1959 Lotus Seven S1A

Lot details
Registration No: 337 XUP
Chassis No: JH932-07
Mot Expiry: Sept 2013

Typifying the maxim that a whole can be greater than the sum of its parts, the Lotus Seven was introduced at the 1957 Earls Court Motor Show. Based around a multi-tubular spaceframe chassis, the aluminium-panelled newcomer was powered by a choice of Ford 100E, Coventry Climax FWA or BMC A-series engines. Popular with sporting motorists and club racers alike, the Lotus Seven evolved through Series 2, 3 and 4 guises before the design rights were sold to Caterham in 1973.

This particular example had been loosely reassembled prior to entering the current ownership in 2007. Bereft of a chassis plate or stamped frame number, the two-seater was authenticated as a 1959 Lotus Seven Series 1A by Victor Thomas of the Historic Lotus Register and subsequently UK road registered as `337 XUP' by the DVLA (the chassis number which appears on its replacement Lotus Components plate is of the seller's own devising). The spaceframe chassis is of the correct design and the car is believed but not guaranteed to retain the majority its original aluminium bodywork (including rare Williams & Pritchard nosecone). Entrusted to Selby Race Engines, the BMC A-Series unit was enlarged to 1014cc and developed some 86bhp post-completion. The Sprite four-speed manual gearbox and Nash Metropolitan rear axle were overhauled by JP Race Centre of Silverstone too. While the absence of front brakes or steering gear saw the vendor source a good pair of drum-braked Triumph Herald uprights from Jigsaw Racing and commission Ron Welsh to modify a Morris Minor steering rack to Lotus drawings. An engineer by profession the seller fabricated the steering column himself (though, the red-rimmed steering wheel is believed to be a Lotus original). Since 2009 the Seven has competed at Loton Park, Jersey International Motoring Festival, Jersey Festival of Speed, Bouley Bay, Llys Y Fran and Crystal Palace. Nicely detailed, `337 XUP' is offered for sale with roll bar, safety belt, spare gearbox and restoration file etc.

PLEASE NOTE: Since the catalogue went to press we have been contacted by Victor Thomas of the Historic Lotus Register to say that he is not an expert on Lotus Sevens but supported an application to the DVLA for this vehicle to be registered as a reconstructed classic. Mr Thomas also referred us to John Watson - Historian and Archivist for the Lotus Seven Club of Great Britian - who pointed out that the car's precise year of manufacture cannot be ascertained in the absence of its original chassis plate and stamped chassis number. He also informed us that there was no way of knowing for sure whether the car began life with a Ford 100E, Coventry-Climax FWA or BMC A-Series engine. If the latter is true then it would properly be described as a Lotus Seven A Series 1.