Super Seven S3 - the Lotus that came into the cold

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Super Seven S3 - the Lotus that came into the cold

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Created on February 17, 2015

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Bruno von Rotz

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - it looks really faithful in the snow

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - the Lotus that came into the cold

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - only the studded tires are missing

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - fun even in winter

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - almost a Christmas fairy tale

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - Driving pleasure without 4x4

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - in principle, a slightly different Formula Ford with two seats

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - blends in perfectly with the snowy landscape

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - all Seven cars suffered from lift at high speeds

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - in the classic Lotus racing colors

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - low center of gravity, ideal weight distribution

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - clearly negative camber on the front axle

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - a driving machine without unnecessary luxury

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - most Super Sevens are probably spared in winter

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - the only splash of color in ice and fog

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - a lonely Lotus instead of a lonely stroller

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h can be completed in just under eight seconds

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - it is advisable to protect the kidneys

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - Aerodynamics was not the top priority in the development of the Seven

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - the driving pleasure is somewhere between a car and a motorcycle

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - hardly any other car offers such an intense driving experience

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - the windshield is the only protection

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - Frank Costin had once developed minimal aerodynamic improvements for the Seven to prevent vortices in the interior, but Chapman found that a Seven driver's hair might well be tousled

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - long but narrow hood

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - the engine sits between the front axle and the crew

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - like many Sevens, this Lotus was constantly adapted to meet requirements

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - a speedometer up to 245 km/h would probably not have been necessary, it was probably retrofitted like this

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - a roll bar and harness belts as safety features

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - tight cockpit - driver and passenger get along better

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - the dashboards are democratically divided between driver and passenger

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - two overhead camshafts, two Dell'Orto carburetors, well over 100 hp

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - sporty carburetor equipment

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - the Lotus nameplate

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - cramped conditions in the engine compartment

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - only the fenders are made of plastic, the rest of the body was made of aluminum

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - beautiful curves - chrome headlights

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Lotus Super Seven S3 TwinCam (1969) - the Lotus sign on the front - here it may be attached

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Lotus Mk VI (1954) - with Ford 1000 cc engine

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Lotus Mk VI (1956) - at Le Mans in 1965 in the class up to 750 cc

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Lotus Seven (1958) - almost free-standing wheels like a formula car

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Lotus Seven (1960) - often used in club sport

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Lotus Seven Coventry Climax (1958) - early version of the popular leisure sports car - at the Swiss Classic British Car Meeting Morges on October 4, 2014

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Lotus Seven Coventry Climax (1958) - minimalist sports car - at the Swiss Classic British Car Meeting Morges on October 4, 2014

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Lotus Seven Coventry Climax (1958) - Arrival - at the Swiss Classic British Car Meeting Morges on October 4, 2014

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Lotus Seven Coventry Climax (1958) - Interior - at the Swiss Classic British Car Meeting Morges on October 4, 2014

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Lotus Seven Series 1 Climax (1959) - offered by Bonhams at the Goodwood auction on June 29, 2012

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Lotus Seven (1960) - minimalist sports car

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Lotus Seven (1961) - still with steel wheels

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Lotus Seven (1958) - the talented craftsman received this kit

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Lotus Super Seven (1963) - one headlight had to be enough

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Lotus Super Seven (1969) - Front view of a late Seven at the Geneva Motor Show

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Lotus Super Seven (1971) - Interior of the S4-Sevens

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Lotus Super Seven (1963) - View into the engine compartment

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Lotus Super Seven (1971) - See-through drawing of the S4

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Lotus Europa (1970) - on the Lotus stand at the London Motor Show - Elan as a pre-production sprint, Europa and Super Seven together

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Pontiac Grand Prix (1962) - Advertisement showing a Lotus Super Seven next to the big Pontiac - from the USA in 1962 (English)

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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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