Lotus Seven History
Lotus's minimalist open two-seater (1957–1973) — a road-legal racer later handed to Caterham, which still builds it.
Photo: “File:1958 Lotus Super Seven Series I (22312622254).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
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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.
Generations
Series 1 · S1
Photo: “File:1958 Lotus Super Seven Series I (22312622254).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The original — aluminium body, Ford sidevalve power, the lightest and most stripped-back of the Sevens.
1958 Photo: “File:1958 Lotus Super Seven Series I (22312622254).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Series 2 · S2
The big-volume Seven, with simpler fibreglass-nose construction and Ford Kent engine options; the most numerous series.
1962 Photo: “File:1962 Lotus Super Seven Series 2 (16068913944).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1965 Photo: “File:1965 Lotus Seven S2.jpg” by MrWalkr / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Series 3 · S3
Wider chassis and uprated running gear, available with the crossflow Kent and Lotus Twin Cam.
1968 Photo: “File:1968 Lotus Super Seven Series 3 (25375254993).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1969 Photo: “File:1969 Lotus Seven S3 1.6 Front.jpg” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Series 4 · S4
Restyled with a squarer fibreglass body — the final and most 'civilised' Lotus Seven before Caterham took over.
1972 Photo: “File:1972 Lotus Seven Series 4.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Open two-seater roadster
Related models
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