The "Seven"

In the early spring of 2003 i decided to build my own "Seven". My father had owned one when i was younger, and it got me hooked on Lotus's and sports cars in general.

So, after a couple years of collecting bits and pieces, and following the sale of an Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite, i started. 

The beginning was relatively easy going.  I purchased all my material from Rustan Metals in February, and started on the frame.  I had numerous setbacks, such as cutting pieces too short, and making some parts to the wrong dimensions, but after a period of about a year (of week nights, weekends), i had the frame finished. 

The body took a little less time, about 6 months to get right.  Well, the aluminum took six to do, the fibreglass took an extra 2 months.  I had the car together, finally, at the end of May 2005, but it still didnt run (found out the hard way that you cant mix a Lucas distributor and a Toyota 4AG engine together).  Eventually, in August of 2005, i had it on the road and fully registered.

Now, to the particulars on the "Seven":

Mild steel space frame, as per a "real" Lotus Seven S2/3
Spitfire front uprights, with Caterham hubs
Spitfire steering rack
Fabricated upper and lower wishbones, as per the Seven and a Half
Spax Shocks
Ford Cortina GT rear axle
Stock Lotus Seven S2/3 rear trailing arms and a-frame
Toyota 4AG engine with a Small Port Head
Twin Weber 40 DCOEs (280 duration Colt Cams)
MegaJolt ignition
Toyota T50 transmission
Dunlop alloy wheels
Smiths instruments
Lucas electrics (except the Toyota alternator, and MegaJolt ignition)