Description
Apart from the fact that I found this car in a dry garage not a barn, it has to be described (almost) accurately as a genuine barn find. Not moved or run even in over 20 years it is DVLA registered as a Lotus Seven in Silver/ Green and accepted into the Lotus 7 club of Great Britain in 1999. Before anyone anyone tells me that there is no such thing as a 1985 Series 3 Lotus Seven then please read further down. I did try to advertise it as a Caterham but the parameters wouldn't let me.
First owner built the car in 1980/ 1981 then registered for the UK roads on Aug 1st 1985.
2nd owner acquired the car in August 1997
3rd owner in Jan 1998 and is the current registered keeper.
So here is the story, the chassis and most parts were purchased from Caterham during 1980 (Receipts in file). Remainder of parts came from a 1969 Series 3 Lotus 7 which was slightly damaged in a hill climb event, breaking a chassis tube. This car was then built using brand new parts and engine and other items from the hillclimb car and the owner finished the 1982 hill climb season. The 1585 cc Lotus twin cam was competition built, purchased from QED engine builders and the QED data sheet and receipt from 1983 are in the file. That data sheet shows 136 BHP which must be rather impressive in such a light body. MOT certificates from 1992-2003 are in the file along with a rather lovely black and white photo of the car competing at Loton park in 1982. The owner then registered the car for the road in 1985 and enjoyed it then until 1997 when he sold it on. The current owner bought it a year later and enjoyed it a little further although to be quite clear, it’s quite short lived hillclimbing career ended in the early 80s.
The car was SORN in 2004 by the 3rd and current owner and has been stored in a dry garage since then until I took it out and moved it to my unit in May 2025.
We haven’t done anything to it, not even cleaned it to preserve it’s status as a barn (garage) find and now it’s over to you to come and have a look at it and see if it’s your kind of thing. I’m selling it on behalf of my friend and customer and just to clarify a few matters. Yes it turns over freely but we haven’t tried to start it. No I’m not selling you just the engine. Yes you can come at look at it at a prearranged time. No I’m not sending you a video, you can come and use your eyeballs. Ring me for a friendly chat though and if I don’t know the answer to any of your questions then I’ll find out for you. Thanks for looking, David.
