BusaNostra Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 If you want a pure seven or a clone seven, stay the concept of 7. If you want big v8, humongous torque call it other than 7 'cause the man (chapman) will not appreciate that concept in his grave. Chapman critized many times with his work and creation but stayed in what he believes a lotus 7 should be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 If you only have 300 hp worth of traction, what does the extra power get you? you have way more than 300 hp worth of traction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 You could always take it to a drifting school/event... a guy like me would need a traction control option to help with the lack of skill and over enthusiasm I tend to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonjo2 Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 Colin would probably not approve. However, Brunton adding "lighteness" to their S-10 based 7 using pedestrian OTS parts (corvette engine) is sorta inline with the Chapman mantra, with a little Tim the Toolman "more power" thrown in. Besides, who wouldn't want to drive a sprint car on the street. Inspiration: Lotus Seven, Panoz LMP-1, and Sprint Car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedzilla Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 It's all a question of tire width and compound... it seems some folks here haven't really looked at a modern race car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Ebrahimi Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Mazda is being modest as he had one of the first 7's with an LS1. Having driven the Rotus regularly with the warmed up LS1(~450HP I believe), I can say with 100% certainty that the LS powered Stalker will be a FUN car to drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookwheel Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 (edited) It's all a question of tire width and compound... it seems some folks here haven't really looked at a modern race car. Gotta agree with you on that! :driving: Even with the power, modern technology has made the cars very 'street friendly' as well. The original look and feel is intact for the most part, ...... but when the skinny peddle gets pushed hard, the experience is a whole new world! Bonus is dependability and modern technology. Not for everyone, but no reason to poo-poo the concept. Edited June 15, 2011 by snookwheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookwheel Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 I just ordered a LS3 Stalker turn key and look forward to the experience. I've always wanted a Caterham but would never have been able to swing the high end sport bike performing ones. This should do the trick, will be a handful, and will allow me to participate in cruise nights. Congratulations! Drooling with envy! That will be a beast. I have the 3.8 SC and can only imagine what the LS3 will be like! Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 The advantage of having "more power than you can use" is that eventually you will find a way to use it. Just like you find ways around having "not enough power", only more fun. I agree that as long as the cars stay somewhat within the relm of a "7", spirited and agile, there is no reason for limiting the horsepower. That has been the argument with Cobra owners since the first big block got installed. Anybody here going to turn down a "427" Cobra because it's a bit much to handle? LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBOLT Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Jim, Excellent point with the "427". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOTTTCAR Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 I just ordered a LS3 Stalker turn key and look forward to the experience. I've always wanted a Caterham but would never have been able to swing the high end sport bike performing ones. This should do the trick, will be a handful, and will allow me to participate in cruise nights. CRUISE NIGHTS you must b kidding......This thing will allow you to participate in about any thing you want!! Have fun. :party: Gale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midgetracr Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I just noticed this thread. AFAIK I built the first V8 Stalker. It has a 376 cubic inch LS3 that makes over 500 HP. The car has almost 20K miles (11K with the V8) on it and is extremely drivable on both the street and race track. For those who think it cannot "hook up" or is not driveable on public roads, I offer a free but interesting ride on the streets of Chicagoland. I will prove them wrong. For those that think that my car does not handle, if they will pay for the track time at a track near Chicagoland, I will prove them wrong. I have no quarrel with those who prefer a lower performing car. That is just not my cup of tea. There is a reason that real race cars are light weight and high powered. They may be more difficult to drive well but whoever said easy to do is more rewarding? If you want easy to drive, buy a big American slush bucket and lull your self to sleep while driving it to the local WalMart. I have enjoyed almost every minute that I've spent modifying my Stalker to produce and handle the extra power. Many things have been changed from suspension geometry, to LS3 engine computer tune, shocks, springs, trans, differential, roll cage, electric power steering, seat, tires, wheels, brakes, clutch, aero aids, etc., etc. Ultralights, Caterhams, Birkens, LoCosts, Stalkers and all Sevens are neat cars. None of them are aerodynamicly efficient. My answer is to bolt on a wing and use 500+ HP to go over 170 MPH. Who needs aerodynamic efficiency? My Stalker is the cheapest supercar in the world. What other car can be purchased for about $50K that can come close to doing a 9 second 1/4 mile, run over 170 MPH, win lots of events and is still suitable for driving my wife to the ice cream store thru stop and go traffic on a 95+* Sunday afternoon? John Meyers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaNostra Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 (edited) ...I have no doubt your humongous v8 500hp can do all the tricks you mentioned. I can beef up my 4 cylinder to produce 500hp if I want to. I'm questioning how you define a seven car. Just like you called it "supercar". My clone seven is very fast too but far from being a supercar. Fast is not the only attribute to call it a supercar. Owning a real 7 or a clone 7 must be "within" the concept of 7. Anything more than the concept of Collin Chapman, I will call mine a midget or outlaw car or something else......just my opinion, others might have an opposite view . Edited June 16, 2011 by BusaNostra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 As far as I am concerned, John's car is the new yardstick for se7en clone performance. Given the objective parameters by which car performance is typically measured, which he recounts, his car is king. Does it satisfy the "spirit" of the original seven? Let the debate begin. What is nice about the multiple approaches to "seven-ness" is that everyone has their own dream car. And the flexibility of the design allows some people (like me) to live the dream in a lightweight under-powered little car with exquisite handling. Others have cars like Johns, and in between there is everything imaginable. What John leaves out of the equation is driver skill. His car is perfect for him since he is a driver of obvious talent. But his car wld be a death trap for a putz like me as I lack the skill, talent and experience to try to pilot that rocket ship around a curve. Thus one person's perfect 7 is another's disaster. The fun seems to be in finding your match, and then driving the wheels off:)! Mike M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 As far as I am concerned, John's car is the new yardstick for se7en clone performance. Given the objective parameters by which car performance is typically measured, which he recounts, his car is king. Does it satisfy the "spirit" of the original seven? Let the debate begin. What is nice about the multiple approaches to "seven-ness" is that everyone has their own dream car. And the flexibility of the design allows some people (like me) to live the dream in a lightweight under-powered little car with exquisite handling. Others have cars like Johns, and in between there is everything imaginable. What John leaves out of the equation is driver skill. His car is perfect for him since he is a driver of obvious talent. But his car wld be a death trap for a putz like me as I lack the skill, talent and experience to try to pilot that rocket ship around a curve. Thus one person's perfect 7 is another's disaster. The fun seems to be in finding your match, and then driving the wheels off:)! Mike M Well spoken Mike and I do agree with your last two sentences of the above paragraph.......main thing is to have fun and enjoy the vehicle that you like and have.....besides I find that being able to drive fast and out drive higher HP cars is a lot of the fun for me and my 7 clone. :driving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobone Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I think a Se7en is defined by its basic architecture: -Box tube frame tightly wrapped around mechanicals -Simple aluminium wrapped around the chassis tubes - straight lines defined by utility not style -front engine -rear drive -cycle or clam shells -Everything focused on removing items that are not solely focused on making it go, stop, stear. Visually, you should be able to squint and see a series 3 Lotus. I think arguments against horsepower ignores the fact that an original seven was less than 100hp. A new Caterham can be had with 263 HP. I think what must bug some folks is the number of cylinders and the migration towards Detroit iron. In some ways maybe its a bit like the original AC Cobra. Was it a british car or a US car? If this car passes my squint test, she's OK for me and I would love to go for a spin. I now have a reason to visit my parents in Florida. Side trip to Brunton Auto is now a must Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Well, I put about 6K miles a year on the Rotus with the exception of one year when she was under the knife. I enjoyed every neck snapping mile. Going the opposite direction now - from probably the heaviest seven here to hopefully the lightest one. I'll report back on how it feels in comparison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancylad Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Here we go again.... I was out last weekend with with Stewart(Z3 Stalker), his machine pack so much more HP than mine, (Westfield with 1.6 CVH). Our cars sat side by side in the Bragg creek parking lot and garnered admiring looks and the multitude of questions these "7"s always do. As 7 owners and drivers, we dont give a Monkey's Uncle what make they are or how much HP each other has, and whether that makes our car more 7 than the other. My Westie is as much a 7 to me as Stew's Stalker is to him, we have them because of the sheer thrill of driving an outrageous two seater sportscar that can be as much fun to the individual owner whether it has 100HP or 500 HP. A 7 is a 7 is a 7 is a 7... Oh! before I forget, we had a blast, I mean that in a literal sense. Winding roads and silly grins! Cheers Stew. Looking forward to the next one..:driving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I love all of this go-round about what a "7" is. The whole idea that the owners of 7"s are passionate about their rides is wonderful. That's something that only about .005% of all the cars produced can claim. Nobody is concerned about what a "Camry" is. LOL. The best "7" to you is the one you own (unless you happen to covet someone elses) so enjoy it and they will enjoy theirs. That does not mean you have to agree with them, just realize that they don't agree with you either and in the end, your both right. As for too much power. I helped a friend do a restoration on a Sunbeam Tiger years back. He changed out the 260CI for a radically pumped 351CI. It was totally un-driveable and also so damm much fun you couldn't stop grinning. One false move with the thin pedal and you were facing oncoming traffic. He still has it and still thinks the 200+ HP gain is what made the car for him. Other Sunbeam owners might think he "ruined' it. If it the disagreement bothers you all that much, just go take a drive, I know you'll come back feeling much better. LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancylad Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 :iagree: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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