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I want a real 7 series 1 or a 7/20 or specials with twin cams or climaxes


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really I am trying to buy an eleven-had a mk8 I want a dedion 7 with a climax an 11 with a dedion-to 75K. anything special a type 30 with a 289. A 26r with all the special stuff-anything authentic that looks like art, behaves like art and leaks oil.

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There is a Lotus Type 30 with a Shelby Cobra engine under restoration near where I live. Its not for sale. It has a racing history and the general Lotus community believes the car doesn't exist anymore. Its a secret so don't pass it along. ;)

 

I have pictures but they are on my iPad and I can't figure out how to get them to the desk top computer.

 

There are two Lotus Elevens on Hemmings for $109k each (but they may be the same car) and one Westfield Eleven.

 

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/lotus/eleven/1802529.html

Edited by scannon
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So-I am playing price with the 11.

 

I need to go slower and polish and putter with a small vintage car.

 

I get close-and run and check with John Wilson about "how many" of certain cars have the same LOTUS COMPONENTS data plate and numbers. John basically does not trust any car that comes from New England.

 

I owned 2 early lotus tube framed cars-that were lightened organically-rust-and its so much easier to replicate than repair. That was the founding of Westfield.

 

I have chased type 30s before-nice.

 

Its a fact that tube framed lotus clones-there are alot-you can get blueprints-and roll your own.

 

So I am looking for and investment quality parkway driver-that does not try to kill me like the Allards did-You really begin to fear divided, swing axle front suspensions-

 

There

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Lotus 11 234 had a "new built" frame under the original ID tag-no AP or alfin brakes, no dedion-so is it worth 4 times $25K westfield 11s or 3 times --I offered 3X-as an investment this car is weak

 

The car at LBI was re-chassied? Not the original chassis? That changes the value equation substantially as you point out.

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You really begin to fear divided, swing axle front suspensions.

 

I'm sure you're aware, but the early Lotus had the same front suspension. If you have your heart set on an Eleven, I would send an email to either Vic Thomas or Jay Sloane. Either of them could steer you in the right direction in terms of what cars are original and which ones aren't.

 

 

But, in regards to car 234, having a new chassis doesn't really detract from its value, provided it has continuous history. And, even though its set up as a live axle, you can get all the bits to turn it into a Le Mans spec car (de dion and disc brakes). Unfortunately, the days of finding a real Eleven for less than $75k I fear are over, unless you stumble upon a barn find.

 

I forget the guys name, but about 8 years ago he found an Eleven S2 roller in a barn while looking for Corvair parts. A deal was done and he took the car home for a song, but it had no ID tag. Luckily the Eleven Register with some help from the guys on the Autosport Nostalgia forum found the car in some old race programs which provided the chassis number. Everything was still with the car minus the Climax engine, but the guys at Hutton sorted one out for him. Lucky guy, the car was a wobbly web shod Le Mans optioned Eleven.

 

As for replica 11's, been there done that. Made a little bit of money on it, but nowhere near as much as the next owner. I'm now kicking myself for selling the spare Climax FW that I had, I could be building another if I still had it.

 

Rod

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Skip, wasn't the Lotus 30 known in period as a Lotus 20 with 10 more defects? i saw one race at Avon, CO on a vintage street course about 15 years ago.... wonder if it is the same car you secretly know about?

 

I have a friend in Anchorage whose father in Oregon had a Lotus 19 with original 2.5 C-Climax engine and Lotus gearbox/diff, tucked away in a barn. I believe that he had been a midget racer, and somehow bought this Lotus 19 when it was just an old, obsolete race car, but as a 19 that had not been converted to GM aluminum V-8 power..

 

Inevitably, that car is now in a big West Coast collection I believe, and my friend's father had a big new motorhome with the profit.

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Skip, wasn't the Lotus 30 known in period as a Lotus 20 with 10 more defects?

 

That would be the Lotus 40, it was a Lotus 30 with 10 more defects. The Lotus 20 was a rather nice single seater.

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I had a mk8 imported from UK-patched tubing-replaced front tube where swingarms attached. It had an SAH tuned TR2 engine, dedion rear and alfin drum brakes. So this eleven 234 is a maybe-But what you want is a lotus Progress? Arch? Frame-there were others and a Williams and Prichard body-The evaluation was quite detailed-by an owner with a frame number about 10 away-so experienced-and this frame 234 was close but no prize-enough so in the future there will be questions- and I don't like doubt for $100K

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excited Mc Queen drove an 11-this is just like his, kinda-no history available on McQueens --For me its art. hope to make it work-better than the stock market-like 10 years 200% TRY 550 AND SPEEDSTERS this is what james dean and mcQueen went to after porsches--and I get to communicate with it...oh joy

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Our 1958 S1 Seven #437. I didn't realize that we have owned it over 10 years. The newly freshened engine (pistons, rings, connecting rods, valves, valve seats, cam, rocker arms, bearings, oil pump & water pump) is ready to go back in. I need to finish on a new cover for the transmission tunnel hole first.

Indy7.jpg

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