The car is registered in the UK and is on the Lotus Seven register with John Watson. It has a large history file with it and correct chassis plate. We have done some research and found it has the identical same original build spec as Philip Jewell's yellow S3 car which is the chassis number immediately before mine. Chassis no SB 2540 was first registered on 7th Oct 1969 to Mr. Robert Hatton from Ewell Surrey England as APF 120H. The build spec shows it yellow, 1600 crossflow engine number 9A 17413. Single weber carb, seatbelts, tonneau, heater and roll bar. Second owner Mr. Marcus Hawes from Downham Market, Norfolk. who sold it to Caterham Cars in 1973 who passed it onto Mr. Barry Fountain from Ely, Cardiff South Wales.

Third owner was Mr. Anthony Hill from Trowbridge who appears to change the reg no. to SMO 380, then selling it to Mr. Stephen McDonald from Cardiff. It is at this time it gets its home restoration and repanelling job. It is again sold to Caterham Cars who pass it onto the next owner, Mr. Alexander Graham from Gloucester. Next owner is Mr. Norman Hetherington from Burnley Lancs. who changes the reg. number to OBV 651H. Next owner is Mr. John Craven from Whalley, Lancs. who purchased the car in 1996. I then purchased the car in june 2004, the car having covered just 6,000 miles since its MOT in 1982. I have since through the help of the Historic Lotus Register been able to have the original reg no. APF 120H re-issued to the car. It was always my intention to restore the car when I first saw it. It looks at first glance ok on the photos, but close up it has always suffered from the home restoration.

In the mean time I have been busy getting the original parts reconditioned and sourcing the auto jumbles for bits and pieces I need. Ihave managed to talk to the second owner of my car who had it from 1971 to 1973. He very kindly sent me these original photos when he crashed the car in Aug 1972.

The chassis was sent back to lotus for repair. Other things he remembered were, the first owner had the engine modified by a company called W.R.A engineering in middlesex . The horse power was approx 110 bhp this ran an alternative carburettor on it. After looking closly at the cyl head it is stamped up WRA st2 so it's managed to retain its original engine -- this means the car is on its third rebuild now ! My main area of research is to track down the first owner Robert Hatton , he moved to Ashtead, Surrey. the house he was living at has since been demolished and redeveloped. This is as far as I have got. Any info from anyone in England as to his whereabouts would be gratefully received...