Jim Gordon's Lotus Seven
1966 SB2138

April 2018

I bought SB2178 back from Kim Baker at Vintage Race Car Sales after his having it for almost a year. He posted it up on ebay and I called him. I plan to keep it for the very long term and sort it out as it should be. The car arrived yesterday and seems to be just fine. Better in fact as the rear end backlash seems to be fixed and it has a lovely little rearview mirror to boot. Had it out today for about an hour and it went fantastically. Very pleased to have it back home and looking forward to the register and being back in the 7 world! Hopefully for good!

Documented history going back to the early 1980's when it was first imported to the States into Virginia. At that time, the car was stripped, painted and refreshed and not driven much. It went from there to Colorado sometime in 1990, where it was until I purchased it 2011.

Over the years it has been restored/refreshed using parts available at the time. The frame is a proper Arch Motors replacement frame and therefore does not display a 'FRAME number' to be cross referenced with CHASSIS number SB2138. Although research has provided no other claim to CHASSIS number SB2138, the original FRAME associated with that number may turn up albeit without the CHASSIS plate for SB2138 since it is obviously on this car. From this it can be presumed that the original frame was written off, and replaced with the current Arch frame seen on the car today.

The front suspension is very similar to the DSK Formula Car Front Suspension Kit and allows adjustability not available using the original front suspension set-up. The kit also provides additional rigidity to the front suspension since it completes a proper upper A arm, at the same time freeing the front anti-roll bar to serve its singular intended purpose. This is a bolt-on, race-proven kit, easily removed should the new owner so desire. A Ford rear axle located by the original method rounds out the rear.

In my ownership the car has been completely stripped and repainted, new tires on 5, 5 1/2 inch Lotus Cortina rims. All the suspension was refreshed as well. A ZERO mileage 1600 X-flow built by Twin Cam Services in Florida was installed with a fresh roller rocker head from Quicksilver Racing in Maryland. The car has the 4 speed box and it absolutely flies.

The seats and inner panels are new as well. The car may have 500-1000 or so miles on it since I've done all this. Comes with top, side curtains and tonneau. All in good shape. I have some windwings too. Also have a set of 4 Minlite look-a-likes that we can talk about if you are interested.

I would prefer to talk to you in person if you are really interested. Please phone 240-626-9032. The car is in Maryland, titled there and ready to go. No stories or excuses. I'll do all I can to assist the buyer.

Refinishing as detailed above

Initial specs and photos on file with SimpleSevens, offered for sale in 2013 -- 1966 LOTUS SEVEN SERIES TWO
-- TWIN CAM LOTUS POWERED
-- 40 DCOE WEBER CARBURETORS
-- Baffled oil pan
-- EXCELLENT TOP, SIDE CURTAINS AND TONNEAU
-- SERIES THREE FORD REAR AXLE AND REAR FENDERS
-- ENGINE PRO REBUILT Approx. 2500 miles ago
-- New Arch Motors updated Frame Approx. 2500 miles ago
-- Original fuel epoxy coated inside
-- Series Three Rear fenders, Tail-lights, and English Ford rear axle 2500 miles ago
-- 13 inch Minilite style wheels
-- Upgraded front adj front sway bar and upper control arms, bolt on fully reversible
-- RHD, first registered 1966 London UK