LOTUS
SEVEN
Renowned for its performance and road holding
HANDLES LIKE NOTHING ELSE CAN
Launched one year after the race winning Lotus Eleven and at the same as the high tech and pioneering Lotus Elite, the Lotus Seven was a driver’s car that was spawned many look-alikes and introduced a generation of drivers to its pure and simple driving experience. Produced in low numbers from 1957 to the end of 1973, and mainly in kit form by owners, the Lotus Seven is still being made by Caterham to this day.
POWER UPGRADES AVAILABLE
Under the bonnet of the first cars was a Ford 100E side-valve engine with a modest 28 or 36bhp, paired with a three-speed gearbox. Lotus also offered options for enthusiasts seeking more power, such as twin SU carburettors and a modified exhaust manifold that increased output to over 40bhp.
ADVANCED CHASSIS DESIGN
The Series 1 Seven, with its double-curvature aluminium body panels had been a highly labour intensive and expensive car to produce so when it arrived in June 1960, the S2 Seven came in bare aluminium except for the gel coat coloured glass-fibre nosecone and wings. There was now a choice of front wing styles: either ‘clamshell’ type or re-styled fixed cycle wings which, as before, did not turn with the front wheels. The new nosecone was re-designed for moulding in glass reinforced composite rather than Aluminium.
EVOLUTION OVER THE YEARS
The Series 3 Seven launched in 1968 featured various improvements, like black trim, an external fuel filler, and standard direction indicators. The Standard Ten axle of the Series 2 cars was replaced with the introduction of the much stronger Ford Escort Mexico rear-axle and with the Ford axle came the wider 5.5 x 13-inch wheels from the Lotus Cortina and of course the new Lotus Type 51 Formula Ford cars.
MAKES YOU WANT TO DRIVE IT
In 1969 the Lotus Seven S4 (Type 60) was born, boasting a fresh spaceframe chassis and revolutionary glass reinforced composite bodywork.
SEVEN STATISTICS
Lotus Type No: 7
Year of production 1957-60
Volume 243
Engine 1,172cc, 4-cylinder
Power output 36bhp
Transmission 3-speed
Weight 328kg
Lotus Type No: 7
Year of production 1960-67
Volume Approx. 1310
Engine 1,172cc, 4-cylinder
Power output 65bhp
Transmission 3-speed
Weight 445kg
Lotus Type No: 7
Year of production 1968-72
Volume 340
Engine 1,598cc, 4-cylinder
Power output 84bhp
Transmission 4-speed
Weight 549kg
Lotus Type No: 60
Year of production 1969-72
Volume 625
Engine 1,588cc, 4-cylinder
Power output 125bhp
Transmission4-speed
Weight 694kg