Serious Assembly Required: 1971 Lotus Seven S4
I’ve never owned one, but have had the opportunity to go for a ride and drive a Lotus Caterham Seven (this was a late model kit car with a 300 horsepower turbo 4-cylinder modern engine) and it was exhilarating to say the least. No, it was terrifying, as a passenger or as a driver. But that was a kit car, and I prefer my cars to come with some history, some patina, some sweat equity needed, like this 1971 Lotus Seven S4 offered for $10,500 in Southeastern Arizona via craigslist.
From the seller:
1971 Lotus S4 Seven
fuel: gas
title status: clean
transmission: manual
Selling Lotus 7 S4 project . Car needs assembling (project car). This the fiberglass body Seven not a “Locost” or the aluminum body Caterham. Real Lotus Seven. New fiberglass body, wire harness, springs, shocks, instruments (Smiths). Engine is rebuilt, dyno time only, transmission and differential have been gone through. Five Lotus refinished OEM aluminum rims with center caps and emblems, new radiator, New leather flat English made steering wheel and more. Car is missing windscreen surround, seat frames, electrical switches, master cylinders and of course assembling. I have been collecting parts for the car for some time. Have two sets of side screens, top bows, wiper assembly, two sets of aluminum windscreen side supports. Pedal assembly. Have parts for the umbrella hand brake pull. New wire harness, gauges, and more. Car is on my four post lift in the air at present. . New Burton Power twin side draft intake manifold, 123 Distributor, Super Starter, alternator, even two rare front grills (air intakes). Vegantune aluminum rocker cver.
Chassis was powder coated by previous owner, . Selling reluctantly, as am out of shop space. Another car project that is taking more time than planned. Car will need to be trailered. For the right deal, would consider delivering in reasonable area, (Phoenix, Tucson or Southern California if……). The car does roll, many boxes of parts go with the car. If interested in buying, give me a private message. I bought the project as I fit in the car (6’2″). Also nice to have a Lotus with a new body. Hesitant to sell a car like this, hopefully this will go well. Car is located in Southeastern Arizona USA. Will NOT PART OUT OR SELL PIECES. Reason for rebuild, new body, chassis rebuilding and new parts; engine fire. (documentation available, also see link). Link of previous owner documenting rebuilding;
https://www.quizover.com/course/coll…nd–by-openstax Good clean Arizona title. Hopefully car will go back on the street to another Lotus enthusiast. Will not ship out of USA or mess with scammers. Would like to get $10,500 . As per requests; engine is a, “Crossflow Ford” not a Twin cam. Listed as 1971 build year. Good Lotus chassis number.
See a better way to look at pieces of a car in your garage? tips@dailyturismo.com
LHD or RHD?
A s4 seven isn’t quite as “pure” as the s3 which is why Chaterham et al copy the s3. The s4 actually is designed to be mass produced with a sheet metal steel chassis and a fiberglass body rather than a tube frame with aluminum pop riveted to it.
All that said, all the Lotus owners will know it’s a “real seven” because it’s not the one everyone copies. Non Lotus owners may confuse it with a dune buggy.
I think they are pretty wonderful looking in that peak 70s way. It would look great parked next to my 914 and (imaginary) Espada. Maybe a SAAB Sonet tossed in there too.
You know you want it. Do it. Doooo it. Doooo it. Doooo it! Come on, everyone join in the peer pressure chant. Let’s all make a questionable decision together!
I emailed Steve the seller because the link didn’t work. Got this nice reply. The documentation is quite the mind boggling read both for the depth of detail of the s4 history, the history of this particular car, and the heroic restoration if you have a few hours to spare I highly recommend it.
Just wow.
“Hugh,
Thank you for responding to my ad for the, S4 Seven. The car is left hand drive. Have more parts I have collected. Side draft carburetor air box, AC brand air filter assembly (Jensen Healey), correct instrument panel rocker switches which need rebuilding, even Lotus yellow wheel badges. Also, two sets of side screens (doors). Convertible top for pattern. Top bows. Car is a project, will need to be trailered and assembled. There will be hardware, nuts, bolts and other parts needed. Good Arizona title. There is no windscreen surround (two aluminum windscreen side supports go with car). No seats (aluminum riveted to Masonite bottoms not adjustable). Plan was to make car a driver, not a race car. Want to see what I was missing, when they were new. Have another project that is crippling me for time, hence the sale of the S4 Seven. This is not the aluminum sided Seven that most are familiar with. As a long-suffering Lotus owner, I found it intriguing to have a Lotus follow me home, that did not need major body work. Feel free to contact me for information. No idea car has posted on, “Dailyturismo”. Hopefully this link will work; https://cnx.org/contents/lPuOWQPn@19.2:DeOOWRB9@2/Why-a-Lotus-Seven-S4
Steve V.
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