RE: Spotted: 1965 Lotus Seven
Discussion
MX7 said:
suffolk009 said:
Degner said:
suffolk009 said:
The Twinks are lovely, but the legend will wear off. For driving now you're better off with a X-flow. You can get more power, for less money. If you're not after originality then do a Zetec.
Good god. You do read the strangest things on these forums.
"Twink" is a gay slang term describing a young or young-looking gay man (18–23 age category) with a slender, ectomorph build, little or no body hair, and no facial hair.
Edited by suffolk009 on Saturday 10th March 15:42
RichB said:
Cock Womble 7 said:
Ah, Clamshells. Much nicer than those horrid cycle wings.
What aspect of the car are you refering to as 'clamshells'? The usual use of this term is for a clamshell bonnet as fitted to the Frogeye Sprite and many other cars. Cycle wings:
Edited by MX7 on Saturday 10th March 18:00
Pat H said:
The swept wings look just like clamshells, hence the term
OK. Obviously know cycle wings but in all my years of being involved in the classic and pre-war scene I've never heard of swept wings refered to as clamshells. Must be a lotus/caterham thing... p.s. Clamshells are in two parts and open, these don't look the least bit like clamshells
RichB said:
Pat H said:
The swept wings look just like clamshells, hence the term
OK. Obviously know cycle wings but in all my years of being involved in the classic and pre-war scene I've never heard of swept wings refered to as clamshells. Must be a lotus/caterham thing... p.s. Clamshells are in two parts and open, these don't look the least bit like clamshells
Sam_68 said:
suffolk009 said:
I've often thought that Caterham are missing a trick with not doing a proper anniversary edition.
It wouldn't be 'authentic' Caterham (since they started with the Series 3) but I must admit, I'd be tempted by a proper Seven S1 replica with wire wheels. 
Sam_68 said:
The Midget-based S1 replicas came after the Eleven, but before the Ford-based 'pre-litigation' SE (Seven S3 replica)?
Yep.The exterior panels on the pre-lit Westfield Seven SE were entirely made of fibreglass and it was completely Ford based, if I recall correctly.
But there was also a "missing link" between the S1 replicas and the Seven SE.
I bought my Westfield in 1985 and it was one of very few ally bodied cars that was jigged for a Marina axle, Crossflow engine and Spitfire hubs.
There was still a lot of Midget in the car. All the cooling, wiring, handbrake, etc etc.
As it retained the alloy panels of the early Westfields it looked very similar indeed to a S3 Lotus/Caterham Seven.
It was a well made car and the chassis coating and the quality of the fibreglass was definitely superior to the 1977 Caterham that I bought a few years ago.
The Westfield also retained the lower bonnet line and nose cone of the Lotus Seven S3, rather than the taller Caterham modification.
The twin trailing arms and Panhard rod rear end was also a more durable arrangement than Chapman's "A" frame.
I entirely understand why Graham Nearn had to take Chris Smith to court, but those early Westfield Sevens and Elevens, really were lovely replicas. You only need to look at the prices that Westfield Elevens command to see how well they are regarded by Lotus enthusiasts.
Given the prices that early Lotus Sevens are now (properly) commanding, there is surely a market for a sympathetic replica of the early Seven that doesn't piss all over Caterham's chips.
Here's my 1985 Westfield.
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