Lotus Seven
The Lotus Seven was a small, simple, lightweight two-seater open-top sports car produced by Lotus Cars (initially called Lotus Engineering) between 1957 and 1972. It was designed by Lotus founder Colin Chapman and has been considered the embodiment of the Lotus philosophy of performance through low weight and simplicity. The original model was highly successful with more than 2,500 cars sold, due to its attraction as a road legal car that could be used for clubman racing. After Lotus ended production of the Seven, Caterham bought the rights to it, and today make both kits and fully assembled cars.
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This description of the 1957 Lotus Seven is correct, but no reference is made to the original Lotus Mk VII of 1952.
This was to have been the first Lotus single seat racing car for Clive Clairmonte who supplied the 2 litre Riley engine and gearbox from the ex-Hector Dobbs Riley he had been racing.
Intended for Formula 2 which in 1952 and 1953 were the cars contesting the World Championmship, it had a very advanced specification with space frame chassis, wishbone front suspension, inboard front springs, rack and pinion steering, de Dion rear axle and inboard rear brakes.
Because of their preoccupation with the prototype Mk VI, the Lotus company (working in those days largely in their spare time) made slow progress with the car, and had finished only the frame, front suspension and engine mountings when Clairmonte lost patience and took it away to finish himself.
By that time he had missed the 1952 season and, with only one year of F2 left, decided to convert it to a sports racing car with a Lea Francis (later Connaught) engine. It was registered as the Clairmonte Special.
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