Handbrake Lever for Lotus 7’s

[ianashdown]

1 hour ago, MV8 said:

I have a 1500 spitfire and the handle looks identical to the tr250 unit in the last link. What do you want to know? It's push-button to release, the loop around the top is a travel stop for the quadrant that is free to rotate unless hooked by the bottom slot, and there is a switch for an idiot light. Distance to the lever that engages the clevis is about two inches, and the overall length is about 11 inches.

Hmmm . . .  Any chance of a picture or two?

 

Thanks

 

Ian

[MV8]

[jbcollier]

An original lever is different from all those shown so far.

[IamScotticus]

Lotus, and Caterham, used whatever they could get that worked.   Fortunately,  in the 50s and 60s, there were plenty of small cars to pull parts from.  Chasing originality for this item may not be worth the frustration.  Unfortunately,  those cars aren't plentiful anymore,  especially in the states.  Use whatever will work.  It's the Lotus way.

[SENC]

I went back into the old se7ens listserv and simplesevens archives to see what I could find - no references to other cars from which this might have come.  Caterham continued use of it for many years (though maybe in flat rather than bent) so I'm surprised they can't be found.  Did you check with Chris Mintoft (Redline)?  Arno Huberts in Amsterdam frequently has obscure old parts, worth checking (search for him or his parts page on FB).

 

I did find this picture in the simplesevens archive..

 

[ianashdown]

Hi,

 

Thanks for posting this.  Looks like someone was getting serious about weight removal!

 

I have time, at least a year, while the rest of the car is restored, to as close to original, to find an original part that I can either use or borrow and replicate.   An hour or two and I could have it reverse engineered . . .

 

Ian

[jbcollier]

Mike Brotherwood lists handbrake levers on his site:

 

http://www.mikebrotherwood.com/Parts.html