The Regular Summary of Classified Ads of Se7ens Found For Sale

Ooh, this is a relisting of the one from July (during the Bring a Trailer "Week of a thousand Sevens"... just kidding, but they listed so many at the same time).

There was a lot of talk in the comments about whether this was actually a Lotus and not a Caterham. One thing that seemed likely is that it was not SB1633.

It ended up at $13k with the reserve not met.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1964-lotus-seven-7/

Also, back in the July auction it was presented with a clean Michigan title, but the dealer selling it now says no title was provided to them and it's listed on a bill of sale.

All that being said, a Seven with a 4A-GE is cool, hopefully somebody gets it at a good price...

jbcollier · November 8, 2025

There is a lot of things odd about this car. As an old, beat-up LoCost? Sure. I don’t myself see it being even a Caterham let alone originally Lotus-produced.

MV8 · November 8, 2025

I think it started as a kit built in the 80s. He should have taken the 13k. I expect this was an estate sale find.

IamScotticus · November 8, 2025

Looks early Caterham short cockpit to me.

Scuttle side plates, top damper mounts look Catish. Everything else is altered for a auto cross weapon. Grungy axle. It sat somewhere for a while. That engine on a 4spd? Which box? I think it's a good prospect for 20k. Might need brake line and MCs replacement due to age and neglect.

wdb · November 8, 2025

I think we can all agree that, whatever it IS, it IS NOT a 1964 S2 and never was. I'm going to go with it being an early-ish Caterham with a Franken-yotaed drivetrain. Those rear trailing arms are, uhh, interesting, as are the front swaybar links. Speaking of which I think the front suspension has been given the wide track treatment. There are rose joints everywhere. The RH steering rack boot is still in shambles. The front wheels may have been redrilled for a different bolt circle.

Gauges are a mix of this and that. The dash panel might be a completely replaced panel. The turn signals occupy two of those toggles?

I'd honestly be afraid of this car.

jbcollier · November 8, 2025

If it is a modified Cat, the mods are ham-fisted, slapped-together, bodges.

IamScotticus · November 9, 2025

I think it just needs cleaned up and it will all make sense. But if its been bought and dumped too many times, something nasty may be lurking underneath...

Edited November 9, 2025 by IamScotticus

JB455 · November 9, 2025

So the first seller on BAT had the car since 2011 and had a clean title in their name... now it's been flipped at least once and lost the paperwork? If it sold at Mecum last month for $16.5 (plus fees?) and then got shipped to Florida (another $800-1000?) and then got serviced and cleaned up, I don't see Bullet making any money on it...

https://www.mecum.com/lots/1156351/1964-lotus-super-seven-roadster/?aa_id=717992-0

panamericano · November 9, 2025

The easiest explanation for Title/No Title is that the previous owner kept the title to use on a better car. Wouldn't be the first time.

panamericano · November 9, 2025

On a happier note - garage art on BAT:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/sign-301/?utm_source=dm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2025-11-09

jbcollier · November 9, 2025

Up here we do not have "titles". The sacrosanct element for us is the VIN, usually associate with the chassis (not with Lotuses up to the 70s, I know). All documentation is about the VIN and ownership. Changing VINs is flat out fraud up here. If I lose my registration (the vehicle's documentation), I just walk into my local registry (DMV) and pay a small fee for another one.

Frankly, I have never understood what a "title" actually is in the US. How you can "lose" it even though you still have the car. And why you can't get another unless you frankenstein some long dead guy.

MV8 · November 9, 2025

It is a project, but I like it for being complete with the weather package and good basic bones. Rear axle is also Toyota. Lots of quick, weekend fixes that don't park the car for extended periods which are part of the fun of any enthusiast car imho. Bill of sale is all that is required for something this old. If it were new enough to require a title doc to transfer ownership, there is often a bonding process an owner can use to get it on the road.

IamScotticus · November 9, 2025

1 hour ago, jbcollier said:

Frankly, I have never understood what a "title" actually is in the US. How you can "lose" it even though you still have the car

Tiles are used for large movable things because its not always practical to exchange ownership of the item at the time and place of the closure of the sale transaction. A common example is in shipping vehicles overseas and submitting to customs. The vehicle sits in a lot at the terminal while title is examined for authentication, ownership, theft and liens. And if if your car, or equipment is stolen, recovered, impounded, etc, one can establish ownership with the title. Theft is so bad here, particularly trailers by certain people who will bolt down into Mexico, it should be standard practice for Customs to verify all trailers with a title.

Texas is very title heavy, due to theft. When I bought a trailer in Dallas, (you know who you are-thank you again), I didn't dare bring in down to Houston without a substantial hitch lock. It took me a while to get the right lock; they kept sending me wrong parts due to a model variation mix-up.