Discussion
With my very vague knowledge, I always thought that Caterham took on the S3 from Lotus and then they developed the S4, which in turn wasn't as popular, so they reverted back to the S3 design. Caterhams next progression with the 7 was many many years later with the CSR.
So was it Lotus who developed the S4, which then became Caterham, and Caterham found the call not as strong for the S4 over the S3 and so reverted back? Were the S3 and S4 offered at the same time at all, or not?
Anyhow, would be good to see the other 4 7's you have stored away.
So was it Lotus who developed the S4, which then became Caterham, and Caterham found the call not as strong for the S4 over the S3 and so reverted back? Were the S3 and S4 offered at the same time at all, or not?
Anyhow, would be good to see the other 4 7's you have stored away.
Gingerbread Man said:
So was it Lotus who developed the S4, which then became Caterham, and Caterham found the call not as strong for the S4 over the S3 and so reverted back? Were the S3 and S4 offered at the same time at all, or not?
As I understand it, Lotus dropped the S3 in favour of the cheaper to make and more practical S4 design.The S4 sold well, but when Caterham took it on they found they had very few sets of the special weather gear.
To get more made by the company that made is was uneconomic for the expected production level, so they went back to the S3 which was more hand made and easier to obtain parts for.
However, seeing as Caterham were dealing with Seven enthusiasts all the time and knew so much about the car, it seems hard to believe that they weren't aware of the S4s problems when they took it on. I'd be surprised if they didn't have the idea of reverting to the S3 all along
Hey Mike.! How are you.?
Yes, I've finally got round to owning an S4, having dealt in them occasionally over the years. Not sure what to do with it next as space is at a real premium (I've got some S2's and an S3 as well) but it was too good to turn down, being 1 owner, 6th from last, genuine Twin Cam etc.
Do you fancy adding it to your collection?!
Hope all is well with you. Send my regards to the Hampshire area and hopefully we will catch up soon,
All the best,
Guy.
Yes, I've finally got round to owning an S4, having dealt in them occasionally over the years. Not sure what to do with it next as space is at a real premium (I've got some S2's and an S3 as well) but it was too good to turn down, being 1 owner, 6th from last, genuine Twin Cam etc.
Do you fancy adding it to your collection?!
Hope all is well with you. Send my regards to the Hampshire area and hopefully we will catch up soon,
All the best,
Guy.
Guy Munday said:
Finding a 1974 Caterham will be nigh on impossible as they were made in very small numbers that year and will have a similar value to a Lotus, if you can find one.
A 1975-79 S3 Caterham may become available but they are attracting a handsome price too.
Thanks Guy. I would want a cross flow too and it seems most of the early ones are TCs or have been converted to TC? A 1975-79 S3 Caterham may become available but they are attracting a handsome price too.
How about a pre Jan 1st 82? Were there any more? What do you think a sound one would cost?
Thanks
Edited by Shoestringracer on Tuesday 20th March 14:07
Guy Munday said:
If you go pre 1981, they resembled very closely a Lotus 7 S3. A majority were crossflow, not TC powered. They do have a collector's value now and a good one would be £15000 or so.
Thanks, that is the sort of figure I had expected. Its the S3 look I prefer (though I can't help liking the S4 too, just becuase it is different). I think a late 70's one would be pefect for me. I love the really early Lotus ones with tall skinny wheels but don't think it would have the performance, even though I'm sure it would be great to drive. I'm not all that keen on the later ones with the fat tyres and carbon fibre. Needs to be pre 82 if im going to stick with road rallies and for the hillclimb class I had in mind. Here is the latest of the S4 restoration
Got the chassis finished (http://cnx.org/content/m43410/latest/), the petrol tank is done (http://cnx.org/content/m42107/latest/), and almost done with the rear axle, and once I am back from a race weekend I am going to start attaching the suspension to the chassis before test fitting the body.
Any comments or hints would be helpful.
Still trying to find somewhere to restore the Lotus alloy wheels here in US
arb
Got the chassis finished (http://cnx.org/content/m43410/latest/), the petrol tank is done (http://cnx.org/content/m42107/latest/), and almost done with the rear axle, and once I am back from a race weekend I am going to start attaching the suspension to the chassis before test fitting the body.
Any comments or hints would be helpful.
Still trying to find somewhere to restore the Lotus alloy wheels here in US
arb
Hello Ian,
The problem is that I have several Lotus Sevens and I can't keep them all.!
I am going to get it MOT'd as soon as I've fixed a minor electrical glitch and then I will see how the mood takes me.
It was sprayed white from new (over yellow), in lieu of the supplying dealer not being able to supply alloy wheels. As it was such a late car, I guess they must have run out! The fibreglass is remarkably good so it wouldn't take much to give it a really nice respray. Due to the story attached as to why it's white, I would probably keep it that colour.
I might be tempted to let it go to a good home if a forum member was interested.
The problem is that I have several Lotus Sevens and I can't keep them all.!
I am going to get it MOT'd as soon as I've fixed a minor electrical glitch and then I will see how the mood takes me.
It was sprayed white from new (over yellow), in lieu of the supplying dealer not being able to supply alloy wheels. As it was such a late car, I guess they must have run out! The fibreglass is remarkably good so it wouldn't take much to give it a really nice respray. Due to the story attached as to why it's white, I would probably keep it that colour.
I might be tempted to let it go to a good home if a forum member was interested.
Guy
Interesting that you say your car has been sprayed over a different colour FG base.
When I rebuilt my car. I stripped the paint back to the FG, the original FG colour was orange. my car had been sprayed red??
When I queried this with JWW at Lotus 7 club he said ' this was normal practice' whenever a customer specified a specific colour, if the factory didn't have that colour in stock, they simply sprayed over what they had to the order.
Ironically My prefered S4 colour would be Orange, however JWW confirmed that my car was ordered/delivered as Red so I too re-spayed it the original colour. RED
So almost certainly your car was originally ordered/delivered white.
Mal
Interesting that you say your car has been sprayed over a different colour FG base.
When I rebuilt my car. I stripped the paint back to the FG, the original FG colour was orange. my car had been sprayed red??
When I queried this with JWW at Lotus 7 club he said ' this was normal practice' whenever a customer specified a specific colour, if the factory didn't have that colour in stock, they simply sprayed over what they had to the order.
Ironically My prefered S4 colour would be Orange, however JWW confirmed that my car was ordered/delivered as Red so I too re-spayed it the original colour. RED
So almost certainly your car was originally ordered/delivered white.
Mal
Dear Hajo & Mal,
I've been reading this specific topic about the Lotus 7 - S4 and was able to understand that your knowledge is deep about this loved/hated last series of Lotus Seven.
My interest in this model is recent and it emerged due to an opportunity to buy one. Over the last year I was looking for a car that was road legal (nice for small trips) and at the same time I could use for some trackdays and hill climbs making only a few modifications. Do you think the car is fits my interests?
I'm still waiting to have more information about the car but the seller, (a friend of mine), told me it is in really good conditions.
I've been studying the model and seen many pictures and I have a few doubts about the fronts covers of the tyres. Perhaps I prefer the cycle wings instead but this is just a little detail.
What do you think a good price would be? It is a left handed car and it is not in the UK but in Portugal, from where I am from. There are still many of those cars? And left handed?
Thanks for your help and when I have more information I will keep you updated.
BR
I've been reading this specific topic about the Lotus 7 - S4 and was able to understand that your knowledge is deep about this loved/hated last series of Lotus Seven.
My interest in this model is recent and it emerged due to an opportunity to buy one. Over the last year I was looking for a car that was road legal (nice for small trips) and at the same time I could use for some trackdays and hill climbs making only a few modifications. Do you think the car is fits my interests?
I'm still waiting to have more information about the car but the seller, (a friend of mine), told me it is in really good conditions.
I've been studying the model and seen many pictures and I have a few doubts about the fronts covers of the tyres. Perhaps I prefer the cycle wings instead but this is just a little detail.
What do you think a good price would be? It is a left handed car and it is not in the UK but in Portugal, from where I am from. There are still many of those cars? And left handed?
Thanks for your help and when I have more information I will keep you updated.
BR
Hi "BR",
to complete your thoughts about buying a series 4 "google" (pics) for it and you will see this type still performing at many race events - and that after more than 40 years of it´s birth....
It would not be wise (or even unhonest) to guess a value of an unknown car without any information as there are many things that influence the price.
Especially look for a sound chassis and a complete equipped car. Please send photos when available and I am sure that some questions could be answered.
The majority is build in RHD, but at is was sold international there are also a lot of LHD. Last week I drove a LSD - for me a strange feeling....
There are a lot of photos on PH to consider cycle wings or not - as usual a personal note.
Hope to see another new owner soon!
Hajo
7S4register
to complete your thoughts about buying a series 4 "google" (pics) for it and you will see this type still performing at many race events - and that after more than 40 years of it´s birth....
It would not be wise (or even unhonest) to guess a value of an unknown car without any information as there are many things that influence the price.
Especially look for a sound chassis and a complete equipped car. Please send photos when available and I am sure that some questions could be answered.
The majority is build in RHD, but at is was sold international there are also a lot of LHD. Last week I drove a LSD - for me a strange feeling....
There are a lot of photos on PH to consider cycle wings or not - as usual a personal note.
Hope to see another new owner soon!
Hajo
7S4register
L7S4,
Hajo's correct Its impossible to value a car without seeing it 'in the flesh',if you post some photo's on here then we can tell you whether all the Important cosmetic S4 parts are present on the car, however - At over 40 years old you really need to check the chassis/suspension, and all the difficult to see bits on any S4, and for certain DO NOT believe anything the seller tells you. You need to verify the cars condition yourself.
Forget the shiny paint job, and the new tyres. they mean nothing in relation to the cars condition.
Best thhing I can suggest is to take soemone who knows S4's with you to view the car, although this maybe difficult since the car is in Portugal.
Hope this helps
Good luck
Mal
Hajo's correct Its impossible to value a car without seeing it 'in the flesh',if you post some photo's on here then we can tell you whether all the Important cosmetic S4 parts are present on the car, however - At over 40 years old you really need to check the chassis/suspension, and all the difficult to see bits on any S4, and for certain DO NOT believe anything the seller tells you. You need to verify the cars condition yourself.
Forget the shiny paint job, and the new tyres. they mean nothing in relation to the cars condition.
Best thhing I can suggest is to take soemone who knows S4's with you to view the car, although this maybe difficult since the car is in Portugal.
Hope this helps
Good luck
Mal
Hajo and Mal,
Thanks for your help. As soon as I have the pictures I will send them to you...do you have an e-mail I can send? I would prefer this way as I dont want to post the pics of the car as it is not mine (yet )!
Im also going to use the car for a couple of days and that will for sure be an important factor for my decision!
Thanks for the availability.
Best regards
Thanks for your help. As soon as I have the pictures I will send them to you...do you have an e-mail I can send? I would prefer this way as I dont want to post the pics of the car as it is not mine (yet
)! Im also going to use the car for a couple of days and that will for sure be an important factor for my decision!
Thanks for the availability.
Best regards
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