Help! I can't decode my Locost VIN to anything!

[Bentwrench]

According to the GA title, I just bought a '1993 Lotus 7', VIN SABTVR0393xxxxxxx. Good news is this number agrees with a stamped number plate welded on the frame near the right front wheel. No other markings. It has a fiberglass body, a Kent crossflow and a nice build.  Story is it was a British kit, built in England and imported to the US 7-8 years ago. 

 

US paperwork is sketchy as it can't be a '1993 Lotus 7' and Wiki says the SAB manufacture code is Optare, a bus company!  Oh, I can register it and drive it but I sure would like to know what it really is. Anybody have ANY clue on my new Locost? 

 

 

Edited December 2, 2023 by JohnCh
rotated photo

[MV8]

Congrats! Nice looking replica. The bonnet is unique to this kit, but I can't remember where I've seen it before. Maybe it will come to me.

A vin decode probably won't help if they didn't sell kits here, but try the NHTSA decoder using the full vin. I guess original registry in the UK was around 33 years ago and the kit likely older than that. It would be nice to see more pics such as the axle, front suspension, interior, engine bay, etc. There may be clues.

[Croc]

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.