%20Sevens%20Event%20at%20NJMP/21%20IMG_0892_zpsltuzk9lk.jpg

Thats a new seven replica brand I had not heard of before. Rather than hijack someones thread, it would be better for you to publicize your new car with a separate post, details, photos, etc and full contact details as I am sure I am not the only one who has not heard of the Wharton Roadster before. That would give it more prominent viewing than tacked on the end of this thread.

What I have done in that situation since the build plate does not specify a date is to get factory documentation of build date. For a 1975 BMW I had the BMW Classic people issue a certificate of build which was used as import evidence of 25+ years of age along with the VIN chassis plate. The Lotus 7 Club UK will do the same for Caterhams based on the VIN. One trick about Caterham VINs is that the number does contain its build date (at least post 1990). Getting a certificate of this from Caterham or the club would make for a good evidence package for your import. http://www.lotus7.club/guides/frequently-asked-questions/chassis-numbers-what-do-they-mean I have never used a registration document as evidence for a build date. I am sure you could but why wait until then.

Bill's explanation is right. The one variation I will mention is that a build date stamped on the car as an identification date will generally always trump the MSO/MCO documentation. So the best authoritative documentation of build date will always be the chassis plate/stamping for the purposes of calculating the 25 year age. Of course if there is a conflict between the sources then be prepared for an import colonoscopy. For calculating the 25 year, if the build date specifies a year then Jan 1 of the 25th anniversary qualifies as import date. If a month is specified on the chassis plate (e.g. like Australian cars) then you need to wait to the anniversary of that month.

To shut up whiny Xcarguy, here is a Stalker. And its the nicest Stalker I have seen this year. Originally for sale on race-cars.com at something like $4X,000, then had a pass in at Mecum auction, it is now on Fleabay at $29500 or best offer. And there are 20 of you watching the auction and not one of you posted here....so who is shopping for Christmas? I like its color scheme - a nice dark blue with white. The deep dish American Racing Wheels suit it beautifully. It has the 3.8L V6 supercharged. Lots of neat details are obvious that the build looks like a quality one. The photos are fuzzy which is sucky because it stops you from checking out some of those details. And it comes with a nice newish 2006 enclosed trailer. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-Replica-/252206568066?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3ab8aed282:g:NYcAAOSwbdpWaJBT&item=252206568066 To continue keeping the whining from Houston at a minimum (hello Xcarguy...) I have another Stalker. And this is the "nicest ever built" or so the ad tells me. Probably true for TX ones anyway... I like how it is adult owned. Makes a change from the other Stalker owners who are basically toddlers. Its another well done car. It has one of Mario's special hand made nose cone grills. Good details despite the subpar photography. Who makes the wheels on this car? I would not mind a set for the Holden... No reserve auction. Opening bid at $21k with no bids and 1 day 17 hours to run. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Super-Seven-/191755290097?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ca58185f1:g:rXIAAOSwcBhWX1FY&item=191755290097 Barney the Westfield in Tulsa OK is back this week asking $19950 http://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/5326804103.html Dutton B+ project back again. Asking $5500... http://toledo.craigslist.org/cto/5324729906.html 1962 Lotus 7 freshly restored concours winner. Asking $43900 http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/5323168733.html All the Hemmings ads are still live from last week but the Hemmings format means the ads are dated and the cars could be no longer for sale. 1965 Lotus 7. SB 2077 http://classiccars.com/listings/view/751217/1965-lotus-super-seven-for-sale-in-washington-missouri-63090 1972 Lotus 7 S4 at a dealer for $44995 http://classiccars.com/listings/view/731934/1972-lotus-super-seven-for-sale-in-lutz-florida-33559 1969 Lotus 7 Asking $32500 OBO http://classiccars.com/listings/view/715384/1969-lotus-seven-for-sale-in-spokane-washington-99208 And with that I am done for the year. Starting Thursday night I am traveling until Jan 10 which may make it difficult to run the search scripts. SO go hunting yourselves. Wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All!

Its ok Suave, your Daddy says he won't put mistletoe over your head.....until Christmas Eve.... Merry Christmas everyone. May Santa bring you lots of tools, man toys, beer credits, driving skills (Xcarguy), etc. this year. :party:

Ipad? I have never known him to use his finger that way before? And that was my 3000th post - do I get a case of beer, nice bottle of wine or cider, or even a good port as a reward?

Yes completely barmy. Now you know how stupid the governments can be....then again you are from the UK so you have had your fair share too. I think Sean mentioned it above - importation are Federal rules. Registration to drive on the roads are state rules. So using my 2002 Caterham SV as an example, Caterham USA got a nice container shipped to them full of disassembled parts bits and bobs representing a Caterham kit, ready to build. Once the container arrived at the workshop in Denver, they sourced a 2L Zetec and a Ford T-9 gearbox independently of the delivery from Caterham. Then they put it all together. Once complete and working they took it down to the Colorado Department of Moter Vehickles (DMV) and paid their state sales tax, registration fees, were issued a State VIN number (since they did not like the Caterham supplied one) and in Colorado at least were registered as a 1967 Lotus 7 as Colorado at the time had rules that replicas were titled as the year/make/model of the car being replicated. Then it got issued a title (State document demonstrating proof of ownership - is it a V5 in the UK?) and registration (proof of permission to drive that car on the road) documents. And off into the sunset it drives until it found me much later in life.

Trykeman had a win - car was over 25 years old and he states in a post in this thread he was picking his car up which he would not have done had they not cleared him. The digression into the other guy mid-thread is an unknown.

You can read?

In case Paul goes looking for some sketchy reptile, I will save him some time and post a link to the relevant thread posts that are pertinent http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?10365-1999-Birkin-S3-(Last-5-of-build)/page2&highlight=import And despite what Bill (MrMustang) said above, I bet there would be some market for LHD (converted from RHD) sevens if the spec/price were right. I am not sure it would be a big market compared with the UK but there would always be someone who just falls for a particular car.

Hi Jude, Good to see the old girl is going well. Her record for lowest temp driving is 12 degrees. I had to drive it from Jersey City to Morristown NJ for a speciality emissions testing in mid-January 2011. I drove it exactly as you did - side doors but no roof. Luckily no snow and no salt/de-icer on the roads. Geez it hurt from the cold! Stay warm! mike :auto:

I suspected as much with the Duratec but.... Do any of the Ford Ecoboost engines meet this conformity criteria in a nice neat crate emission compliant engine package out of the box?

I read the language of the bill as intended for replicas, licensed or otherwise. The 3 year rule seems to apply where rights are not enforced. So that would cover say Factory Five, possibly Westfield, but not cover Ultralite (since it is not really a replica but an all new design), Atom, etc. Not sure where that leaves Stalkers? Anything a non-replica are plain out of luck. More study needed of the law and its associated regs which we have not seen yet. Also note that while States technically have to respect Federal Law they can frustrate it to the point where is it is irrelevant by the way they implement it in their local registration policies or even freer than intended by the Federal Law. This is only one step in a process.

That makes sense. They could hardly be going fast when stuck in a Corvette procession. :leaving:

I think Gert has the answer - the side pipe should be extended further rearwards and then slightly further out in front of the wing so it does not get scooped up and back into the cockpit. The side exit is better than rear exit for avoiding fumes.

Figures - I knew it was memorable for some reason but the big thought bubble above my head was empty!

Actually, don't answer the rusted out Buick question, I just realized its the V6 engine the Stalkers repurposed to something better than a Buick.

Have you ever looked at something and wondered where you have seen it before? Well thats this car. Its been on the forum at some point in its history but I have a mental blank as to when (I think it was an OH car?). Reminds me of Dick Brink's garage wall? 2002 Birkin. Zetec with throttle bodies. Unusual mix of polished ali, painted metal in yellow and green fiberglass. Looks very nice. Owner says he drives it from FL to KY for car shows so big kudos there. Asking $34900 on Ebay starting bid with no bids. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replica-Kit-Makes-Lotus-Birkin-Super-Seven-Super-Seven-S3-/191753051851?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ca55f5ecb:g:gH0AAOSwv-NWYgL6&item=191753051851 Anyone know the car? Owner is a USA7s forum member? The purple Westfield in OK is back. I like this car. Change the wheels to something a little...lot less 1980s and make the roll bar at least 4 point. Photos should show it without the bikini top - like all men I like mine topless. A few quality cosmetic details (no not like John C with his fluffy dice from the rear vision mirror) and you have a great looking well sorted car. Asking $19950 in OK. http://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/5326804103.html 1984 Caterham crossflow RHD at Sonoma Raceway is back asking $24450. Been for sale on and off for the last year from memory. http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/5344218416.html Lotus 7 S4. http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/5337449776.html No price is listed - make him an offer. So all you owners of "pseudo-sevens" (including Caterham owners - they are pseudo - at least the ones I know!) how much do you think it is worth? My guess is near the average value or less depending on condition at time of inspection in person. Here is a nice S4 in Seattle area going for $17k http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/5315007690.html Dutton B+ is back at $5500 http://toledo.craigslist.org/cto/5324729906.html 1962 Lotus Seven concours winner fresh from restoration in FL. Asking $43900. http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/5323168733.html Why is it that when the searchbot looks for Stalkers, rusted out Buicks keep coming up in the results? Hemmings list - refer back to last week, unchanged.

Fred - sounds like you have everything in hand for 2016 event...so to speak of course.... :jester:

I am more than a little concerned about him using sharp tools? Look at the photo above - he even had to label his spot "driver" with a sharpie. I guess he does not know where to sit any more. Shane, have you thought about starting the road back to driving in one of those Barbie jeeps? They don't all come in pink and they have more sex appeal than a mobility scooter. I thought this serious road test really talked up the jeep well (well...to me anyway). :jester:

Hi Fred - what about some gearing or a turbo to give you a little more oomph in passing Tom on the straights? :cheers:

:iagree: Bruce - all my problems would be solved if you were on the right side of the country closer to me! I love the roller barrels on my car but geez they can be a pain to tune with a locked ECU complicating matters (although now I have some access). Nice try Steve! You would have to go 2 hours further south for my Caterham since it is in the Garage Mahal this time of year. Hope you are leaving the July 4th long weekend free in 2016?

It may be a wet dreary day in NYC but seeing this post is putting a smile back on my face - I am looking forward to seeing everyone again in 2016 at this event. Tom C - you just won the Iron Butt award again for thinking about that drive cross country!