Caterham Lotus Super 7 - The Rebuild!
Discussion
Right so, some of you may *remember the 1979 Caterham Lotus Super 7 I was driving. Which I was getting fixed up & back on the road, 6/7months later and here it was in it's prime, last Aug/Sept.
Super 7 by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
..Then on the 18th of september It ended up looking like this! The result of a Head on with a Vectra!
(sorry on the quality, it's the only photo)
Crash by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Ok so for you guys that don't know, here is a brief summary of it's history. This car is a Very special and sentimental car to me. It was bought and built by my father back in 1979. He's been all over Europe in it and it was a huge part of my childhood as a young boy growing up. It was then retired and left collecting dust in the garage in the late 90's due to tired engine, after a good 50k of driving and years of epic memories.
Then in 2011 I said to my dad I want to restore it and get it back on the road and enjoy it like he has when he was my age! ..Unfortunately after I'd put alot of hardwork, love and money into getting to it's prime I was involved in a bad head on crash. I was rushed off by air ambulance to hospital just in the nik of time as I lost ALOT of blood. Fractures to face,chest and legs plus actually braking one leg. Thankfully everyone else involved came away with just a few bruises and scratches.
A few stressful months later, after I was repaired etc I decided I wanted to rebuild the entire car that almost killed me back to it's former glory! Better infact.
So this brings me to now, Last week it was transported from my parents to my Grandads were it will be getting stripped down, assessed and built back up on a *brand new chassis. With new parts needed accordingly. Best is it was originally built in this garage which is kinda cool too!
So tonight I have only been able to spend a couple hours on it. Mainly going over it, taking pictures and starting to strip it down.*
Here's a few closer pics of front the damage.
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Signs of the bent chassis
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Note that steering wheel, yes my face did that!
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
What's left of the nose cone & grill
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
The Expensive damage
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
I hope the head is repairable as if not a new will cost over £2500! Will have to wait and see when I can open it right up!
This is how it is now looking after starting stripping.
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Plan it to keep it original! Old school and retro with a few modern tweaks for reliability purposes mainly.*
So the start of a long and slow project. I *will update accordingly, wish me Luck!!
Cheers, Piers.
Super 7 by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
..Then on the 18th of september It ended up looking like this! The result of a Head on with a Vectra!
(sorry on the quality, it's the only photo)
Crash by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Ok so for you guys that don't know, here is a brief summary of it's history. This car is a Very special and sentimental car to me. It was bought and built by my father back in 1979. He's been all over Europe in it and it was a huge part of my childhood as a young boy growing up. It was then retired and left collecting dust in the garage in the late 90's due to tired engine, after a good 50k of driving and years of epic memories.
Then in 2011 I said to my dad I want to restore it and get it back on the road and enjoy it like he has when he was my age! ..Unfortunately after I'd put alot of hardwork, love and money into getting to it's prime I was involved in a bad head on crash. I was rushed off by air ambulance to hospital just in the nik of time as I lost ALOT of blood. Fractures to face,chest and legs plus actually braking one leg. Thankfully everyone else involved came away with just a few bruises and scratches.
A few stressful months later, after I was repaired etc I decided I wanted to rebuild the entire car that almost killed me back to it's former glory! Better infact.
So this brings me to now, Last week it was transported from my parents to my Grandads were it will be getting stripped down, assessed and built back up on a *brand new chassis. With new parts needed accordingly. Best is it was originally built in this garage which is kinda cool too!
So tonight I have only been able to spend a couple hours on it. Mainly going over it, taking pictures and starting to strip it down.*
Here's a few closer pics of front the damage.
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Signs of the bent chassis
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Note that steering wheel, yes my face did that!
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
What's left of the nose cone & grill
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
The Expensive damage
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Damage by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
I hope the head is repairable as if not a new will cost over £2500! Will have to wait and see when I can open it right up!
This is how it is now looking after starting stripping.
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Plan it to keep it original! Old school and retro with a few modern tweaks for reliability purposes mainly.*
So the start of a long and slow project. I *will update accordingly, wish me Luck!!
Cheers, Piers.
Ouch! Enjoy the rebuild. It's a great chance to bond with the car and get to know it's every nut & bolt. I'll soon be embarking on my own winter rebuild on my Caterham racer, thankfully with only very light cosmetic damage compared to yours!
Bruce at arch will look after your chassis. Really nice bloke.
P.S. please fit proper harnesses this time, don't want to headbutt another steering wheel, do we now?
Bruce at arch will look after your chassis. Really nice bloke.
P.S. please fit proper harnesses this time, don't want to headbutt another steering wheel, do we now?
Edited by HustleRussell on Tuesday 30th October 22:57
When you get to the point of needing them give me a call at Meteor Motorsport and I'll provide you with a FREE set of 4 Point Harness's
I'm sure you would not have reached the wheel wearing a set.
Good luck with the strip and rebuild. Its good get back on the horse as soon as possible.
Keep us upto date.
I'm sure you would not have reached the wheel wearing a set.
Good luck with the strip and rebuild. Its good get back on the horse as soon as possible.
Keep us upto date.
Thanks 
I don't want to side track the project thread, but no it wasn't the Vectras fault, I simply miss-judged a deceiving blind corner which had a stream of water crossing it, which lead the A048's to slip and cause the car to slightly understeer. Unfortunately the road was that narrow there no room for error
before I knew it, bang! the car was dead and I was almost too!
I can safely say the car won't be using Semi's again - I don't blame these tyres, but they certainly didn't help the situation.
I don't want to side track the project thread, but no it wasn't the Vectras fault, I simply miss-judged a deceiving blind corner which had a stream of water crossing it, which lead the A048's to slip and cause the car to slightly understeer. Unfortunately the road was that narrow there no room for error
before I knew it, bang! the car was dead and I was almost too!I can safely say the car won't be using Semi's again - I don't blame these tyres, but they certainly didn't help the situation.
I started of my Caterham journey on Avon road tires. They almost got me killed on my way to a trackday at Zolder (Belgium). I'm almost brave enough to say I'd be safer with the 048 if the there little to no standing water. Apart from that it's good to hear you're still alive after such an accident.
Hope the car has enough history for you to rebuild it and who knows... maybe you'd be able to pass it to one of your kids in the future. It's like a dad passing it's beloved watch to his son when he turns 18, but than waaaaay cooler! 8)
Hope the car has enough history for you to rebuild it and who knows... maybe you'd be able to pass it to one of your kids in the future. It's like a dad passing it's beloved watch to his son when he turns 18, but than waaaaay cooler! 8)
Great project Piers and looking forward to following the rebuild from start to finish.
If you don't mind me asking how did you sustain your injuries in the crash as the chassis looks to have held up ok and the windscreen is still in place etc.
I'd like to get a Caterham in the next few years but their size and vulnerability does give me a few concerns.
Thanks
If you don't mind me asking how did you sustain your injuries in the crash as the chassis looks to have held up ok and the windscreen is still in place etc.
I'd like to get a Caterham in the next few years but their size and vulnerability does give me a few concerns.
Thanks
Yea I plan to keep it tbh. Too much sentimental value to me, especially once it's finished.
Well, my face hit and bent the steering wheel, and the seatbelt fractured my chest, then both my shines were fractured from hitting a 90degree metal angle within the cockpit, I broke my leg from having my foot on the brake pedal, so my leg took the force from the crash similar to the chassis.
All healed brilliant though, chest fracture took a while to heal, I can still feel that at the gym but not so much recently. My leg (broke around the knee) took about 4-5 months to heal enough before I started back at work. But i was told it would be a full year before everything would be completely healed.
Well, my face hit and bent the steering wheel, and the seatbelt fractured my chest, then both my shines were fractured from hitting a 90degree metal angle within the cockpit, I broke my leg from having my foot on the brake pedal, so my leg took the force from the crash similar to the chassis.
All healed brilliant though, chest fracture took a while to heal, I can still feel that at the gym but not so much recently. My leg (broke around the knee) took about 4-5 months to heal enough before I started back at work. But i was told it would be a full year before everything would be completely healed.
Glad to hear you are on your way to making a full recovery and it takes a brave man to publicly admit his mistake. Respect.
Our little cars are much more resilient than they look and I've seen 7s in a far worse state than yours and people have walked away with nothing more than a scratch. No doubt you'll be fitting a harness and I would advise going for the full 6-point one.
I've been through the rebuild process myself after a much less significant rear end shunt and I had great pleasure in stripping the car and rebuilding from the ground up. You'll really have a sense of admiration and appreciation for the end result in due course.
Word of warning, expect to spend more than you budget for....
Bruce at Arch is a great guy and very helpful. Remember to let him have everything that can be powdercoated (if there's anything left!)
Good luck and enjoy it.
Our little cars are much more resilient than they look and I've seen 7s in a far worse state than yours and people have walked away with nothing more than a scratch. No doubt you'll be fitting a harness and I would advise going for the full 6-point one.
I've been through the rebuild process myself after a much less significant rear end shunt and I had great pleasure in stripping the car and rebuilding from the ground up. You'll really have a sense of admiration and appreciation for the end result in due course.
Word of warning, expect to spend more than you budget for....
Bruce at Arch is a great guy and very helpful. Remember to let him have everything that can be powdercoated (if there's anything left!)
Good luck and enjoy it.
Piers - I am very sad to hear of your accident and the serious damge to your car and your self. However, you are now getting better and the car can be re-built.
I do remember your 7 from many years ago (1985 onwards), when your father and mother were at all the meetings that I went to, in my old Super Sprint C225 RPM. I am sure I have some photos of your car, plus some of Clive and Kim's car. These were good times and I think that the LSOC had only 200 - 250 members, so we all knew each other. Please pass on my regards to your parents.
I look forward to seeing the car being re-built and pleased that you are fully recovered.
Piers Rendell
R300KWK
I do remember your 7 from many years ago (1985 onwards), when your father and mother were at all the meetings that I went to, in my old Super Sprint C225 RPM. I am sure I have some photos of your car, plus some of Clive and Kim's car. These were good times and I think that the LSOC had only 200 - 250 members, so we all knew each other. Please pass on my regards to your parents.
I look forward to seeing the car being re-built and pleased that you are fully recovered.
Piers Rendell
R300KWK
Thanks Andy & Piers
Spent a good few hours on it today with the help of a good pal,
Got the front wings off, front suspension & brakes off. Plus removed the Centre tunnel to get good look & access at the prop shaft etc. Exhaust and Dellorto Carbs were also removed.
Here how she's looking to date..
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Good parts by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Good parts by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Most likely going to have to get the grinder out next time to tear away most of the front! Then I guess it's engine & gear box out.
Cheers, Piers.
Spent a good few hours on it today with the help of a good pal,
Got the front wings off, front suspension & brakes off. Plus removed the Centre tunnel to get good look & access at the prop shaft etc. Exhaust and Dellorto Carbs were also removed.
Here how she's looking to date..
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Good parts by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Good parts by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Stripping by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Most likely going to have to get the grinder out next time to tear away most of the front! Then I guess it's engine & gear box out.
Cheers, Piers.
Edited by PSJ on Saturday 3rd November 16:24
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