Croc

Or you can get one from the maker legally for a cool quarter of a million (or something equally high) - they sell Donkervoorts in the USA now through an official dealer.

What a great post! And I thought I was bad having too many cars!

The pictured car clearly went through Dick Brink at one point. It has the Dunnell sticker and those wheels which he used on a few cars - he was the only one using those visual cues on Birkins. But you may have bought it from him originally?

And that folks sums it up well. The Toyos are notably inferior to the previous Avons.

You have seen a numbered SLR in the US with a plaque on the dash. Look at the register site and go to #123. Its yellow, left hand drive, with clams and while the driver is slightly obscured you should be able to guess it is Tom. Martin is excellent in what he does but he is working with Caterham records that are not always complete or logical or deal with the quirks of US cars being ordered.

I am going to assume you are referring to a 2L Cosworth YB engine. Pinto bottom end and a trick Cosworth 4 valve head which was done for the FIA Group A homologation of the Sierra Cosworth RS/RS500. Where it gets important is which variety of YB engine do you have? They had the naturally aspirated plus monster turbo varieties. Color of cam cover (i.e. red for you) is not always indicative as it was a dress up part from the Sierra homologation engines that could be bought separately. The head could be standard or heavily opened out for better breathing. A naturally aspirated YB could still be using the Group A gasket as it was heavily ported to breathe better. These were a brilliant engine to exploring better breathing and it is amazing to think that at their peak in the late 80s Group A turbo era they were pumping out 650hp in a 2L 4 cylinder. I fully agree with @MV8 and @Dave W above on initial steps to eliminate timing/spark/combustion as a cause here as this is the easiest to rule out first. Assuming you resolve that timing is not the issue then you are likely removing the head. The YB weak point is always the head gasket. These engines are normally pretty robust in the valve train. I admit my initial reaction to your post was a breach of the head gasket between two of the cylinders. These engines are notorious for eating head gaskets in high HP mode. I keep spare ones of my engine for my YB Turbo WRC Escort. Otherwise internally they are very strong engines. I would start my parts shopping with Burton Power UK here - give them a call as they are helpful to me on the phone: https://www.burtonpower.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=cosworth+YB+head+gasket Once you have your head off, as MV8 notes, try to match your old gasket to a new one in the Burton catalog. Consider sending a photo of it to Burton during your initial parts sourcing with measurements of the openings. I would definitely go for the best quality gasket you can get for this engine as cheaper is usually economy on an engine which treats gaskets as a consumable. When reassembling pay extra attention to the levelness of the aluminum head. They are really susceptible to warping from even a minor overheat.

If you focus on the UK market then yes there is a premium for the HPC - maybe 5%. Any BDR gets major attention as that is a bit of a Holy Grail cars for a lot of people. 10%+ is my best guess - not enough come up for sale to be scientific on this. In the USA market? No idea. Clearly the BDR Holy Grail effect carries over but not possible to say how much that is. Maybe more given the rarity here for an LHD car. Right car, right buyers, on the right day and it could be a substantial premium. But thats not particularly scientific which is the right type of answer to give you.

I'm in Auckland and it is not warm for what is supposedly summer! At least it has stopped raining for the first time since I got here. Nice looking Fraser.

Week Beginning December 3, 2023 This thread will take a break from updates until the new year as I am traveling off grid for the next two weeks. Wishing all USA7s members and their families, Happy Holidays and a great New Year! USA7s Cars For Sale Ads https://usa7s.net/ips/forum/26-cars-for-sale/ New None Repeats Replica Project https://www.copart.com/lot/65679333/clean-title-1961-lotus-7-mi-flint Caterham - 310S and 420R https://rockymountaincaterham.com/inventory/ Westfield https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/westfield/se/2610959.html and here https://www.ebay.com/itm/355178532691?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=fbJmRN0DTES&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Early Caterham/Lotus 7 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1965-lotus-super-seven-carlsbad-ca-2744999 Lotus 7 S2 https://www.motorclassiccorp.com/used-vehicle-1962-lotus-super-7-c-150/ Birkin https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1006118660678361/ Replica https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/710742907584046/ Caterham https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3480746318841233/ Blakely Bantam https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/662254515833751/ Locost https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/306843002249419/ Caterham https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1482642472549776/ Lotus 7 S4 https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/593067882983971/ Locost Project https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/332734189394175/ Replica https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2489308687914926/ DF Goblin https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1403628396864853/ Specter https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3529681310648852/ Canada MNR https://www.hagerty.com/marketplace/7of9lfcr/bear-vppm2y0d/5b29f62c-9eee-4c04-a31c-6a40de28534a Superformance S1 https://www.autotrader.ca/a/superformance/caterham/leaskdale/ontario/19_12679638_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=2_3_3&sprx=-1 Caterham https://www.autotrader.ca/a/caterham/super 7/vaughan/ontario/19_12525939_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=3_3_3&sprx=-1 and here https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/markham-york-region/caterham-lotus-super-7-concours-condition/1677025176 and here https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2050719618611304/ Westfield https://www.autotrader.ca/a/lotus/seven/lethbridge/alberta/19_12680734_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=16_4_19&sprx=-1 and here https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/lethbridge/2016-westfield-lotus/1671103155 Replica https://www.autotrader.ca/a/lotus/seven/delta/british columbia/19_12681378_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=1_3_3&sprx=-1 Caterham https://7cars.ca/cars-for-sale/caterham-s3-360.htm Replica Project https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/vancouver/lotus-super-7/1676891793 and here https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/295420320065513/ Eva Beva https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/mississauga-peel-region/1985-eve-beva/1674367159 Eva Beva https://www.kijiji.ca/v-voiture-collection/granby/eva-beva-lotus-super-7/1667803489 and here https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/188308534231376/ Westfield https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1283424638974966/ Donkervoort https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2482305621952213/

Optare Buses came out of the collapse of British Leyland in the 1980s. Your car is definitely not related. Its not ringing any recognition bells to me on the basis of just one photo. I assume it came with no documentation from previous owners? You have a few options to dig into its history: 1) Post up some more photos like MV8 says and see if we can crack the solution. 2) Buy or borrow the Dennis Ortenburger book on the various Lotus 7 replicas as see if you can back into a short list of possible makers and then try to do the match from there based on the suspension components identified in the photos. If I was at home I would look at my copy of the book and give you the short list to work with. Both of these will probably get you close to a decent guess on the history. My initial reaction is a Stuart Taylor by looks but I would want to try to get a better match on component usage in the early 1990s. The Stuart Taylor replica business was taken over by Aries Motorsport which still produces Locosts today. Do not be confused with the Stuart Taylor Motorsport doing business today - completely different.

not announced but likely going to Toyos

Correct - use tax is assessed when something otherwise avoids CA sales tax e.g. out of state purchases. 7.25% rate plus any local taxes based on your CA location - usual all-in rate for most people is 7.5%. The CA DMV website never talks about a CA sales tax on vehicles - they always reference use tax. Look at Chapter 4 of the California Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual. Whatever you pay in use tax to the CDTFA is interchangeable with use tax paid to the DMV. If you did not pay the use tax in time at the DMV then you are supposed to pay use tax via CDTFA. In the past I recall some CA owners noting on USA7s they paid use tax penalties when went to CA DMV to start the registration process. I could not find the old post to surface it for you but I will keep looking. The penalty was for the delay between kit import to CA and rocking up at the DMV to pay the bill. Given owners have to present receipts of items purchased as part of this process, its easy for the tax authorities to go back and calculate penalties. The lack of consistency in application to CA owners is likely based on inconsistency of DMV personnel knowledge of the CA special vehicle process. I suspect your "import" paperwork to CA had something that triggered in the CDTFA systems routing you to use tax to be done through CDTFA instead of DMV. The guide I used for my purchase and exemption claim (non-seven vehicle) was here: https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/industry/vehicles-vessels-aircraft-guide.htm#Overview There is no use tax exemption for an unassembled kit or an assembled kit vehicle. An unassembled kit vehicle is defined as a vehicle in CA. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/vehicle-industry-registration-procedures-manual-2/use-tax/transactions-not-subject-to-use-tax/ Your original post is ambiguous as you state you paid use tax but then say you would prefer to pay it at the DMV - apologies if I misread it. If you paid use tax at the DMV then you present evidence of payment to the CDTFA folks and claim a use tax credit. If you have not paid it at the DMV then you will be paying via CDTFA direct. Why? You are getting 10% penalty interest on your use tax debt so you need to stop the clock with a payment now otherwise it gets awfully expensive real quick. If you pay CDTFA direct then you keep your evidence of use tax paid so that when you go to the DMV later the DMV do not charge you twice. If you paid sales or use tax in another state then you are entitled to also get a credit for this when determining CA use tax. The CA taxes are draconian in their application but I have always found the CA tax people to be reasonable to work with if you are trying to understand a process - maybe give them a call to confirm that you will get full credit for use tax so you only pay once?

Not my garage - my floor is severely marked with lots of stains. Needs to be re-epoxyied. I saw that on Bringatrailer and had a dribble. Quality stuff in the photo.

Hi Taber - Hope you are doing well? SDKLD5NS7xxxxxxx SDK = Caterham L = Left Hand Drive D = De Dion ? = I think you missed a character here for build type? Probably "K" for Kit Built 5 = This is for chassis type. 5 = SV. You will see Caterham talk about S3 and S5 chassis types as that is the production code. NS = Engine Not Supplied. Makes sense as US Customs regs prevent kits from being shipped with drivetrains. 7 = 2007 was the year the kit was produced Rest is chassis number

SDK = Caterham L = Left hand drive L = long cockpit K = Kit built type R = Race chassis type GS = 100BHP 1600 crossflow engine S = 1996 kit manufacture Rest is chassis number

Tweaked the decode slightly SDK= Manufacturer code for Caterham L= Left hand drive L= Long Cockpit (C was used to denote classic or live axle) K= Kit built A= Alternative chassis type. Very frequent in non-UK market cars. NS= Engine not supplied Y= Model year (2000) For a 2000 year, I am guessing the "classic" live axle spec caused it to get the Alternative chassis type designation as it was also a long cockpit?

@JohnCh Didn't you have Emerald on the Westfield?

A rather stunning comment to be honest. A Miata is quite a quick weapon for the hp. I suspect the handling of the Tipo will come down to managing slip angles while rotating and applying power. Not that dissimilar to my 65 Mustang on bias ply tires. Enormously satisfying when you get it working together. Great to hear it went well! Hopefully you stick an action cam on it one day on track - I would love to see the fun.

And what was the result? Really interested to hear how it went.

Week Beginning November 26, 2023 USA7s Cars For Sale Ads https://usa7s.net/ips/forum/26-cars-for-sale/ New Locost https://bringatrailer.com/listing/seven-style-track-car/ Repeats Lotus 7 Project https://www.copart.com/lot/65679333/clean-title-1961-lotus-7-mi-flint Westfield https://www.hagerty.com/marketplace/7of9lfcr/bear-vppm2y0d/5b29f62c-9eee-4c04-a31c-6a40de28534a Lotus 7 S2 https://www.motorclassiccorp.com/used-vehicle-1962-lotus-super-7-c-150/ Caterham - two available 310S and 420R https://rockymountaincaterham.com/inventory/ Lotus 7 / Early Caterham https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1965-lotus-super-seven-carlsbad-ca-2744999 Westfield https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/westfield/se/2610959.html and here https://www.ebay.com/itm/355178532691?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=fbJmRN0DTES&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Caterham https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1482642472549776/ Locost https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/306843002249419/ Birkin https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1006118660678361/ Lotus 7 S4 https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/593067882983971/ Dutton https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1077945503561717/ and here https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/670676918463658/ Replica https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2489308687914926/ DF Goblin https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1403628396864853/ Caterrham https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1388251815450097/ Caterham https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3480746318841233/ Replica https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/710742907584046/ Blakely Bantam https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/662254515833751/ Locost Project https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/332734189394175/ Specter https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3529681310648852/ Canada Westfield https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/lethbridge/2016-westfield-lotus/1671103155 and here https://www.autotrader.ca/a/lotus/seven/lethbridge/alberta/19_12680734_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=21_7_22&sprx=-1 Replica https://www.autotrader.ca/a/lotus/seven/delta/british columbia/19_12681378_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=1_3_3&sprx=-1 Superformance S1 https://www.autotrader.ca/a/superformance/caterham/leaskdale/ontario/19_12679638_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=2_3_3&sprx=-1 Caterham https://www.autotrader.ca/a/caterham/super 7/vaughan/ontario/19_12525939_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=3_3_3&sprx=-1 and here https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/markham-york-region/caterham-lotus-super-7-concours-condition/1677025176 Fejer 7 https://www.autotrader.ca/a/lotus/seven/edmonton/alberta/19_12690486_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=37_15_65&sprx=-1 Locost Project https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/295420320065513/ Eva Beva https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/188308534231376/ Donkervoort https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2482305621952213/ Westfield https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1283424638974966/ Caterham https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2050719618611304/ Caterham https://7cars.ca/cars-for-sale/caterham-s3-360.htm

For those reading this thread the question relates to mid-late 1960s BMW engines. I'm better with E9 engines (M20 and M30) as thats what I own but I have some working knowledge of the 2002 as their engines crossed into the E9 early on. NK refers to Neue Klasse. This notation means you are likely referring to the 1500, 1600cc, 1800cc and 2000cc engines that were used in the Neue Klasse. TI/SA used to refer to the high performance variants of the NK series of engines. Refer this historical article to put some context on the BMW model evolution: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/vintage-reviews/vintage-rt-road-test-1967-bmw-1600-and-2000-tilux-a-brilliant-new-smaller-bmw-and-an-excellent-older-one/ Reading the article, it appears the Tilux was a TI high performance spec with upgraded luxury in the NK series of models. My vague understanding is these engines were retroactively called M10 engines in the 1970s - wikipedia seems to confirm that. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M10

How is Dave H at Ragtops and Roadsters? Have not seen him in a very long time? Does he still have his Birkin?