Cool clamshell orientation

[Toyotus 7]

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

[xcarguy]

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:

[bigdog]

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.

[bigdog]

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?

[xcarguy]

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

[Alaskossie]

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.

[Nick OTeen]

That would make since.

Since when?

[xcarguy]

Since I can't spell sense, that's 'SENSE' when.

[Toyotus 7]

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.

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

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

[timax]

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.

[S1Steve]

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.....

[coffee break]

The position of the clam shells looks to reduce front end lift.

[Toyotus 7]

The rear fenders look to be dropped about a inch or so as well.

[AndyB]

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.

[lancylad]

Love the look of my classic clamshells, haven't had had the airplane effect yet at 100mph...must try harder!

[AndyB]

OK it doesn't actually lift off but gets very twitchy and tends to be affected more by any sidewinds.

[super7guy]

Thanks for posting the info for the mumford link.

[Alaskossie]

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.