Ruadhd2

Sometimes I feel like the wallflower at an engineer's senior prom. I just love looking at the cars, owning one, driving it and studying them. I really wish I had the mechanical abilities to sort them out and put them together, but I don't. I think there needs to be a mechanical mentoring program for klutz 7 owners like me. I'm sure that, with the proper guidance and support, I could hold my attention on the mechanicals for at least about 3 hours.

We could have our own national show but always go to LOG as Salon De Refuses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon_des_Refus%C3%A9s). After all, the 7 was an improvisation. Cars were cobbled together the last minute for customers and parts were borrowed from all sorts of vehicles. The very idea of a 7 was experimentation from the beginning. Chapman would be disappointed to see his concept fail to evolve. So many high tech improvements keep the car sparse and light, yet better functioning, and oh my goodness, so much faster. Honor the originals as the great elders but keep on keepin' on.

Croc. I have to agree with you. I was only at LOG30 for a couple of hours and spent it on the concourse taking pictures. I had to go to a funeral in Charlottesville. I talked to a couple of "classic" 7 owners in the hotel parking lot prior to the concourse and found them to be a little chilly, even snobby. I also found it weird that all the modern 7 variants were lined up at the far end of the parking lot. So, it wasn't just you. I also found non "classic" owners of other Lotuses, like Elises etc. to be very interested in pictures of my rotary Rotus (which was still at RP Performance at Summit Point getting a new transmission). Frankly, I find the classic Lotuses to be lovely collectibles, and all praise to Colin Chapman, Nearn and the gang, but the cars are a whole lot more rickety, finnicky, tight, and impractical compared to more modern variants, which are just as pretty. Also, they all channel the ghost of Lord Lucas.

I was reminded how pretty the Europas were by looking at a bunch of them at LOG30 yesterday. Here's one for sale repainted to John Player Special colors: If my wife would only let me. I"ve maxed on my car limit. No affiliation: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lotus-Europa-TC-special-Lotus-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem255dd6daf2QQitemZ160488151794QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks

This is a random gallery of cars I thought were pretty at the show today. If you see yourself, your car, or your loved one and don't want the picture in the gallery, let me know and I'll remove it. Most of the shots were taken at the concourse. Lots of original S2's and modern Caterhams. Not that many variants. No Rotuses. One Birkiin. I didn't see a Stalker, Atom, Superlite, or a Westfield, but that could have been just me. The wild lime green Exige was for sale for asking price $65,000. It had 581 miles on it and belonged to Jerry Seinfeld who traded it for a 1958 Porsche Jagdwagen. http://picasaweb.google.com/drsms22/LOG30# By the way. I didn't register or meet and greet. I only had a couple of hours to look at cars and then go to a funeral of a good friend in Charlottesville, VA. later in the day. I had a choice of going to LOG30 or a funeral and decided to do both.

Any weather gear, standard windshield, extra wheels, tires? Or is it what you see is what you got?

I have a 13B engine with a 1984 12A transmission. Are your engine/tranny stock? Are they from a 1984/85 GS-LE?

No affiliation: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370441062237&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123

No affiliation: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150502137655&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123

I am collecting pictures of pretty 7's. The ones in the pictures here purposely are selected because they have no license tags to identify them or people, so that identities of the owners are protected. If you see your car here and want it removed, just let me know. http://picasaweb.google.com/drsms22/MostBeautiful7S02#

No affiliation: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250702873715&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123

Great idea! Thanks.

Anyone have a recommendation for a simple, attractive back up reverse light assembly? Getting new tranny and will have the reverse light hooked up this time. Didn't have one when the car was a dedicated racer. Now it is going to be street wise and could use the reverse light.

I added lifetime camera and traffic light alerts for $26.99 on my Garmin and it paid for itself in one day. I use a GPS in any car I'm driving for the bluetooth because I am hard of hearing and also for traffic alerts, even if I know the route; but adding the camera and traffic light alerts is the best. If you know DC, you know they are adding more and more speed traps in surrounding Montgomery and Fairfax counties. This one today was on North Capitol street. I would have been nailed with a pricey ticket if it weren't for the little alert. Tourists beware, parking meter, cameras, and traffic light traps are huge sources of revenue in DC now. That is a deal.

In fact, I can get you a jazz or funk group for your local function if you are in the DC metro region. Come check my group out at Osteria 177 for brunch in Annapolis every Sunday 1 to 4. I'm there every Sunday but the first one in the month. Excellent Southern Italian food and free valet parking, but I'd put your 7 yourself on a spot on a meter if I were you. The place is two blocks off the waterfront and there are other jazz and rock bands all over the place. Annapolis is a big jazz and other music place. Just a plug for Our Naval Academy home and not for me. Show off your 7 on a nice day in Annapolis and get a photo op next to the yachts.

Need new tranny for Mazda 13B engine. Anyone upgrade to the twin turbo Type R tranny?

Got leather seats that are wearing out. Want to keep the classic look but want to go with vinyl. Did you do it or get it done and what did it cost you? Don't need side panels, tunnel, or floors done. Just the shared seat back and bottoms.

No affiliation: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200521675239&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123#v4-36

No affiliation. I don't know if this goes on Cars for Sale, since it is not a 7. Also this is an old listing. http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/1920702214.html

No affiliation. I don't know if this goes on Cars for Sale, since it is not a 7. http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/1920702214.html

Monster fun possibilities.

He likes to fabricate stuff. He built the Factory Five Daytona himself and had another Ford left over.

We want something we can go to driver school with and to start racing. We don't want the 911 to pay for our early mistakes.

My brother and I want to build a track-only car. We have a complete Ford 5.0 GT 302 V8 donor car with engine, tranny, rear axle, brakes, independent suspension, etc. Will it fit in a Stalker, Locost, Rotus or anything in the 7 variety anyone knows of? Don't have the dimensions right now. Maybe someone is familiar with these parts. We are looking for handling and speed and are not that concerned about looks. He already has two pretty cars, a 2001 Porsche 911 996 Twin Turbo All Wheel Drive and a Factory Five Cobra Daytona Coupe. I have a humble rotary Rotus. In sum, pretty exterior won't matter as much as performance.

No affiliation: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250698221300&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123