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The Regular Summary of Classified Ads of Se7ens Found For Sale


Croc

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Its been discussed on this forum a few times. SimpleSevens and Dennis Ortenburger have recognized it in their website/book. So it has some level of historical recognition with what seems to be generally accepted as a period-made IRS conversion to an S1 chassis. I have not checked if it is a genuine S1 chassis but everyone else seems to be accepting that it is from what I am reading?

 

I view period-made as 50s to mid-60s.

 

The key question impacting value from that is:

1) Was it a home-brew modification by an owner?

or

2) Was it a Lotus experimental vehicle?

 

No clear cut evidence either way. The owner makes his case in the auction wording. SimpleSevens documented fact pattern balances that out. We will likely never get the complete fact pattern that convinces everyone out there but I don't think that matters anyway as it probably does not move the value much either way plus it is fascinating the way it is.

 

Putting that aside, it is a wonderful vehicle that is full of history. Alloy nose cone - so so rare. The IRS makes it better than a live axle whether it be on track or road. The BMC A series engine is one I had in my S2 back in Oz a lifetime ago and they are sweet little engines that rev their guts out. Switftune in UK do a Mini version of that engine that they rev to 10,000rpm in competition mode - bulk money build though.

 

A potential buyer needs to decide will he race or road this. I don't know what class this best fits into for racing as it is today. Some thought needed there. It would kill a Mini with a hot A series engine so it has huge racing potential with some research.

 

It has what I call a race restoration currently. The car likely needs some fettling work to bring it up to its best. Its buyer weakness is:

- its rear view with the unusually modded rear end.

- Potential purchasers need to think about whether they fit behind the wheel. These were small. Lot shorter in driving position than an S3 Caterham. Forgetting our width restrictions, Shane and I would not fit because of our long legs. I think the max person is around 5'11?

 

I hope Dean chimes in here on the forum to weigh in given his extensive S1 knowledge and experience.

 

Bidding starts at $20K. Supposedly no reserve per the ad. That would be pretty close to where a buyer assumes no official Lotus provenance. Where else do you get an S1 for sale at this price that actually runs and drives? Sure it needs work but that creates the value play in my mind.

 

If it were me I would:

 

- give it the Steve from St Louis mirror polish treatment

- clean up that dash area - paint it matt black or black crackle finish to avoid blindness, find Smith gauges and make them look consistent, logically array switchgear, sort out the "ear" worn part of dash at side of chassis, put a knuckle protector on lower edge of dash to avoid gear changing injuries

- mount the wings and find some head lights/indicators/rear brake lights/etc - make it road safe.

- need to assess the A series engine condition more closely. It runs but so does a single horse so who knows if it is producing power good enough for a buy to be happy? A rebuild may be worth it?

- probably put a black tonneau cover over top of boot area or maybe an ali panel with dzus for access - the rear view is the car's biggest visual drawback - it looks messy.

- light cosmetics and clean up in the engine bay

- wheel alignment and assessment of tire age for cracks

- replacement of anything perishable rubber in suspension/engines/brakes

 

 

I can see upside to adding value for the first time in this car's 'for sale' life initially on Craigslist then more recently Ebay. That work listed above is cheap and improves its cosmetic appeal plus improves its mechanical freshness/reliability. It may never come close to crossing the $30k sale price area even after my suggested mods but I don't think that ever matters - you have a very unique and very rapid S1 (equal to crossflow powered Caterham/Birkin) that you should still be whole on if you ever have to sell.

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Back in AL this evening. I’m 1+17 from the car. I’ll find time this week to go over, and have a look. Armed with Croc’s excellent response, perhaps get a better feel (photos/questions/ride?) for what’s there.

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Back in AL this evening. I’m 1+17 from the car. I’ll find time this week to go over, and have a look. Armed with Croc’s excellent response, perhaps get a better feel (photos/questions/ride?) for what’s there.

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The "S1" is a very interesting car. I'd love to see Shane buy it and work his magic. Amazing that it weighs in at 880 lbs, 250 lbs less than my lightweight X-flow, 500 lbs less than my porky full caged '03 Caterham.

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Refer next post below for Craigslist ads

 

NEW

 

Caterham (no MSO, No VIN, no Title? This one is interesting...)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-Lotus-Super-Seven/123961701024?hash=item1cdcb172a0:g:~8AAAOSws65dvkGN

 

 

Replica

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-Replica-Kit-Makes-LOTUS/293308561294?hash=item444a8d778e:g:N2UAAOSwG8ldvKaZ

 

 

 

 

REPEATS

 

Lotus 7 S2

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-Lotus-Super-Seven/223653636043?hash=item3412cba7cb:g:IRUAAOSwbzpdcqDW

and here

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/lotus/super-seven/2315081.html

 

 

Caterham SCCA

https://www.wirewheel.com/inventory/available/2001-caterham-race-car-for-sale/

 

 

Lotus 7 S2

http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/lotus/1557321710/1557321710ss.htm

 

 

Stalker

http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/lotus/1437589044/1437589044ss.htm

 

 

Caterham

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/caterham/unspecified/2320672.html

 

 

Stalker

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/2167534.html

 

 

Lotus 7 S1

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/2099394.html

 

 

Caterham SV

https://vintageracecarsales.com/portfolio-view/2013-caterham-seven-480/

 

 

Birkin

https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1271373/1967-lotus-super-seven-for-sale-in-washington-missouri-63090

 

 

Birkin

http://sodo-moto.com/listings/1991-birkin-seven/

 

 

Super Seven Sportscar (Fejer)

http://sodo-moto.com/listings/super-seven-2tg/

 

 

Birkin

http://sodo-moto.com/listings/1990-birkin-seven-so-cal/

 

 

Caterham SV

http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/201216-nos-caterham-sv-roadsport/

 

 

Caterham

http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/2000-caterham/

 

 

 

 

Canada

 

Caterham

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/oakville-halton-region/lotus-caterham-super-7/1454204099

 

 

Caterham

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camions/sherbrooke-qc/caterham-super-7-sylver-jubilee-1982/1410777802

 

 

Caterham

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/markham-york-region/rare-1992-caterham-super-7-hpc-edition-lhd/1457842919

 

 

Dutton Malaga 7

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/barrie/lotus-7-dutton-malaga-b-plus-1976/1461384777

 

 

Replica project

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/mississauga-peel-region/lotus-7-replica/1469490969

 

 

Seven fiberglass parts

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-auto-body-parts/city-of-toronto/lotus-7-replica-fiberglass-parts/1446688879

 

 

Replica

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/markham-york-region/lotus-super-seven/1467827905

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Shane: I am telling you that you need to buy the Lotus S1. First, as noted, it only weighs 880 lbs. So you would have added-lighteness bragging rights, in perpetuity. No more derisive porker/storker nicknames for you, and no more having sand kicked in your face at the beach at NJMP's paddock!

 

Instead, you could saunter around the paddock with a superior smirk and look surprised/saddened when Caterham and Birkin owners confessed how tubby their bloated vehicles really were. And, you could add the weight of the S1 to the weight of your Stalker and honestly say that the average weight of your se7ens was the same as the Caterhams, etc, And that, on average, each se7en you owned had 2 more cylinders than the other se7ens.

 

I dont see how you can not buy this S1!

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Shane: I am telling you that you need to buy the Lotus S1. First, as noted, it only weighs 880 lbs. So you would have added-lighteness bragging rights, in perpetuity. No more derisive porker/storker nicknames for you, and no more having sand kicked in your face at the beach at NJMP's paddock!

 

Instead, you could saunter around the paddock with a superior smirk and look surprised/saddened when Caterham and Birkin owners confessed how tubby their bloated vehicles really were. And, you could add the weight of the S1 to the weight of your Stalker and honestly say that the average weight of your se7ens was the same as the Caterhams, etc, And that, on average, each se7en you owned had 2 more cylinders than the other se7ens.

 

I dont see how you can not buy this S1!

 

Mike, while I do appreciate to encouragement to venture over to ‘The Dark Side’, I’ve worked very hard over the last few years to earn, and live up to, the Storker moniker. And if I continue to eat the way I’ve been eating lately, I’ll be the porker striving the Storker. As for the paddock sand, I began playing in the sand as a child and never grew tired of it. :jester:

 

Ok, on a more serious note, my father and I ventured over to Old School Resto yesterday to have a look see. The location is a small church-turned-garage resting snuggly inside chainlink fencing. Every inch of the property is decorated with some sort of automobile project with each looking the part of a ‘barn find in waiting’. Walk inside and you’ve stepped back in time. Projects galore; mainly Lotus, Volvo and one-offs from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Engines hanging off stands, sitting around here and there. In the middle of all this sits the S1. Apparently, this guy is constantly tweaking and wrenching. The S1 is somewhat dismantled with a fresh, just-installed Sprite making 12:1. I ask the owner if he mined if I took a few photos....he declined saying, “I’d rather the car not be seen publicly in this shape.” Followed up with “Once it’s back together, I’m running it at Road Atlanta next weekend....if I still own it.” With that, we chit chatted a bit more with the owner, then we left. The visit felt more like toleration and intrusion into his world rather than ‘glad you stopped by’. As for the S1, I know very little about these (hence, the reason I wanted photos that I could share here). So, the car is there and, as best as I can tell, seems to be pretty much as described on the eBay listing. And Mike, I don’t know that I could handle something sitting next to my Storker that is actually smaller. :seeya:

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Shane, I have finally been able to drill down on a couple of the prime "enablers" for this se7ens vice and they are the Double Mikes aka Croc and Kitcat. There is a "sevens disorder" known as folie a deux where two people share the experience at the same time (a little bit of psychological liberty here).

 

Just think though how rare it would be to have an S1 with a true aluminum nose! Suave would have another stable mate. Then, we could safely surmise a case for possible folie a trois!

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This weeks edition of listings found

 

 

 

NEW

 

Maxton Rollerskate

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1991-maxton-rollerskate-3/

 

 

Blakely 7

https://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/d/miami-1980-lotus-7/7015078651.html

 

 

Lotus 7 S2

https://slo.craigslist.org/ctd/d/san-luis-obispo-1962-lotus-super-seven/7016294697.html

 

 

 

REPEATS

 

MK Indy

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Caterham-Lotus-7-MK-Indy-R-Kit-Car/153718031016?hash=item23ca4f02a8:g:xcIAAOSwRwddG5CQ

 

 

Caterham

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-Lotus-Super-Seven/123961701024?hash=item1cdcb172a0:g:~8AAAOSws65dvkGN

and here

https://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/d/jeffersonville-2009-lotus-super-7/7011927151.html

 

 

Replica

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-Replica-Kit-Makes-LOTUS/293308561294?hash=item444a8d778e:g:N2UAAOSwG8ldvKaZ

 

 

Lotus 7 S2

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-Lotus-Super-Seven/223653636043?hash=item3412cba7cb:g:IRUAAOSwbzpdcqDW

 

 

Wharton 7

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Lotus-Seven-Aluminum-and-hand-laid-fibreglass/193200031157?hash=item2cfb9e85b5:g:31AAAOSwEF5dgjgl

 

 

Caterham

https://www.wirewheel.com/inventory/available/2001-caterham-race-car-for-sale/

 

 

Lotus 7 S2

http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/lotus/1557321710/1557321710ss.htm

and here

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/lotus/super-seven/2315081.html

 

 

Stalker

http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/lotus/1437589044/1437589044ss.htm

 

 

Caterham

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/caterham/unspecified/2320672.html

 

 

Stalker

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/2167534.html

 

 

Lotus 7 S1

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/2099394.html

 

 

Caterham

http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/2000-caterham/

and here

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/caterham/2326111.html

 

 

Replica

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/super-seven/2289894.html

 

 

Caterham

https://vintageracecarsales.com/portfolio-view/2013-caterham-seven-480/

 

 

Birkin

https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1271373/1967-lotus-super-seven-for-sale-in-washington-missouri-63090

 

 

Caterham

http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/201216-nos-caterham-sv-roadsport/

 

 

Super Seven Sportscar/Fejer

http://sodo-moto.com/listings/super-seven-2tg/

 

 

Birkin

http://sodo-moto.com/listings/1990-birkin-seven-so-cal/

 

 

Birkin

http://sodo-moto.com/listings/1991-birkin-seven/

and here

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/mercer-island-1991-birkin-super-7/7016311213.html

 

 

Replica

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/el-sobrante-1963-lotus-super-7-caterham/7009938020.html

 

 

Westfield

https://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/d/pompano-beach-1992-westfield-sei-lotus-7/7015367531.html

 

 

Stalker

https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/frisco-lotus-super-seven-brunton-super/7007323386.html

 

 

Diva

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/phoenix-1962-lotus-super-7-kit/7001592858.html

 

 

Stalker

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/lake-forest-lotus-super-7/6998325111.html

 

 

 

CANADA

 

Dutton Malaga

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/barrie/lotus-7-dutton-malaga-b-plus-1976/1461384777

 

 

Caterham

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/oakville-halton-region/lotus-caterham-super-7/1454204099

 

 

Caterham

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camions/sherbrooke-qc/caterham-super-7-sylver-jubilee-1982/1410777802

 

 

MCC 7 (Fejer) Project

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/mississauga-peel-region/the-last-mcc-7/1432118799

 

 

Replica project

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/mississauga-peel-region/lotus-7-replica/1469490969

 

 

Fiberglass bits

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-auto-body-parts/city-of-toronto/lotus-7-replica-fiberglass-parts/1446688879

Edited by Croc
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