1958 Lotus Seven & Super Seven

This 1958 Lotus Seven is a right-hand drive Series I model that is said to be one of the first four examples exported to the US. It was previously fitted with a V6 sourced from a Lancia Aurelia and raced in Southern California between 1959 and 1971 by the original owner before falling into disuse in the early 1980s. A refurbishment was carried out by its fourth owner in the mid-1990s, and the vehicle was subsequently campaigned in VSCCA events between 1997 and 2008. Power is from a replacement 1.2L Coventry Climax FWE inline-four fitted with dual SU carburetors with velocity stacks and linked with a close-ratio four-speed manual transmission and an open differential with 4.55:1 gearing. The car features polished aluminum bodywork and is equipped with a roll bar, Lucas headlights and front turn signals, Simpson harnesses, four-wheel drum brakes, and Dayton knock-off wire wheels. Work following the seller’s acquisition approximately two years ago is said to have included replacing the clutch and tires, as well as refurbishing the wheels and rebuilding the carburetors, starter, and water pump. This Seven was featured in the August 2021 issue of Lowflying magazine and is now offered with logbooks, spare parts, and a clean Ohio title in the seller’s name. The polished aluminum bodywork is mounted to a tube-frame chassis, and #196 is painted in black on both sides. The nose, hood, and fenders have reportedly been replaced, and exterior features include a side exhaust system, Lucas headlights and front turn signals, a roll bar, dual side-view mirrors, and a driver-side windscreen. Various dents and scratches on the bodywork are noted by the seller. A car cover, tonneau cover, and Brooklands-style passenger-side windscreen will accompany the vehicle. The 15” Dayton wire wheels are secured by two-eared knock-off spinners and were refurbished and mounted with Dunlop tires during current ownership. A matching spare is housed out back. Braking is through drums at all four corners, with Alfin units up front along with dual Girling master cylinders and a Tilton balance bar assembly. The seller notes that the car is fitted with an emergency brake lever and cable, though the brake has not been used. The right-hand drive cabin houses seats and side panels trimmed in red with black piping and Simpson harnesses that show June 2023 expiration dates. A fire extinguisher is mounted under the passenger-side of the dashboard. An Electro-Tech turn signal controller was added during current ownership. A wood-rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel with a Lotus center cap sits ahead of Smiths and Lucas instrumentation that includes an 8k-rpm tachometer, an ammeter, and auxiliary displays for coolant temperature and oil pressure. The car is not fitted with a speedometer or odometer. Total mileage is unknown. The 1.2L Coventry Climax FWE inline-four was installed in the early 2000s and features dual SU carburetors with velocity stacks. Additional equipment is said to include Pertronix ignition and a rev-limiter, a billet crankshaft, Fuel Safe fuel cell, Carillo rods, high-compression JE pistons, stainless-steel exhaust system, and an upgraded camshaft. Work following the seller’s acquisition has reportedly included rebuilds of the carburetors, starter, and water pump as well as replacement of the battery. The removed aluminum fuel tank is included in the sale, along with spare carburetor components, ignition coils, and engine gaskets. Oil leaks are noted by the seller. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a BMC A-series close-ratio four-speed manual transmission with straight-cut gears and an open differential with 4.55:1 gearing housed in a BMC Sprite double-bearing solid axle. A Tilton cerametallic clutch was reportedly installed during current ownership, and the car is equipped with Girling clutch hydraulic cylinders. Various chassis tubes were replaced during the refurbishment along with the transmission tunnel and belly pan. Abrasions are present on the underside, additional images of which are provided in the gallery in addition to photos taken prior to and during the refurbishment in the early 1990s. VSCCA logbooks date to the mid-1990s and are included in the sale, along with a spare differential with alternate gear ratios and other spare parts shown below.