|Sr Lotus Components

TNG7G - The only S

Whilst Lotus were manufacturing the Seven, they made a few one-off and limited production models along the way. These cars either had more powerful engines or were better appointed or both.

Of these, the best known are:- 40DC0E2 Weber carburettors. became an altogether tamer prospect for In September 1968 the new Series Three the late 1960's 'boy racer'. The half dozen or so FWA and FWB came out using all Ford running gear for For the 1969 Racing Car Show, Lotus powered Series One cars the first time. The old and notoriously showed a more powerful luxury version of that had Type Eleven de Dion rear weak rear axle from the Standard Ten was the car called the Lotus Seven 'S'. It was suspension and disc brakes all round. becoming difficult to source and was at fitted with Messrs Holbay Racing Engines These cars were made to special order last replaced with the new and much of Martlesham Aerodrome, Woodbridge, and were supplied to people like Edward stronger item from Ford's Escort Mexico. Suffolk, fast road/race version of the Ford Lewis and Jack Richards who were long The trusty old 105E and 116E pre- 1600 crossflow, designated the CFR1600. standing Lotus customers. crossflow engines were out and in their This had a fully gas flowed cylinder head, The 1965 Racing Car Show exhibit place came Ford's new 2255E crossflow special pistons and con rods, a Holbay dubbed the Three-7. This was a car aimed R120 camshaft, a pair of 40DC0E Weber at Clubmans racing and had a 125bhp The specialist carburettors and a 'Lotus Holbay' cast 1500cc dry-sumped Mark IX aluminium rocker cover to replace the engine and fully independent rear show sadly missed Cosworth item. The engine and accessory supermarket suspension. Unfortunately, with a price produced 120bhp at 6,200rpm at the tag of £1350-00 in component form it 7th-17th January 1970 flywheel and 110 ft/lbs of torque at was more expensive than a Old Horticultural Hall, 5,000rpm. For the show, the car was and never went into production although Vincent Square..SWl painted Rolls Royce Regal Red and had some unofficial copies of the show car jSgjjjj Presented by the Daily Mail aid the M thickly padded squabs and seat British Racing & Sports Car Club Ltd. IL^I were made outside of the factory. back, a brushed and engraved aluminium The 13 'luxury' 126bhp Big Valve Twin covering to the dashboard, leather cloth Cam powered SS cars of 1970 with their trimming to the gear lever gaiter, Dunlop specially strengthened chassis, advanced cast alloy wheels, repositioned front body features, superior appointments and indicator lights and lower headlamps and plush trim and seating. even a push-button radio tucked under the TNG7G, the 1969 Racing Car Show dashboard to the right of the steering variation of the Series Three, dubbed the wheel! As it turned out, the show model Lotus Seven 'S' which this the subject of was to be the only Seven 'S' that Lotus this article. were to make, although a few Series During it's sometimes 'rocky ride' through Three models did find their way to the '60's, the Seven had it's 'peeks and customers with CFR1600 engines and even some of the 'S' type options. troughs'. Lotuses meteoric rise in Formula Catalogue & Guide T- One with drivers like Clark, Hill, Ireland The show model, chassis number and Taylor and the competitive edge that engine of 1600cc (or rarely 1300cc). The SB2402, was registered TNG7G on the the Seven offered at entry level in larger of these was from the Mark Two 25th February 1969 as a Lotus Type Mk7 Clubmans racing all kept up the demand Cortina GT which, with one downdraught "S" with engine number CFR 109WF. The through the early years. Later, however, progressive choke 32DGAV Weber factory kept the car for about 18 months there were other cars like the Mallock U2 produced a respectable, if not earth whilst it was featured in magazine road that were beating the Seven which no shattering, 84bhp. There were also tests such as 'Motor' and 'Car'. doubt effected sales figures. In 1966 the improvements to the interior appointments In September 1970 it was sold to a R. D. Prisoner TV series gave the quirky little with modern fabrics of black rather than Le Win and it seems that the original car cult status in the hands of Patrick red and a more passenger friendly 1600 Holbay was changed for a Lotus McGoohan and KAR120C became a dashboard layout where the speedometer Twin Cam and the registration was household registration number! By the mid was at last, in it's rightful place, in front changed to KGD 1. Later the registration 1960's the state of the art 1500cc of the driver. All these refinements, was changed again for OWV 990G. From Cosworth engined Series Two cars had however, made the new car a bit heavier then the list of owners reads: (3). March variously between 90bhp and 125bhp than the old one and without the noisy 1972, Michael F Huddleston of Bainton depending on specification, via a specially pair of carburettors and their occasional near Driffield. (4). November 1972, Roger worked head, special high lift camshaft, menacing spit or the deafening exhaust Fleetwood of Birmingham. (5). January free flow manifolds and a pair of besides the passenger's left ear, it 1973, Robert H. Russett, Bristol. (6). No Lotus Components

date, Michael John Hunt, Bristol. (7). August 1977, Sam Nelson of Nelson Racing Engines. (8). 01 June 1979, Justin John Kennedy, Edinburgh. (9). 03 August 1987, Gerry Thomas, Frome. (10). Later in 1987 the present owner, Vincent Haydon, purchased the car, still in running order but with a colour change to black and with Caterham wings. He says it drove like a dog! With the car came: Original Green Log Book, Chassis Plate, Body Panels with signs of original Rolls Royce Regal Red, Dunlop Alloy Wheels, Correct Instrumentation, Brushed Aluminium Dashboard, Gearbox, Gear knob, Some of the trim, Side Screens, Windscreen Surround etc. The major item that was missing was the CFR 1600 Holbay Cross Flow. 1987 was the height for classic car prices and to secure the car Vincent had to pay £8,500 for what was simply a restoration are now about £50-00 each which Maximum Speed - 112mph, 0 - 60mph - project at a time when a new 'live' axle equates to £300-00! Despite the cost, it 6.8 seconds, Standing/Mile - 15.4 Caterham could be purchased for the is hoped that TNG7G will soon be seen seconds, Power to Weight Ratio - same money. out on the road and at classic car shows. 230bhp/ton, Price - £1600 approximately The car has been kept in dry storage for Figures according to Hot Car magazines which was about £200 more than a new some 15 years whilst other cars have Performance Test Report of August Lotus Elan S/E (Series IV) in 1969. been restored. A friend of Vincent's, Miles 1969:- jww 15 July 2002 Renton-Skinner has been painstakingly dismantling the car and refurbishing all the various parts. The bare chassis frame was restored at Arch Motors and new aluminium panels have been fitted by Miles; an engine has been sourced and rebuilt to Holbay 1600CRF specification and at last restoration is well under way. The smallest of details can be very expensive: this car has Dunlop cast alloy wheels, each of which has a Lotus nose badge in the centre. New Lotus badges

The Ultimate Lotus 7 f 4 From its deceivingly graceful and flexible behaviour ia traffic to its startling performance and Giaad Prix handling and -ornering capabilities on road or circuit, driving this rorty rood-going racer is an experience not to be missed in a lifetime, whatever cars you've driven beforeW

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