Croc

I guess my plan to sneak some nice British ale into the Kessler is a bit of a waste until you get off those painkillers. Once the dust has settled from relocating and the initial rush of visitors is over I plan to stop by and say hello.

Please accept my sympathies for the loss of your husband. Its clearly a difficult time for you dealing with the estate issues when your mind is probably elsewhere. You have not given much to go on with here for constructing a value or even a potential ad so that you get the right value out of the sale. These cars are so individual and customized in spec that their value can move significantly based on a few choice options. My guess is it will sit between $19-25k with the final price being dependent on the spec. I am going to ask some questions to see if we can help discern the specifications better to price it more fairly. 1) Which state is it titled in and what is it titled as? 2) I guess it has the 2L Zetec engine. Do the receipts say what work was done to increase/improve power? More hp = high value for the most part. 3) I am pretty sure it will have the Ford Sierra T-9 5 speed gearbox. I don't know 4) Some photos of the engine bay, front, side, rear will help us see what options were added. Two options for adding photos - upload them onto a free photo bucket account website or size them so you can just upload them here (they don't allow big uploads on this site). If all else fails you can email me the photos and I can host them on my site and post them on this forum. 5) Do you know who he bought it from (was it a dealer or private individual without revealing name) and which state. We may be able to find it on this forum through its past owner. 6) Are all pieces on the car or are there bits and spares not installed but stored in the garage. These are worth money if they are listed out in an ad. Clearly the Birkini top is one of them. 7) Did he do any competition with the Birkin? Some of these modifications are costly and worth spelling out to a potential purchaser. I am not sure if anyone from the club is local to you to read the various invoices/receipts and assemble together what the spec is? Tom Carlin of Birkin America is located in Eagle CO if that is anywhere near you. If no one is local to you then let me know in a Private Mail on this forum, I can arrange a phone call where you can read the receipts out for me over the phone and I can assemble it in writing that you can use for the forthcoming ad. No fee or cost - just trying to help the seven community. When it comes time for selling, these cars are somewhat unique. They may take longer to sell than a regular car since purchasers are fewer. The best places for advertising them are: - an ad on this USA7s forum - EBay - Hemmings (under the Lotus 7 category) These get the best spread of coverage across the country for potential purchasers. Hope this helps mike

Not sure who you were directing your comment at, but for the record I agree with you. A potential purchaser must make the effort to inspect in person before purchasing. My first US seven was rubbished on this forum when it came up for sale but I ended up buying it at a good price and doing a bit of sorting so it became a great car. While a seven may have had a difficult build by TMW it is the actions of the owner post-TMW that determine how good and well sorted it ends up or whether it is still flawed. Inspection will clarify. At the price the Birkin in question is being offered at I am smelling an opportunity for a buyer. However, an inadequately detailed ad or an ad with stupidly high pricing will get a pithy response from me because it (a) shows a seller does not care, (b) is lazy, and/or © is trying to pull a quick one over some unsuspecting buyer. If they will do that in an ad then it does the car for sale a disservice. However, I know not every seller agrees with me as I have 3 cease and desist legal letters in the last year (all from dealers) from my comments on this thread to prove it.

Is it more attractive now it is at $21000? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Super-Seven-Birkin-S3-/252358148743?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3ac1b7c287:g:eKkAAOSwUuFWy9oI&item=252358148743 Whizzy's Westfield http://www.ebay.com/itm/Other-Makes-Westfield-Super-7-Sports-Car-/252353109015?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3ac16adc17:g:GsgAAOSwoBtW1hsE&item=252353109015 and https://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/5533297400.html The Deranged is back up for sale http://www.ebay.com/itm/Other-Makes-Deronda-G400-Sports-Car-/172165417871?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2815dbcb8f:g:7ygAAOSwmmxW5yjd&item=172165417871 The NC Locost is now up on Ebay after having been on Craigslist for a while. $8500 BIN. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Super-Seven-/121952777259?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1c64f3b42b:g:QIYAAOSwsN9XC7BF&item=121952777259 S4 at high money http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Super-Seven-S4-/272137610661?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3f5caa65a5:g:DiMAAOSwDuJWzznz&item=272137610661 2005 Birkin in TX Builder of the car was MSI. New name to me? Anyone know more? This might be one for Dan - lots of extra bits to work with. Asking $26000 http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/5533355181.html Westfield Pre-Lit in CA Asking $22500 http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/5533136789.html 1990 Westfield This is the recent UK import. Advertised in Chicago but is apparently FL. Asking $15k http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/cto/5540004709.html oops, no...too late. Its now in Atlanta http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/5539698514.html Another Locost in MD http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/5519588422.html Robin Hood is still available http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/5536345380.html

I would email the Birkin seller to see if you can do a deal offline at $22k or lower. 2014 build, Duratec IRS, and full cage - it meets your spec. The price seems ballpark fair given it is a 2014 car with the Duratec and IRS. The transmission leak is a bit of work but its hard enough to find a car that is close in spec to begin with. Tom will help you fix the transmission! Not sure if you are looking at a further price adjustment given the shipping cost from west coast? I get that. You can wait for the seller to drop but then you risk losing the deal because $22k is within the range someone will consider is fair. There is a non-road Caterham in NJ that could be for sale sub-20s (SCCA spec, cage, zetec, T-9) but it is aesthetically challenged since it is exclusively a track car that needs a lot of work to be street registered. I know another two older street Caterhams in the north east/mid atlantic that will be up for sale later this year but neither of those meet your spec plus their value is much higher (29-34k area guessing?) than the money I think you are looking to spend. The places to consistently look for a seven for sale: - here - Fleabay - Craigslist - Autotrader - classiccars.com - Lemmings - Texas Motor Works - Dick Brink's site is still going - Tony Vaccaro's Loony site - Caterhams and original Lotus sevens only. There are other classic car dealers than pop up from time to time but they are hit or miss for availability.

Actually I think Tom is your better bet! :jester:

I can lend a set of 16 inch wagon wheels! :svengo: Or maybe the 12 inch wide BBS wheels in gold with Avon slicks for the Beemer. Or some 10 inch wide Corvette Grand Sport wheels from the Holden?

The Lotus 7 replica previously shown photographed with the hearses is back. Apparently two prior sales failed due to one instance of shady behavior and on the second, an inability to get it registered in Massachussetts (no surprise there). Glad to know we all drive sevens with Land Rover engines? Current bid is $11999 with 4 days to go and reserve not met. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Super-Seven-r-500-/322066555709?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4afca9a33d:g:QAYAAOSwQYZWt4Fz&item=322066555709 Dealer Lotus 7 S4 back at $33k http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Super-Seven-S4-/272137610661?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3f5caa65a5:g:DiMAAOSwDuJWzznz&item=272137610661 I would have thought some copyright issues existed for this Atom kit...sorry Altra kit? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replica-Kit-Makes-Altra-/281993128508?forcerrptr=true&hash=item41a819aa3c:g:6PkAAOSwr7ZW5588&item=281993128508 The ad says it is a "Lotus 7/Caterham" http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/cto/5526055933.html Here is the Westfield ad again, the one advertised in TX that looks to be in FL, that Mr Mustang found. Asking $15000 https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/5529005762.html The extra details in this ad are welcomed. This next one is interesting. Looks to be some form of Locost. The photos looks like Triumph front suspension? Not the best images to work with. The competition history is evident by the stickers on the backside. http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/5529470725.html Another Locost in Baltimore Asking $8500 which looks a better deal than the $6000 priced one above. http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/5519588422.html

Maybe it is but I cannot access your link for some reason. It wants me to register and I have enough car website registrations as it is. Why don't you buy it? You would like a seven to drive this summer!

Have a linky on me :seeya: http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/5529005762.html Looks like it was freshly imported through the over 25 year rule. I bet it is not titled/registered to save the seller the fees/sales tax which a buyer now has to pay. Check that all of the requisite stamped import paperwork comes with the car otherwise you cannot get a title. In at least one state I can think of the importer needs to be the person titling so it won't work with a new buyer. Despite that I like the look of the car - nice color scheme of blue and gray. In one photo there is another seven in the background. Looks like a Robin Hood or GBS? I guess it will be up for sale shortly.

Friday April 22? Thats a Drivers Club date I think? I was hoping to run the Mustang that day. If it is Saturday April 23 then I think that is a regular NJMP track day that I get instructor accreditation for and join you with the mic and headphones kit. If not then we can get Tom down to join in.

:rofl: Actually I did try to install one of those fire poles for sliding down from the loft but the city would not let me have it because of the open hole up in the loft. I was going to call that the stripper pole! Oh well....best of intentions!

I guess I will have to sleep in my primitive bare bones basic garage space assuming I am still alive after wiring up my hot water heater this weekend... I had my priorities right - I installed 2 beer fridges before the hot water! :cooldude:

From the look of those skid marks I think you missed the apex....again! :jester:

When I see lobster I normally think meat in the tail, shit in the head. :ack: I think I will pass on this lobster as it is a meathead type..... :leaving: Keep smiling Shane! :seeya:

Two months of vacation in a warm climate sounds pretty good to me right now. Enjoy it! Sorry if I caused strife with the wife - but I could not resist :rofl:

Mike - where is it headed? Forum owner?

Hi Ron - If you are looking for hook ups then in California they use the Tinder app and other matchmaking apps! :jester: Have you moved out there permanently? Or are you shuttling back and forth from NJ?

Sure - I did this trick on a 351 Cleveland. Head gasket breach into a coolant galley from an exhaust valve exit. The problem is that with sustained high stress running at high RPM it then soon breaches a firing ring and it all goes really pear shaped. May take longer on a road car. A head gasket replacement should fix it. To max a sale price a seller really should fix it since the discount buyers demand will be steep for this uncertainty.

I would question whether it is transmission or engine oil and where it is weeping from? How many drops per day? I suspect it is not transmission but engine seal (not always a bad thing) - the question is which seal? If it is a minor leak, I would probably leave it, if major then to fix is probably an engine out job. Are you a handy person with the wrench? Having a quite a few old leaky things that subscribe to the Ford Corrosion Protection Program around my garage I am more tolerant of slow minor leaks than most people and just run with them.

Congratulations to Ted! 2014 Birkin in CA http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/RDgAAOSwG-1Wy9rr/s-l1600.jpg BIN price is $23000 which seems reasonable for a track focused Birkin Duratec built in 2014. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Super-Seven-Birkin-S3-/252335737291?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3ac061c9cb:g:eKkAAOSwUuFWy9oI&item=252335737291 Whizzy's Westfield is on Ebay - see separate ad for this. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Other-Makes-Westfield-Super-7-Sports-Car-/252337896004?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3ac082ba44:g:GsgAAOSwoBtW1hsE&item=252337896004 2005 Brunton Super Stalker. Looks like just the regular Buick V6 - no mention of SC or engine bay photos. Does have an interesting owner made cockpit roof. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Super-Seven-super-7-/331821111297?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4d42145801:g:WugAAOSwGYVXAJaN&item=331821111297 Asking $25000 BIN. No bids as of yet. Lotus 7 S4 at dealer $32995 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Super-Seven-S4-/272137610661?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3f5caa65a5:g:DiMAAOSwDuJWzznz&item=272137610661 Locost in Charlotte for $9500 https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5501106089.html And look what I found - a Rotus! http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/5513024344.html Asking $25k Lotus 7 kit car based off a 1971 Triumph. http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/5519588422.html Caterham SP300 for sale in CT $159500 http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/caterham/unspecified/1818419.html 1998 Birkin in PA possibly needing some work? at $22500 http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/birkin/s3/1800848.html 1995 Westfield in GA at $27500 http://assets.hemmings.com/uimage/54649824-770-0@2x.jpg?rev=1 http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/1820857.html Superformance S1 in dark green at $29900 in MI http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/lotus/super-seven/1810916.html Dealer Westfield at $29595 http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/lotus/super-seven/1763637.html

Many of you know Stewart (Sabbot on this forum) from his participation in the annual sevens track event in Millville NJ in his electric blue Caterham S3 with BD engine. Last weekend he was involved in an parasailing accident on the West Coast. Unfortunately he did not stick the landing (I do relate to this!) and so he is laid up in hospital with some serious back injuries which will take some considerable time and effort to recover from. I have talked with his wife, Colleen who, like all loving wives when cleaning up after their husband's inevitable "oops" moments, has taken charge of things and is working her way through what happens next. Given the situation, Stewart is not on phone or email so you cannot communicate directly with him but I told Colleen I would post on USA7s and provide her a link to this thread so she can read our posts to him. Its probably fortunate that he is on the West Coast as my first reaction would be to grab a quality bottle of scotch, a few glasses and hit the hospital to cheer him up. Get well matey! :cheers:

It is really nice - I love a good Crossflow. RHD will keep the price down and would be a non-starter for a lot of people. If I recall correctly he had bids to $22k on Ebay once before and it passed on them. I actually inquired about this car before I ended up buying my maroon 7 and never got a response. Hopefully it finds a new happy home soon.

Interesting question. Lotus licensed the production rights to Steel Brothers of NZ. They were built from exactly the same blueprints, arguably with better quality assembly in NZ. Parts would interchange. Indistinguishable from a regular S4 - I have seen both types side by side and they looked identical to me. Same drivetrain. Would a purist say it is not a real thing and devalue it for that reason? Probably but then they value it higher based on it being shoddily assembled in a drafty chicken shed in the UK basking in the aura of Chapman who probably never saw it, touched it or cared for it. Logic says there should be no difference in value. Emotion says yes to value difference. Which is right? The person who wants the car at the end of the day will pay what they think it is worth.

Jim - I will buy it if you give me $65k.... :rofl: