1969 Lotus Seven Series 3

Registration no. H3299BBD (Spanish Historic Registration) Chassis no. LSB 2454

Frame no. BL2162
Odometer reading: 9,878 miles

* Matching numbers car
* Two private owners from new
* Lotus Classic Certificate of Vehicle Provenance

When the Lotus Seven was launched in 1957, designed by the legendary Colin Chapman, it was far ahead of any other sports racing cars of the era. The car was so right first time, it is still in production today, as the Caterham. It is the second most copied car on the planet. Lotus produced the classic Seven through until 1970, the Series 3 benefiting from a strengthened chassis, wider wheels and tyres, slightly wider and strengthened Ford Escort Mexico back axle, exterior fuel filler, and even a fuel guage!

This Lotus is a genuine factory built Seven that was released from Lotus Components in Hethel on the 18th April 1969, and shipped to the Lotus distributor in Canada. The optional extras were stated to be mag/alloy wheels and a heater. It was part of the very last batch of approximately 70 LHD now classic Lotus 7s assembled by the factory. It was purchased by an enthusiast in Calgary, who had a small car collection, and used it mainly for the local car club events. The last recorded competition event was on the 11th September 1979, although it is said to have participated in hill climbs in the early 80s, after which the car was put in to dry storage.

The Lotus changed hands for the first and only time in 2012 at 8238 miles, when the present owner shipped the car to Spain, via the UK. Whilst in the UK it was inspected by the Lotus Seven Registrar, who confirmed that it is a genuine, original Lotus. It still had the original tyres, so it was refitted with Pirelli Cinturatos, so that it could be driven safely, and pass the Spanish ITV. It had all of the original equipment, the hood and seat belts pretty much unused.

The aluminium body bore the scars of a few competition mishaps, and after 42 years was too brittle to restore properly, the chassis had been oversprayed in silver with a rattle can, in an effort to enhance the appearance. It had also been modernised with Caterham wings and rear lights, which have now been replaced with the correct items.

The chassis was sent to Xtra Special Sevens, checked to be rust free, and in perfect alignment. It was powder coated in Lotus grey, and a beautiful new aluminium skin hand formed around the chassis, by a skilled craftsman. Wherever possible the original parts and components were cosmetically restored, the bolts re plated/re chromed, the mag alloy wheels re finished to concours standard.

When you sit in this car, you are sitting on the original seat fabric, holding the original Springall steering wheel, and looking at the original dashboard. Even the carpet over the transmission tunnel, is the original item. Compare the black and white picture of the engine bay taken from the Series 3 section of the Lotus Seven Register, with the colour picture, it is identical, right down to the Barnacle suction rear view mirror. Even the exhaust silencer and tail pipe were remanufactured to the original pattern and it has the correct Thorpe PT 675 brake/stop/side lights. It must surely be one of the most correct Lotus Seven Series 3s.

The sidescreens are original, although the old opaque plastic windows have been replaced, and the hood, frame and fittings are totally original.
This lightweight Lotus is powered by the original Ford Cortina GT crossflow engine, with the Weber 32 DFM twin choke downdraught carburettor. During the rebuild the ignition was upgraded to an electronic distributor head, which combined with a new coil gives a much improved and reliable spark.

Whilst the chassis was being refinished, as a matter of house keeping, the gearbox was stripped and checked and rebuilt, and later the rear axle was also rebuilt with a new crown wheel and pinion, to the correct standard ratio of 3.77:1. The clutch plate was renewed whilst the engine and gearbox were out of the car. All of the serviceable bolts and fixings were retained, re plated and reused. The front brake calipers were serviced and replated, new discs and pads fitted, and the rear brakes received new cylinders and brake shoes. The brake and clutch master cylinders were also serviced.
The front suspension components were media blasted and re finished in Lotus Grey, the cast components were ceramic coated to keep the surface good for many years. The Spax shock absorbers were repainted, and new logos applied. The 4 branch header and exhaust system were also ceramic coated in a period silver, for a durable and attractive finish.

During the present owner's tenure, the Lotus twice entered the annual Classics and Legends event at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, and had an outing with the South of France Lotus Seven group, for a blast up Mont Ventoux. It also won a concours trophy immediately after restoration at the Marina Alta Classic Car Club.

The really great news about a Lotus Seven as a classic car, is that although 50 years old, it keeps up with and will even out perform many modern cars, and has an aluminium body that will not rust. With the Caterham versions still in production today, outwardly unchanged, this car still looks perfectly at home on the roads of the 21st Century as it did in the 60s.. As an added bonus, it is a real head turner.
During the research of the car's provenance, a gentleman from Calgary was in touch. In 1973 he actually viewed the car as a possible purchase. Sadly the car was well over his budget at the time, and he settled for a cheaper more used model, which he still owned at the time of the correspondence. Interestingly he was reunited with our car in 2012 as it was being prepared for shipping, and confirmed that it was the same car he viewed in '73. There is a signed document from him to support this history.

This car comes with a NOVA certificate, so that it has cleared customs and can be registered in the UK, and the Spanish registration papers which should enable registration world wide.

This Lotus would sit well in any collection, but is no "trailer queen", and could equally be enjoyed for fun days out.