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Super Seven S3 - the Lotus that came into the cold

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Created on February 17, 2015

Reading time 9min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

37

Bruno von Rotz

4

Bonhams

1

Archiv

16

Daniel Reinhard

37

Bruno von Rotz

4

Bonhams

1

Archiv

16

Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - richtig treu schaut er einen an im Schnee

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - der Lotus, der in die Kälte kam

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - nur die Spikes-Reifen fehlen

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - macht auch im Winter Spass

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - fast ein Weihnachtsmärchen

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - Fahrvergnügen ohne 4x4

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - im Prinzip ein leicht verschalter Formel Ford mit zwei Sitzplätzen

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - fügt sich perfekt in die Schneelandschaft ein

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - alle Seven litten an Auftrieb bei hohem Tempo

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - in den klassischen Lotus-Rennfarben

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - tiefer Schwerpunkt, ideale Gewichtsverteilung

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - deutlich negativer Sturz an der Vorderachse

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - eine Fahrmaschine ohne unnötigen Luxus

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - die meisten Super Seven werden wohl geschont im Winter

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - bei Eis und Nebel als einziger Farbtupfer

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - statt einsame Spaziergänger ein einsamer Lotus

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - der Sprint von 0 bis 100 km/h lässt sich in knapp acht Sekunden absolvieren

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - es empfiehlt sich, die Nieren zu schützen

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - Aerodynamik war nicht obersters Gebot bei der Entwicklung des Seven

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - das Fahrvergnügen ist irgendwo zwischen Auto und Motorrad angesiedelt

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - in kaum einem anderen Auto ist das Fahrerlebnis so intensiv

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - die Frontscheibe ist der einzige Schutz

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - Frank Costin hatte einst minimale aerodynamische Verbesserungen zwecks Verhinderung von Wirbeln im Interieur entwickelt für den Seven, doch Chapman befand, dass die Haare eines Seven-Fahrers durchaus verzaust sein dürften

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - lange aber schmale Motorhaube

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - der motor sitzt zwischen Vorderachse und Besatzung

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - wie viele Sevens wurde auch dieser Lotus ständig den Anforderungen angepasst

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - ein Tacho bis 245 km/h wäre wohl nicht nötig gewesen, er wurde vermutlich so nachgerüstet

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - ein Überrollbügel und Hosenträgergurte als Sicherheitsattribute

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - enges Cockpit - da verstehen sich Fahrer und Beifahrer besser

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - die Armaturen sind demokratisch zwischen Fahrer und Beifahrer aufgeteilt

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - zwei obenliegende Nockenwellen, zwei Dell'Orto-Vergaser, deutlich über 100 PS

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - sportliche Vergaser-Ausrüstung

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - das Lotus-Typenschild

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - drangvolle Enge im Motorraum

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - nur die Kotflügel bestehen aus Kunststoff, der Rest der Karosserie wurde aus Aluminium gefertigt

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - schöne Rundungen - verchromte Scheinwerfer

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - das Lotus-Zeichen auf dem Bug - hier darf es angebracht sein

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Lotus Mk VI (1954) - mit Ford-1000-ccm-Motor

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Lotus Mk VI (1956) - in Le Mans im Jahr 1965 in der Klasse bis 750 ccm

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Lotus Seven (1958) - auf schmalen Rädern

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Lotus Seven (1958) - fast freistehende Räder wie bei einem Formelauto

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Lotus Seven (1960) - gerne im Clubsport eingesetzt

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Lotus Seven (1962) - Freude am Fahren

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Lotus Seven Coventry Climax (1958) - frühe Version des belieben Freizeit-Sportwagens - am Swiss Classic British Car Meeting Morges vom 4. Oktober 2014

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Lotus Seven Coventry Climax (1958) - minimalistischer Sportwagen - am Swiss Classic British Car Meeting Morges vom 4. Oktober 2014

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Lotus Seven Coventry Climax (1958) - Ankunft - am Swiss Classic British Car Meeting Morges vom 4. Oktober 2014

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Lotus Seven Coventry Climax (1958) - Interieur - am Swiss Classic British Car Meeting Morges vom 4. Oktober 2014

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Lotus Seven Series 1 Climax (1959) - angeboten von Bonhams an der Goodwood-Auktion vom 29. Juni 2012

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Lotus Seven (1960) - minimalistischer Sportwagen

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Lotus Seven (1961) - noch mit Stahlrädern

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Lotus Seven (1958) - diesen Bausatz erhielt der begabte Handwerker

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Lotus Super Seven (1963) - ein Scheinwerfer musste reichen

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Lotus Super Seven (1969) - Vorderansicht eines späten Sevens am Genfer Automobilsalon

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Lotus Super Seven (1971) - Interieur des S4-Sevens

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Lotus Super Seven (1963) - Blick in den Motorraum

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Lotus Super Seven (1971) - Durchsichtszeichnung des S4

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Lotus Europa (1970) - auf dem Lotus-Stand an der London Motor Show - Elan als Vorserien-Sprint, Europa und Super Seven zusammen

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Pontiac Grand Prix (1962) - Werbung, die einen Lotus Super Seven neben dem grossen Pontiac zeigt - aus den USA im Jahr 1962 (engl.)

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Summary

The English sports car manufacturer produced not quite 3000 Lotus Seven and Super Seven cars between 1957 and 1973. They were aimed at sports drivers who needed a vehicle suitable for everyday use during the week and for club racing at the weekend. The simply built Seven, which could be assembled by reasonably talented DIY enthusiasts in their own garage, offered just that. The fact that it continues to be built in various versions to this day proves how right Colin Chapman was with this concept. This driving report describes the history of the Lotus Seven and shows it in current and historical photos, as well as in the sales literature of the time.

This article contains the following chapters

The puzzle before the drive
Created as the Mark VI
Evolution in form and performance
Built in four series
Racing car technology for everyday use
Pretty direct
Continuing the legend
Further information

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

A Lotus Super Seven is certainly not the ideal car when it comes to defying nature in the form of fog, snow and ice. But Colin Chapman had developed the minimalist roadster with sports drivers of modest means in mind, who could only afford a car that could be used for commuting to work during the week and for successful participation in club races at the weekend. Many Seven drivers therefore drove their lightweight sports car in all weathers, even when it was snowing. Without heating and with minimal weather protection, why not? Before they could even drive the car, however, they had to assemble it from components, as the Lotus Seven was delivered as a "kit car". However, Colin Chapman had developed the kit car into an art form. When the car was delivered, the customer received all the components required for a drivable car. Nothing had to be bought in, everything was ready for assembly and the wiring harness had already been laid. This level of perfection was called "CKD", or "completely knocked down".

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