Lotus Seven History

Introduced in 1957, the Seven was the purest expression of Colin Chapman's 'simplify, then add lightness' creed: a spaceframe tubular-steel chassis with stressed aluminium panels, cycle wings, and almost nothing else. Light, cheap, and frequently sold as a kit, it was as much a road-legal racing car as a road car.

It ran through four series (S1 1957–1960, S2 1960–1968, S3 1968–1970, and the restyled S4 1970–1973) using Ford sidevalve, Ford Kent, and Lotus Twin Cam engines. When Britain joined the EEC in 1973, the tax break that made kit cars attractive disappeared, and Lotus sold the rights to Caterham Cars — which has built the design as the Caterham Seven ever since.