Lotus 7 - S4

[S47]

Tony
Never expected you to come over to the darkside
What happened? Didn't take you long to find me.
Great to see you [and Bridget?] on here.
Bon's on here too, see if you can find her handle - i doubt it
Mines too obvious really.
What happened to your BC handle? I thought it rather good, or did Bridget have some influence on the new un'
We'll have to hook up for another Blat this summer.
Is your car back on the road?
I'm hoping to have the first 2010 Blat on Saturday.
Best
Mal

Edited by S47 on Wednesday 3rd March 19:14

[S47]

More S4's from the archive.
Surely someone else has some S4 photo's to upload

[7tastic]

Hi Mal
nearly finished, struggling with 3D ignition at the moment.
We are booked into the same B+B as you for the mega blat so definatly beer time

my B/C name got a bit embarasing when people introduced me

[Dieter7S4]

Mal,

Another shot of my car - got me a spotted on blatchat as well! Piccy taken by the chap in the Caterham



Mike

[S47]

Tony
3D ignition for a X flow
What type of problem? The emerald was straightforward on my car - Once I managed to get the engine to start that is;)
Your BC name embarassing - yeh right. I'll have to ask Bridget, she'll reveal the truth after a few beers
About he B&B, how many others did you tell? I think the place is now full of 7's
should be a good weekend.
Mal

[Alan7]

Hello Mal

[S47]

Alan7
Good to see you on the darkside too
Nevr thought you'd be on here.
Cu in 10min at the pub
Mal

[JulesV]

S47 said:

More S4's from the archive.
Surely someone else has some S4 photo's to upload

Its great to see these photos of S4s. My dad had one when I was a kid, I used to sit in the space behind the seats. It was bright yellow and registered YOD 7L.

[S47]

JulesV
Many thanks for sharing with us your early memories of you trips in the luggage space of an S4
When I first posted a similar theread on BC, I never had any positive replies like yours, It's good to know there's people out there with fond memories of S4's
That's certainly one I haven't heard. My best recollection of my first S4 was driving to Braintree in Essex from my home in S Wales, to buy a Lotus Twin Cam engine, I transported it home ~190miles on the passenger seat with the twim webers a few inches in front of my face - the anticipation was Phenomenal, and my adrenalin levels have never ever reached them dizzy heights
Mike
Nice Pic

[S47]

Here's a German Car for your enjoyment RHD too
Anyone know the owner??

[Eric Mc]

Nice to see some S4s. If Caterham Cars had had their way, this is the car that they would have been producing.

I wonder would they still be producing it today, however?

[S47]

Eric Mc
You're probably right in saying that Caterham woiuldn't be producing it today. S4 is much more dificult to Produce & maintain/work on than the Basic/simple/cheep S3.
One important point though which everyone forgets is that Caterham re-manufactured the S3 from not a lot, I suggest this give the idea of replicas to budding Kitcar manufacturers such as westfield and robin hood in the 1980's and more recently to the Locost varients of the 7.
Had the S4 not been discontiued when it was. would any of these Budding Kit car manufacturers, ever dreamt of re-introducung a car which had been killed off by Lotus in 1970?? Personally I doubt it.
Intriguing question - we'll never know the answer
Mal

[mickrick]

Here's a picture of my S4, I've owned it since 1971.

[S47]

Mickrick
Nice one - I've never seen that model in that colour
Mal

[mickrick]

It was the beginning of the dream. I was 10 years old.
Guess what colour my first real one was? (Not an S4 though.)
Good thread by the way. Nice to see unbiased posts, by real enthusiasts, with pictures too!

Edited by mickrick on Sunday 7th March 22:54

[S47]

Mickrick
When you were 10 I guess the must colour have would've been green with the yellow Nose
Suspect you ended up with a nice red 'un.
Unlike BC - PH is a good and fair forum
Mal

[Eric Mc]

I think the S4 has a charm all its own. However, it was much more "of its time" compared to the S3 which seems to be pretty "time less" and therefore more adaptable.

John Tipler likens the S4 to a "Beach Buggy" or a "Bond Bug" - not because they are similar cars but more to do with the era it belongs to and its style. Back in the early 70s. Lotus certainly seemed to be trying to market the 7 S4 as a "lifestyle" car rather than an "enthusiast" car.
The S4 ads in my old Motorsport mags show trendy girls in flowery mini-skirts standing beside their S4s outside casinos, in woody glades etc.



I always think the S4 was aimed at the budding Jason King - on a budget.

Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 8th March 09:54

[S47]

Eric Mc
You're Dead right, however no beach buggy or Bond Bug goes or handles like an S4, so the comparison is rather unfair, the only thing IMO that the S4 has in common with the them is the 70's colours they were all dressed up in.
Nowadays however like it or loathe it the S4 is a rather rare car, and mine always attracts attention be it good or bad which can't be a bad thing
At least people notice it, and most know what it is unlike the myriad varieties of S3 which are very hard to distinguish [between a caterham & robin hood]
Mal

[Eric Mc]

I do notice that she is tentatively stepping into the PASSENGER'S side of the car. Lotus weren't going so far as to suggest that a GIRL might want to drive one. That would have been going too far.

Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 8th March 10:50

[Dieter7S4]

Often wondered exactly how many are left in a roadworthy state - anyone any ideas?