Lotus Seven Register - Series Three Pictures

LOTUS SEVEN REGISTER

the web site for the

Seven made by Lotus between 1957 and 1973

Most of the Series Three cars (more than 90%) were powered by standard 1600cc Ford Cortina engines developing 84bhp.

	FACTORY PHOTOGRAPH - Taken outside the Hethel, Norfolk factory, this picture shows Lotus Cortina steels wheels and chromium hub caps and painted steel rear exit exhaust.
	ANOTHER FACTORY PHOTOGRAPH - Taken on the Hethel Factory's test track, this picture of a left hand drive car shows light alloy wheels (Dunlop) and a bonnet blister/air intake for the down draught Weber progressive choke carburettor. Note also the slope to the rear wings which are different to the flat topped modern Caterham equivilants.
	BROCHURE PHOTOGRAPH - Engine bay of standard 1600cc Ford Crossflow powered Series Three car. In this form with a Weber 32DFM progressive twin choke carburettor and developing just 84bhp at 5,500rpm, many owners found it necessary to upgrade to a pair of 40DCOE2 Weber carburettors. Note: The car pictured is a Left Hand Drive car for export.

***~ Original Factory Material Lotus Seven 'S' ~***

Only one Lotus Seven 'S' was made, the show car.
	CATALOGUE COVER - For the Sports Car Show at the Old Horticultural Hall in January 1970. The car is the prototype Lotus Seven 'S', Reg. No. TNG 7G. The driver and passenger are Ian Smith and his wife. Ian was Founder and the first General Secretary for Club Lotus in 1956 and wrote several books about the early days at Lotus including: "The First Ten Years", "Lotus, The Story of the Marque" and "The Story of Lotus - Birth of a Legend". Whilst there were no more Lotus Seven 'S' cars made the more powerful Holbay modified 1600cc Ford Crossflow was supplied with some cars.
	COCKPIT/DASHBOARD - The Lotus Seven 'S' prototype. Note AC Fuel gauge & Ammeter and Smiths Speedo, Tacho & combined Water Temp/Oil Pressure gauger. All is correct for a normal Series Three except for the finish of the dashboard and trim around the gear lever. Also note the push-button radio!
	ENGINE BAY - The Lotus Seven 'S' prototype. A Holbay CFR engine with twin Weber 40DCOE2 and a nicely fabricated exhaust manifold. 120bhp at 6,200rpm and 110lbs/ft at 5,000rpm was claimed.
	FRONT VIEW - The Lotus Seven 'S' prototype. Note: The Dunlop light alloy wheels and the damage to the rear offside wing.

***~ The Lotus Seven Twin-Cam 'SS' ~***

Just 13 Twin-Cam 'SS' cars were made.
	SHOW CAR - The official line taken by the factory was that the Twin-Cam engine would not fit in the Seven. Graham Nearn took a car up to the factory in which the owner had fitted a T/C engine. 'SS' stood for Super Seven. The result was the super luxury 'SS' car shown at the 1969 Earls Court Motor Show, but only 12 orders were take..
	ENGINE - The engine that was fitted was a specially unit developing 126bhp by engine tuning specialists, Holbay of Suffolk..
	REAR LIGHTS - These were specially inset into the wings. Note: The wheels were mostly Dunlop pattern cast aluminium by GKN, although the show car had Brand Lotus.
	DASHBOARD - This was finished in a silver colour and had rocker type switches for the lights, windscreen wipers and heater. Note: The specially made SS80 chassis made by Arch Motors has strengthening features similar to (but not the same as) Caterhams of the 1990s.
	WEATHER EQUIPMENT & INTERIOR TRIM - The soft top, side screens and tonneau were colour co-ordinated and/or chosen by the customer as was the thicker panelled seating and interior trim and carpeting which were all of better grade materials.

~ A Beautifully Restored Series Three Car ~

	ENGINE BAY VIEW - Near side of engine bay. Note old style rubber battery, radiator filler/swirl pot and the mild steel painted exhaust manifold.
	OTHER ENGINE BAY VIEW - Off side of engine bay. Note heater installation including water tap. Also the standard Ford black engine paint.
	CARBURETTOR DETAIL - Weber 32DFM twin choke progressive down-draught carburettor on cast aluminium Ford manifold with Coopers air cleaner. In this standard state of tune the 1600cc. engine produces some 84bhp at 5,500rpm.
	REAR LIGHTS - The combined rear/stop lights are Thorpe PT 675 which were used on the Series Two after August 1965 and on all the ordinary Series Three models. Note the correct wedge shaped rubber backing pieces. (See Owners Manual page D14) The orange rear flashers are Lucas L539.
	DASHBOARD/COCKPIT - Black steel "Stelvetite" plastic finished dashboard fitted with AC shrouded Fuel Gauge and Ammeter, Smiths Speedometer, Tachometer and Dual Gauge (Water Temperature and Oil Pressure). Note plastic covered three-spoke steering wheel, black plastic Ford gear knob and black carpet which are all original equipment.
	REAR COCKPIT DETAIL - Original Lotus labelled Kangol lap and diagonal seatbelts. Note pockets in seat squabs to allow belts to anchorages. Also original black 'weave' pattern leather cloth with heat seamed panels to seat squabs and back rest.

~ Light Alloy Wheels on Series Three & Series Four Cars ~

	A DUNLOP LIGHT ALLOY WHEEL - Offered as an optional extra on Series Three cars. Similar and often mistaken for the "Brand Lotus".
	A BRAND LOTUS LIGHT ALLOY WHEEL - Offered as an optional extra on Series Four cars. Found also on one or two Series Three cars as well.