GregM Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 Does anyone know more about the DSK sevens built by David Kaplan? There used to be a link (simplesevens.org) that explained it all but it’s not working anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SevenAmerica Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 (edited) What else do you want to know other than what was on my website? *The Lotus Seven Club of England hosted my website, SimpleSevens, until a few weeks ago. First I lost access to maintain the site, then it simply disappeared. To say I am disappointed is an understatement. I am working to get it back up again, but it will take just a little time! Cheers, jd Edited March 28, 2022 by SevenAmerica typos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregM Posted March 28, 2022 Author Share Posted March 28, 2022 (edited) 20 minutes ago, SevenAmerica said: What else do you want to know other than what was on my website? *The Lotus Seven Club of England hosted my website, SimpleSevens, until a few weeks ago. First I lost access to maintain the site, then it simply disappeared. To say I am disappointed is an understatement. I am working to get it back up again, but it will take just a little time! Cheers, jd Well, I was not able to access your website which is why I'm asking I'm trying to understand the history, the differences between a DSK and the original Seven etc. Do you have a link with DSK (since you were hosting the website)? Edited March 28, 2022 by GregM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SevenAmerica Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 Once I found that a previous owner of my Seven had been in touch with DSK about the car, I tracked down Davis himself and started a conversation, which turned into the mini-website abbot DSK cars, all with his blessing -- he write most of it! BUT, here is the abbreviated story of the DSK Seven... DSK (David S Kaplan) worked in a shop that supplied race parts, and Lotus Seven parts. They eventually took a car in to disassemble and measure for the purpose of building "replacement chassis". These were (more or less) indistinguishable from a genuine Lotus chassis (as built by Arch Motor, Universal Radiator, or one other company back in the day!) and get this -- these frames were accepted by the SCCA as 'replacement parts' for genuine Lotus Sevens. DSK then decided to build his own, "improved", version of that chassis, most notably including an integrated roll hoop that ran from the bottom perimeter frame on one side, up, over and down the other side. This is not a hoop that can be "added" to an original spec frame without literally cutting that frame in half to do it. Oh, there were other additional tubes as well. DSK built up, if I recall correctly, exactly three complete cars on this new frame, which included turbocharged engines, and beautifully sculpted leather interiors. DSK also took in other Sevens (Lotus and otherwise), refurbished them, and sold them with added I.D. plates indicating that they had been updated by DSK Cars. My little DSK website also included all of the 'Technical Bulletins' one of which details all of this... I promise you'll be able to see it all again before long! Cheers, jd 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregM Posted March 28, 2022 Author Share Posted March 28, 2022 Thanks John. This is a good summary to get an idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sltous Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 2 hours ago, SevenAmerica said: Once I found that a previous owner of my Seven had been in touch with DSK about the car, I tracked down Davis himself and started a conversation, which turned into the mini-website abbot DSK cars, all with his blessing -- he write most of it! BUT, here is the abbreviated story of the DSK Seven... DSK (David S Kaplan) worked in a shop that supplied race parts, and Lotus Seven parts. They eventually took a car in to disassemble and measure for the purpose of building "replacement chassis". These were (more or less) indistinguishable from a genuine Lotus chassis (as built by Arch Motor, Universal Radiator, or one other company back in the day!) and get this -- these frames were accepted by the SCCA as 'replacement parts' for genuine Lotus Sevens. DSK then decided to build his own, "improved", version of that chassis, most notably including an integrated roll hoop that ran from the bottom perimeter frame on one side, up, over and down the other side. This is not a hoop that can be "added" to an original spec frame without literally cutting that frame in half to do it. Oh, there were other additional tubes as well. DSK built up, if I recall correctly, exactly three complete cars on this new frame, which included turbocharged engines, and beautifully sculpted leather interiors. DSK also took in other Sevens (Lotus and otherwise), refurbished them, and sold them with added I.D. plates indicating that they had been updated by DSK Cars. My little DSK website also included all of the 'Technical Bulletins' one of which details all of this... I promise you'll be able to see it all again before long! Cheers, jd With your permission I could link the archive.org version of your DSK page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SevenAmerica Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 I’m fine with that, but I will get the whole website back up soon… guess we could edit that link then — thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sltous Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 8 minutes ago, SevenAmerica said: I’m fine with that, but I will get the whole website back up soon… guess we could edit that link then — thanks! https://web.archive.org/web/20200222194640/http://www.simplesevens.org/dsk/history/dsk01.htm Happy to remove at any point. It looks like some of the files don't link properly but the majority come through nicely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregM Posted March 29, 2022 Author Share Posted March 29, 2022 39 minutes ago, sltous said: https://web.archive.org/web/20200222194640/http://www.simplesevens.org/dsk/history/dsk01.htm Happy to remove at any point. It looks like some of the files don't link properly but the majority come through nicely. Fascinating content. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papak Posted March 29, 2022 Share Posted March 29, 2022 (edited) That's a great history! I didn't realize that Kaplan had been that deeply involved in the D-13. I restored a 1972 D13 about 10 years ago and raced it a few times with VARA before selling it to a young fellow in San Diego. The paint job was courtesy of the previous owner. Edited March 29, 2022 by papak 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1Steve Posted March 29, 2022 Share Posted March 29, 2022 In the early 80’s, a friend had a D13 in pieces. I asked if I could put it back together and Auto-X it. He said sure, I Jammed my 6 foot self in it and drove it for years…. And then I was hooked..😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papak Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 My first racing experience was in Formula Vee back in the early 70s in South Florida. I started in a Beech and quickly moved on to a couple of Lynx’s. It was a hotbed back then. Our collective group produced a couple of Nation Champions, Don Courtney and George Frizzelle. I always aspired to a D-13. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSXguy Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 I found out from Martin Phipps at Caterham that my chassis was originally spec'ed and ordered by DSK Cars, Inc. He was able to share correspondence and invoices but i couldn't find much about them on the net. This is good info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SevenAmerica Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 11 hours ago, NSXguy said: I found out from Martin Phipps at Caterham that my chassis was originally spec'ed and ordered by DSK Cars, Inc. He was able to share correspondence and invoices but i couldn't find much about them on the net. This is good info. That’s interesting since DSK and Caterham didn’t always play well together - Catherham scared that DSK was producing and selling Sevens on their own and cutting into Caterhams market. You can see of course who won in the end! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregM Posted March 30, 2022 Author Share Posted March 30, 2022 I just purchased the DSK that was on sale in Arizona. Organizing everything now to get it transported here to North Carolina. When I was browsing pages of this forum, I found an old thread about this yellow DSK and I now believe that the seller is (was?) a member of this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FE07 Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Raced a Vee for 5 seasons. A Womer EV-3. Great way to learn how to carry speed into turns in a low momentum car. And draft as well. I remember the first time I ever felt what it's like to be in a draft. Following someone down the straight at 80 mph with your foot off the gas and you 6" behind them is quite the thrill! Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SevenAmerica Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 7 hours ago, GregM said: I just purchased the DSK that was on sale in Arizona. Organizing everything now to get it transported here to North Carolina. When I was browsing pages of this forum, I found an old thread about this yellow DSK and I now believe that the seller is (was?) a member of this forum. Hi Greg, This may be the car David Kaplan named "Lemonade"... can you share any details, or a link to an ad where you bought it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 John - This should be the link: https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/chandler-lotus-super-seven-by-dsk/7462733341.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregM Posted March 31, 2022 Author Share Posted March 31, 2022 (edited) 10 hours ago, SevenAmerica said: Hi Greg, This may be the car David Kaplan named "Lemonade"... can you share any details, or a link to an ad where you bought it? John, The car I purchased is the one from the Phoenix ad 11Budlite is sharing above. Digging through the archives of this forum, I believe it is the same car as this (but I might be wrong): ps: What's the story behind the "lemonade" nickname? Is it just because of the color scheme? Edited March 31, 2022 by GregM added question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSK Posted April 1, 2022 Share Posted April 1, 2022 Hi GregM and others, David Kaplan here. Back at DSK Cars, we: 1. Sold Lotus Seven replacement parts 2. Designed and built DSK upgraded parts that fit Lotus Sevens 3. Designed and built DSK Seven and TurboSeven models of our own 4. Restored Sevens (our Magnificent Sevens program) 5. Built SCCA production and vintage Sevens I mention these various products and services to avoid confusion when talking about your particular car. Here's why: Not sure what you meant by "I just purchased the DSK that was on sale in Arizona" Back in the day, we only refer to a car as a "DSK" if it was built on a DSK chassis So I don't think that your Seven is a DSK Seven in that sense It could be a Seven that passed through DSK Cars for service - or one that we built from Lotus Seven parts Is that what you mean by "I just purchased the DSK ...?" I saw something in the string about an Arch Motors chassis So could be that it was a wrecked Lotus Seven that needed a new chassis where either DSK Cars or a customer did the work Does it have a Lotus Chassis plate? Any chassis plate? My guess, based on the scant information and the pictures: We sold someone an Arch Motors chassis and they built this car, not DSK Cars It just doesn't look like the parts and fabrication work are typical of a DSK build It is definitely not Lemonade! Lemonade had an original Lotus chassis plate and was a fully race-prepped car when we bought it We rebuilt it and made it suitable for street use, retaining much of its race performance I have a large color picture of Lemonade in my office - I am looking at it as I write this I cannot see how your car could be the same car I'd be pleased to discuss any or all of these thoughts with you. Can discuss any of this on this forum, or by phone dsk, dsk744@gmail.com 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now