Toyotus 7 Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 I came across this photo of a 1970s racing seven with this wing-like orientation for the clamshells. I thought perhaps some builders may be interested in it. Personally, I think it looks great. http://www.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/RoadSport/Lotus7bett.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Thanks for sharing. Any idea what the two bars are sticking out of the rear fenders and connected to the side of the car? My ignorance asking.:rofl: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdog Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 I thought the original idea of the clamshell was (in addition to classic styling) to keep crap off the car and drivers elbow. This method doesn't mitigate either situation and would seem to simply add weight without any benefit. It looks interesting though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdog Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Thanks for sharing. Any idea what the two bars are sticking out of the rear fenders and connected to the side of the car? My ignorance asking.:rofl: Maybe a set of long trailing arms for the rear axle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 (edited) That would make since. The cut outs on the fenders look as though they were cut to provide movement of the bars. Edited January 25, 2014 by xcarguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Is this the Ferrari Testa Rossa 250 look for the Seven? The two parallel arms back through the rear fenders are the locating arms for an independent rear suspension that the fellow has installed on his Seven. Several early Sevens (including the well-known -- at the time -- "7 1/2" racing Seven) had the fully independent rear suspension from a Lotus Elite grafted on, replacing the stock live rear axle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick OTeen Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 That would make since.Since when? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Since I can't spell sense, that's 'SENSE' when. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toyotus 7 Posted January 25, 2014 Author Share Posted January 25, 2014 I don't know anything about the car other than that it won it's BARC modified sports car class at Chicane in 1976. I dig it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDingo8MyBaby Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Is this the Ferrari Testa Rossa 250 look for the Seven? The two parallel arms back through the rear fenders are the locating arms for an independent rear suspension that the fellow has installed on his Seven. Several early Sevens (including the well-known -- at the time -- "7 1/2" racing Seven) had the fully independent rear suspension from a Lotus Elite grafted on, replacing the stock live rear axle. Funny, my first thought was pontoon fenders too! IRS was a somewhat popular modification back in the late 60's, early 70's. More info/pictures on the lotus 7 IRS configuration here: http://www.lotus7register.co.uk/ser2pix.htm (middle of the page) http://www.simplesevens.com/34TPF/34TPF.htm http://www.lotus7register.co.uk/lss14.htm My personal favorite is the Michael Mumford rear axle though: http://locostusa.com/yahoo/suspension/mumford.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timax Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I thought the original idea of the clamshell was (in addition to classic styling) to keep crap off the car and drivers elbow. This method doesn't mitigate either situation and would seem to simply add weight without any benefit. It looks interesting though. He would be racing in a class where he has to run clam shells. Just one of those guys who has to test the rules to the extreme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1Steve Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Funny, my first thought was pontoon fenders too! IRS was a somewhat popular modification back in the late 60's, early 70's. More info/pictures on the lotus 7 IRS configuration here: http://www.lotus7register.co.uk/ser2pix.htm (middle of the page) http://www.simplesevens.com/34TPF/34TPF.htm http://www.lotus7register.co.uk/lss14.htm My personal favorite is the Michael Mumford rear axle though: http://locostusa.com/yahoo/suspension/mumford.gif As fitted to Superformance S1's..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee break Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 The position of the clam shells looks to reduce front end lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toyotus 7 Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 The rear fenders look to be dropped about a inch or so as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I have clamshells and they do NOT stop anything getting to the driver, mud, water, rocks you name it. The problem with modifying a clamshell car is the nasty marks left where they used to sit. Anyway I look forward to my Seven trying to be an aeroplane when I (rarely) reach 95 mph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancylad Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Love the look of my classic clamshells, haven't had had the airplane effect yet at 100mph...must try harder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 OK it doesn't actually lift off but gets very twitchy and tends to be affected more by any sidewinds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super7guy Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Thanks for posting the info for the mumford link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Here is a scan of Dennis Ortenburger's article in Autoweek in 1982 about Hugh Haskell's 1962 Lotus "Seven 1/2." It had IRS from a Lotus 20 FJ car, with the parallel leading arms from the cockpit through the rear wing. This car was later restored to a high standard when it was owned by Stu Baumgard in California, and was feature in a "museum-quality" photo spread in a Paul Oxman "Classic Sportscars" calendar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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