AndyB Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Wanted one since seeing The Prisoner in 1967 or 68, almost got one in 1970, then life got in the way, but finally found my 1962 3 years ago when I was just 57. Drive it every day and intend to do so until I can’t get out of it under my own power That's why I said I'd drive until "I can't get in it". Told the wife when I can't get out it's likely I'm dead so save on a coffin and just ask them to dig the hole a little wider and roll me in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Wanted one since seeing The Prisoner in 1967 or 68, almost got one in 1970, then life got in the way, but finally found my 1962 3 years ago when I was just 57. Drive it every day and intend to do so until I can’t get out of it under my own power The Prisoner, opening. :auto: The Prisoner*#2 Opening Sequence HD [1.85x1] - YouTube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toyotus 7 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 I bought my first one just a few days shy of my 48th birthday, then, fearing that would wear it out from overuse (daily driver), bought another one for a Christmas present to myself when I was 49. However, a friend of mine has owned his geniune lotus seven since 1968ish, when it was a new-but-unsold dealer stock, having sat for two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rx7locost Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Cuurently I'm 61. My first encounter with Sevens was when I was a youngster. Before I had my driver's license, I would occasionally see someone tooling about town in a Lotus. I decided then that I must have one. Looked at Birkins about 8 years ago and couldn't get comfortable in the seat. Decided to build my own Locost for the educational aspect. I learned a lot. Now I get to reap those hours of labor. I've driven to 2 Midwest gaterings, putting on more than 1500 miles in each long weekend. Plan on attending this year's too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pi7ot Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Had the mustard coloured matchbox Lotus Super Seven when I was child and had wanted a real one since then. At 39 in 2000 I bought a Birkin. Hope to use it a little more this year. m (Matchbox Caterham R500 Evo Owner) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboWood Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) I don't have the great life long drive for 7, but I have been a general car guy for as long as my parents can remember. I've gone from matchbox to R/C cars to multiple car projects. Kit cars became an attractive option after being annoyed by what the average person wants in a new car. Now, at 32 I've been lucky enough to start a Caterham build. Hopefully it doesn't take too long to finish! Daniel Edited February 16, 2014 by TurboWood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMike Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 I purchased my 2006 Lotus Elise brand spanking new when I was 42 and became hooked on 7s after riding in a Westfield during a track event in 2009. Shortly after, I bought my old Birkin from Marine7. Then a couple of years later I decided to build my Storker. At this point, I foresee always having a 7 in my garage. I am currently looking for a used, low-mileage supercharged Evora for my wife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CASwede Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 43. My pop had a Lotus 7 in the late 60's, early 70's, and he told me he always regretted selling it. He still has pictures of it hanging in his garage. So when the money, kids, garage space, and wife's blessing came into alignment, I dove in. It's been everything I've ever wanted from a sports car. It's not just the speed or the handling. It's a pure car that I'm using to teach my young boy about how cars work. Now he's just as sick as I am. An experience I'd never trade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnK Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) Coming late to the party, I gotta be several standard deviations to the right of the mean here - you guys are really young! The thing I've been working to develop into something I find worthy of the name, and for over the past 9 years, showed up in my driveway on my 61'st birthday - this year I'll turn 69 with no lessening of interest or enthusiasm, although the physiology seems recently to be going to hell. A Se7en was a very rational move from motorcycles to cars, having started seriously in 1966 with a 1964 Ducati Diana Mk III (it was either that or a 250 Bultaco Metralla). See Wikipedia for what the original looked like, and also for the Bultaco Metralla. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/49212285/AsstdStuff/RIGHT-CU.JPG https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/49212285/AsstdStuff/LEFT-CUT.JPG https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/49212285/AsstdStuff/FRONT-CU.JPG Going further back, my first car, in 1962, was a 1957 MG-A - which was such an awakening, revelation, you name it!... I think it all boils down to my love of taking a vehicle around corners and enjoying what it and I are going through when the connection between us and the road is being negotiated somewhere around the edge of possibility. It just feels so incredibly great when you're skating on that edge through miles and miles of very twisty and hilly country road (which I am more than absurdly fortunate to have in my neighbourhood.) An old cafe-racer, or a new sport bike, or a motocross bike has things to teach anyone about what it means to go around corners that apply universally to the world of vehicles. A Se7en is the closest thing to that world that I see- so I continued my exploration in that realm with absolutely no dissapointment. My approach to things mechanical is to study how they work, take them apart to study how they're implemented and then see if I can make them work even better - which is the reason why I bought something other than a Caterham. What I learned going in, and perhaps correctly, was that the Caterham had been through so much development by folk with the appropriate inspiration that there would be nothing I could do other than enjoy driving it - and I wanted a richer relationship with what I was driving, and even if it cost me more overall. I'm enjoying the success one appreciates after having developed several of the collections of systems that make a sports car deserve the name and, if the physiology holds out, and after one more big push, will have something that, while not quite a state-of-the-art Caterham that I'd truly appreciate, actually comes within the same realm. Edited February 18, 2014 by JohnK add pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XR4Bill Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Picked up my Locost (V8-302) in March 2011. Only regret is, I should of bought one earlier in life as Im now 60 and I still grin ear to ear when driving it. I Auto X (when time allows) and Ive also met lots of people :grouphug: with similar 7s and enjoy the get togethers and Blats. Bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 (edited) 57, but not for too much longer. Have always loved fast cars, preferring function over form. In high school and college had a 340 Dodge Dart. Nine years later, my first extra car was a one owner '68 Dodge GTS (Dart body) with a factory 383 and 4spd. Had that for 17 years until I finally admitted that muscle cars were very fast for their time. As time progressed, and cars improved, it had about the same 0-60 as a Honda Accord. In 2004, sold the GTS back to the original owner and bought a new Corvette. A great car, but old Autoweek and Car&Driver reviews of Caterhams were always in the back of my mind. In 2011, wife reminded me that I was not getting younger each year and if I didn't buy a Caterham now, when would I? Sold the 'vette and ordered the CSR which was in my driveway exactly one year after my wife's approval to get it. As a thank you, the car is in her favorite colors: dark purple with a light gold stripe. Wife and Caterham are both keepers. Edited February 18, 2014 by lucky dawg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Will be 57 this year, got the S2K six years ago (man time flies...). Other things keep me from really playing with it but wouldn't think of selling it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HankMauel Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I'm 68 and have owned the Lotus 7 since 2009, when my racing partner and I pulled it out of the shop rafters and brought it back to the 1960's era...skinny tires and fat driver. You can tell by the license plate what my inspiration was. http://usa7s.com/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=4677&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1355783620 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readysetgo Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Got my seven at 29.... now 33. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 got the bug when i was 21, late in my 22nd year i bought my first love... has been a fiery romance ever since. I think we have a winner here. Unless somebody here got one at age 20 or earlier? As some comedian once said, I am either near the end of an unhealthy life, or near the middle of a healthy one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 The car's 57 years seems to be matched by the age gap of it's owners, not too many marques have been around that long, even less could brag such diverse ownership and certainly none have influenced so many other vehicles to be built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Yes, it's a bit unnerving to realize that back in '61, when I "fell under the spell" of the Lotus 7, it was a 4 year old design(:. If only I had aged as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgb240 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I've had my 7 for 3 years now, I'm 45. Wanted one since I was 16 or so.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Yes, it's a bit unnerving to realize that back in '61, when I "fell under the spell" of the Lotus 7, it was a 4 year old design(:. If only I had aged as well! You, me and many others I'd guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klasik-69 Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 62 and have always been a car guy. About 6 years ago, a guy brought a 7 to a drive-in car show I always attended. I had never seen one before and it intrigued me......super light & nimble, didn't know how much power but the guy showed me the Ford cross flow motor & I thought it may be slow. 3 years ago my orthopedic surgeon was setting me up for a new knee when he casually mentioned he was getting rid of his Lotus. All ears at this point, "What Lotus do you have ?". "A super 7", he says as he left the room. "What is that?" I asked. So he comes back with an 8X10 photo. Now I can't just let this go but he's not all that enthusiastic to discuss further. So after the surgery, I pin him down to talk about selling this oversized go kart. A month later it's in my garage & the next year I'm racing it in SEDIV SCCA in the TT events. Isn't life great. I got a new knee and a new car, & both work great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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