LocostUSA.com

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the dramatic title, but everytime I show someone a picture of the car, they have no idea what it is. Any input or identification of parts you guys have would be extremely helpful!

My name is Joe, I live in Charlotte NC and am totally new to Locost cars and am excited to build this car and get some great intel from you guys.

Got this car on a trade, it's titled as a 1967 Lotus Super 7. I have no idea what it is, it looks like a book frame from what I've been reading. Going to document my build thread here.

Here's what I know:

Frame:
Book? Here's what I know, the frame is professionally welded with some gussets, every single weld is perfect.

Engine trans:
81 Toyota 3TC (stock except for weber carb)
Trans is a broken T40 4 speed same year. (Replacing with a 82 T50 5 speed)

Scuttle:
All Steel with curved windshield. Looks hand made.

Roll bars:
Double hump steel roll bars.

Suspension/brakes:
Front is Mustang II with Ford calipers
Rear is 4 link with pan hard bar
Rear stock Toyota drums
not sure what kind of coilover I have, they look to be some type of motorcycle
No sway bars

Rearend:
81 Toyota corolla non-LSD, no idea the gear ratio

Gauges:
They all suck and are being replaced.

Steering Column:
Ford, I think 73ish. It has a lever/button to remove the key

Wiring harness:
Painless don't know which model.

Wheels:
13" aluminum wheels with 4 lug

Current Plans are as follows:
Pull the engine and trans out
Replace the trans with the T50
Replace pinion seal in the rearend
Replace Timing chain, plug egr ports and egr valve the right way, replace water pump, replace fuel pump, paint engine and valve cover
Build new dash panel and install all new gauges with a very small glovebox (1 din pocket with a door)
Install Stainless long tube header
Replace intake with five finger intake manifold
New headlights with LED bulbs, new blinkers
All in all, make a nice running, driving car out of it.

Future plans:
Cam/Springs
New Carb
LSD (I hear I will need an entirely new rear end for this.)
2TC pre emissions head
16" wheels much wider tires too


Sorry if I missed anything, please let me know what you think and if you have any questions! Thanks and looking forward to your input!

Joe

Hi Joe, and welcome.

I can't tell you anything about the history of the vehicle. However, just taking a look at the body work, it looks very much like that part (at least) comes from the UK. I've seen products from a UK company (sorry, don't have the name or website) on the internet that look just like it, especially the rear section and the nose piece.

Perhaps it was a chassis/bodywork kit from a UK company since you say the welds are really good. It might be worth giving it a good look-over for a manufacturers plate fastened somewhere on the chassis?

Regards,

Lonnie

_________________
Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886

Body looks very similar to this Superformance S1 Roadster from South Africa, now discontinued.

I thought that was a given seeing that he said the gauges "all suck and are being replaced".

Welcome Joe, good luck on the rebuild.

_________________
Trochu Motor League

Interesting, the body work on my car has the holes to accept those side scoops. WOW!

LOL and THANKS!!!

Joe..
I would be interested in seeing this car. I'm in Concord doing a build myself. There are a few other guys close by as well building cars.

Russ

Hey Russ,

Sure, would be good to have another set of eyes on the car. PM me your number, we could get together this weekend if you're free.

Joe

Can the car be identified by the VIN?

It's LSB2596. Anyone have any idea?

Is that the manufacturers serial number? Or a stamped state inspection vin plate? Do you have any idea what year the car was assembled? Based on what you've provided.. I would guess mid to late 80s?

_________________
Tucker

It's the VIN on my title, it's also stamped on the manufacturer's plate. But the plate says:

LOTUS SEVEN
1967 - Vintage Inspired Sports Car
VIN: LSB2596

If you zoom in on the pic where the hood is off, no headlights, or engine or trans, it's right in the center on the firewall.

Joe
Did you buy it from the guy in Lawrenceville, GA?

I've seen this car for sale in a bunch of different places over the past several months

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

No sir, the guy I got it from in NC traded a Corvette for it. When I put the VIN in google, it pulls up all the old ads for when the car was for sale in GA. The car was a neglected mess with no documented history, no wonder it didn't sell.

Luckily BRDRacing is an hour from my house and can get all the performance parts I could ever want for the 3TC engine pretty easily.

Now if I can only find someone in NC to teach me how to make fiberglass panels...

Unfortunately, that VIN# (LSB2596) does not conform to the international norm (here's one short reference ==> https://www.amsoil.com/lit/g3000/2008/s ... depage.pdf). I'm going to guess it was put into place by some kind of regional (state, province) authority as a home-built. That's totally a guess, however.

Cheers,

_________________
Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886

I agree. My guesses would be Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Ohio, and Michigan sometime in the 80's.

South Carolina has followed the SCDMV XXXXXXXXXXXX convention on assigned VIN for decades

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216