Lotus Seven Series 2

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Some car designs stand head and shoulders above the rest, and Colin Chapman’s Lotus 7 – “a race car for the road” – is definitely one of them. Just look at the industry it started in lookalikes and the fact that it is still – technically - in production today, 61 years later.

ARY 6K was first registered in October 1971 which should make it a Series 3 Lotus 7 but, as the knowledgeable amongst you will observe, it has a chassis made for Lotus by the Progress Chassis Company, which makes it a Series 2. Lotus was not the most organised of companies at that time (or any other) and it is most likely that this is a Series 2 car that made a late entry on to the market.

The vendor bought the car in the mid-1970s in Newcastle, having known about the car for some time. It’s early history is vague, but it was fitted with a pre-Crossflow engine, then a 1600 BDA and finally the current Crossflow engine.

The car has been off the road since 2007. The engine was rebuilt shortly before the car was laid up and has only covered around 5,000 miles. The engine does turn over, but was reluctant to start on the day of our visit.

The wheels are thought to be original Alcan alloys and are a nice period touch. The Series 3 rear wings and light units were fitted by the vendor and are perfectly serviceable but a finicky new owner might want to revert to standard.

This is a car that needs some sorting out, but should not present the competent home mechanic with any problems. The car would easily be on the road for the Spring, sooner if the new owner doesn’t go for the full restoration option.