School me on Lotus 7 replicas

[Mark 178]

Last night I bought a Caldina for the Missus to drive around town and for us to take down to Queenstown over New Years. This got me thinking about how little I use the E30 as I walk to work and have a mall/supermarket within walking distance of my house so I only take it out on weekends for leisurely drives.

In turn I started thinking about buying a weekend car that could be more turn-key track-oriented and my thoughts turned to the Lotus 7 replicas.

Obviously the most prevalent in NZ are Fraser Clubmans, Chevron Classics and the Lotus-affiliated Caterham 7. With these being kit cars I realise they're all built slightly differently and use a variety of engines (so far in my Trademe search I've found Datsun 1400's, Toyota 4AGE, 3SGE, 2JZ, Nissan SR20, Subaru 1800 and Escort 1600) but what are the common things to look out for when buying one? Are they as simple to maintain as they look? Will I look like I'm having a mid-life crisis 15 years before I turn 40?

Any information/ past experiences appreciated. 

[Forrest 35]

My dad has a Fraser Clubman he built himself.

4AGE motor out of a corona/corolla taxi, had done 300k, bit of a tidy up and threw it in with a W50 (Supra???) gearbox with a De Dion live axle. Still runs drum braked rears and and escort fronts with repco pads and semi good road tyres. Was a total budget build maximum bang for buck.

Making about 120hp, weighing in at 500 -550kg, so power to weight of a V8 falcodore.

So he brought the kit (the total DIY version, Fraser do all the variants up to a customer built car), took him roughly a year of a few nights a week and during the weekend, works out about 1000 man hours I think.

In current trim it does 'about' 1.29's at Manfield, so on pace roughly with the faster of the E30 series field. I have driven it at a few track days and it is a blast, about 457579494 times more fun than the e30, just like a go cart and the acceleration, even for a 16v 1.6 is something else.

With the Frasers, they have a strong club base with heaps of meets and emails etc and a big annual track day at Taupo each year that I have been to before. If you wanted to build one I am pretty sure Neil Fraser scrutinizes each car so they need to be brought back complete to Auckland for rego etc (this was the case with my Dads car).

I could talk for ages, if you need any help/advice/questions just pm me and I will pass them onto my Dad/try answer myself.

Cheers, Nathan

Oh and a pic for inspiration

Edited November 26, 2009 by Forrest

[Palazzo 477]

My dad had a Series 3 replica, semi pro built, weighed 499 kilos and had about 120-130hp, was quite quick, but useless if you were over about 5'10". I couldn't get behind the wheel. Good fun though and awesome handling (from the passengers seat).

[kiwi535 538]

My dad had a Series 3 replica, semi pro built, weighed 499 kilos and had about 120-130hp, was quite quick, but useless if you were over about 5'10". I couldn't get behind the wheel. Good fun though and awesome handling (from the passengers seat).

plus one...great little cars...but a guy i used to work with was gonna build one,but his height caused some MAJOR issues...

[c.robertson00 11]

My Dads got a genuine Series 4 Lotus 7 And it is a wicked car. Black with gold Superlites. They are quite fiddly to work on and to drive (the pedal box is unbelievably cramped). But still a DIY car. I saw that locost with the subaru flat four in it that looked a good price. A 4AGE would be an awesome engine to have. Ive heard that Chevrons should be avoided also. Frasers are by far the best replicas around this part of the world.

Edited November 26, 2009 by chris00

[bravo 35]

There are good, bad and ugly.

At a car show recently two were parked near each other. At first glance there didn't appear to be much difference. On closer inspection they couldn't have been more different. One was on a steel chassis, with a tired old Mitsubishi motor, and looked like it weighed a ton.

The other was tubular space frame with carbon everywhere running a motorcycle engine and sequential box, and weighed about 450kg.

I'd go drive a few and find out what you can get for your money, and what you do/don't like.

[Mark 178]

Thanks for the info fellas. Obviously I'm only doing my research ATM and I'm hoping 10-15k will get me something tidy and reliable. I don't have a big garage and I'm not particularly savvy when it comes to the mechanical side of things so would need a fully built car.

Interested to learn that Chevron aren't highly regarded? Is that widespread opinion?

[DRTDVL 0]

I don't have a big garage and I'm not particularly savvy when it comes to the mechanical side of things so would need a fully built car.

Neither do i, but in the last year i've learnt soo much from working on my 205 it's not funny... At the start invite mechanical friends over for beers and get them to have a beer and help you, particularly you do the work and they tell you how to do it... then in no time your fear of working on the car fads and your comfortable working on it... Plus it becomes a social thing as working on cars quickly leads to you having no social life...

[3vil_bm 0]

Obviously I'm only doing my research ATM and I'm hoping 10-15k will get me something tidy and reliable.

I looked at doing something like this earlier this year. Fraser Cars basic kit starts as just ova 12K. Doesn't leave much at the top end of your budget to play with. You could also check out McGregor Cars. They are built here in CHCH so you could go have a look and a talk to the guy. From memory there kits are cheaper.

Almac in Wellington also do a cheap kit. IMO tho they look a bit cheap too.

PM me if you want the Fraser Cars Price list.

[sp8s 1]

Almac in Wellington also do a cheap kit. IMO tho they look a bit cheap too.

Almac make a mean Cobra kit. Well it was last time I was in the factory.

Also make different version of the lotus 7 lookalike kits

http://www.almac.co.nz/

[c.robertson00 11]

Ive heard that McGregors are good cars. That Almac has ugly guards! Other than that looks great

Edited November 27, 2009 by chris00

[Palazzo 477]

Beware, one of the Sth Island ones is based on a Triumph Herald, suspension and all. Can't remember which one.

[c.robertson00 11]

The Herald suspension is used on all sorts of thigs and theres nothing wrong with it. Its a good reliable double wishbone set up that was used on the Lotus 7s and most other specials of the day

[Palazzo 477]

The Herald suspension is used on all sorts of thigs and theres nothing wrong with it. Its a good reliable double wishbone set up that was used on the Lotus 7s and most other specials of the day

http://herald-tips-tricks.wikidot.com/rear...-and-tuck-under

Yeah, that swing axle rear is a treasure that should be used to this day.

[c.robertson00 11]

I was talking about the front suspension.

[Palazzo 477]

Which may be fair enough, unfortunately, they fit the rear aswell.