Got a "New" Lotus Today - LotusTalk

escondidoron · 10-16-2009, 10:40 PM

We bought a "barn find" '62 Lotus Seven 1500. It has been in storage for over 30 years. Its an old SoCal slalom/club racer.

Its been a very long day. Just got home at 2115. Left the house at 0430 to beat the traffic in Los Angeles (that's where the car has lived it's entire life). Spent all day digging the cars out of the sellers' garage (the Lotus went into the garage about 1975 and has sat there on it's trailer ever since), getting paper work taken care of at AAA (waaaaaay better than the DMV ), finding and then going across town to America's Tire and getting tires on the trailer's wheels (the kid at Discount, er, America's had never seen a 7.75 x 15 nylon cord tire before!), cleaning the garage, moving the other car back into the garage, driving back home to unload the car and then dumping all of the trash that I cleaned out of the seller's garage.

While I'm exhausted, I'm also pretty euphoric. We got the car out into the daylight and back to San Diego County successfully in one day.

The sellers are in their 80's and had good documentation on the car that includes their racing history. They were an absolute joy to spend time with. Once they got rolling, they never ran out of stories about the people that they have met and the adventures that they have had with their cars in SoCal sports car racing circles during the 50's, 60's 70's. Basically, for me, today was like spending the best day ever with my grandparents and then having it be Christmas and my birthday too. All rolled into one.

On the other hand, it seemed like today was also sort of like being in the movie, "Back To The Future". You know, it was like I was talking to my wife and myself about 30 years into the future. I'm just hoping that my wife and I are as energetic and full of life as our new car's P.O.s when we are in our mid 80's!

Here's what the scene looked like just before we rolled the Seven out into the daylight:

Maybe sometime in the coming months I will be able to get it running and then actually drive it.

Will post some more pics in the coming days.

mopho · 10-16-2009, 11:13 PM

Very neat Ron, congrats

Aedo · 10-16-2009, 11:39 PM

What a great story!! Congrats!

ms355 · 10-17-2009, 02:36 AM

Congratulations. One more saved ...

Noizemaker · 10-17-2009, 02:48 AM

Awesome find!

How'd you find out about it, and what made them decide to sell it 35 years later? it seemed pretty happy just sitting there after that long!

Roger · 10-17-2009, 04:10 AM

Very Nice!! I'm only a lot envious.

Chococar · 10-17-2009, 04:55 AM

Congratulations! I had a 1962 1500 seven also. What a fun fun car!!

chotto · 10-17-2009, 05:26 AM

That is an awesome story. If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for it? How did that Mustang look? I think I would have bargained for both.

RoadDad · 10-17-2009, 05:47 AM

I hope you got some pictures of the sellers with the car. That would make for a great addition to the documentation.

Congrats. Keep the updates on the car coming.

RacyTracy · 10-17-2009, 06:33 AM

Great find!! Great story!! Do they want to sell the Mustang?

escondidoron · 10-17-2009, 07:43 AM

RacyTracy & Chotto asked:

Quote:

Do they want to sell the Mustang?

No, they don't want to sell the Shelby.

The cars were his and hers. She was ready to sell and he isn't. We've been asked to come back and get the Shelby running. That'll be in a few weeks.

RoadDad suggested:

Quote:

I hope you got some pictures of the sellers with the car.

Absolutely.

Noizemaker asked:

Quote:

How'd you find out about it, and what made them decide to sell it 35 years later?

We found aout about the car from Jeff Robinson at JAE. Jeff and I have become friends over the years. Jeff heard about it from a friend of his and forwarded me that email.

She wanted to clean the garage so that they could pout their daily driver inside at night. So we cleaned out the garage and moved the Shelby to the other side so that there iss direct access betwen the house and the daily driver.

Green Hornet · 10-17-2009, 10:23 AM

Too Cool For Words -

Congratulations - keep us updated on the restoration...

Sweet Adrenaline · 10-17-2009, 10:32 AM

Looking forward to more pictures...Congrats!

thruthefence · 10-18-2009, 12:35 PM

A great story, thanks for sharing!

Is that a GT 350 in the foreground?

DeanG · 10-18-2009, 04:12 PM

Please send documentation of the car to SimpleSevens.com

dvl · 10-22-2009, 02:07 PM

I'm glad to see the 7 went to a good home. I was attempting to buy the car as well and exchanged multiple emails with the owners. In fact, I even contacted Jeff at JAE and Tony Ingram about the required work to get it on the road. Good luck with that thing.

Dave

shay2nak · 10-26-2009, 12:04 PM

good luck with the restoration!

knucklehead · 10-26-2009, 01:30 PM

Great find! good luck with the car. Don't forget to take pics of the Shelby when you start working on it.

10-16-2009, 10:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
escondidoron Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 33	Got a "New" Lotus Today We bought a "barn find" '62 Lotus Seven 1500. It has been in storage for over 30 years. Its an old SoCal slalom/club racer. Its been a very long day. Just got home at 2115. Left the house at 0430 to beat the traffic in Los Angeles (that's where the car has lived it's entire life). Spent all day digging the cars out of the sellers' garage (the Lotus went into the garage about 1975 and has sat there on it's trailer ever since), getting paper work taken care of at AAA (waaaaaay better than the DMV ), finding and then going across town to America's Tire and getting tires on the trailer's wheels (the kid at Discount, er, America's had never seen a 7.75 x 15 nylon cord tire before!), cleaning the garage, moving the other car back into the garage, driving back home to unload the car and then dumping all of the trash that I cleaned out of the seller's garage. While I'm exhausted, I'm also pretty euphoric. We got the car out into the daylight and back to San Diego County successfully in one day. The sellers are in their 80's and had good documentation on the car that includes their racing history. They were an absolute joy to spend time with. Once they got rolling, they never ran out of stories about the people that they have met and the adventures that they have had with their cars in SoCal sports car racing circles during the 50's, 60's 70's. Basically, for me, today was like spending the best day ever with my grandparents and then having it be Christmas and my birthday too. All rolled into one. On the other hand, it seemed like today was also sort of like being in the movie, "Back To The Future". You know, it was like I was talking to my wife and myself about 30 years into the future. I'm just hoping that my wife and I are as energetic and full of life as our new car's P.O.s when we are in our mid 80's! Here's what the scene looked like just before we rolled the Seven out into the daylight: Maybe sometime in the coming months I will be able to get it running and then actually drive it. Will post some more pics in the coming days. Last edited by escondidoron : 10-16-2009 at 11:04 PM. Reason: added pic

10-16-2009, 11:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
mopho goofn' with the bees Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: out of a suitcase- my stuff lives in LA Posts: 5,306	Very neat Ron, congrats __________________ ________________ 2004 Caterham 7 Superlight R - 67 Lotus Elan www.morgansegal.com www.socalsportscar.com

10-17-2009, 02:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
ms355 Alfa User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 2,143	Congratulations. One more saved ... __________________ Michael Elisetalk Trip to UK 2007

10-17-2009, 02:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Noizemaker General Freakin' Lee. :( Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bellevue WA Posts: 330	Awesome find! How'd you find out about it, and what made them decide to sell it 35 years later? it seemed pretty happy just sitting there after that long! __________________ -Matt 05 Chrome Orange. Touring, LSS wheels, The Blue Sector111 radiator of doom, Dieselgeek 1/4 turn kit, 1/4din Oil Temp gauge, Starshield, LETSLA, HKS exhaust etc etc etc. 99 Neon ACR. Broken. 2.4l, T3/T4, T850 swap, SRT seats, etc etc etc.

10-17-2009, 04:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
Roger Ancient Briton Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, TX Posts: 487	Very Nice!! I'm only a lot envious. __________________ '72 Europa TC '05 Elise

10-16-2009, 11:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aedo anglophile in exile Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 2,569 Images: 88	What a great story!! Congrats!

10-17-2009, 04:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
Chococar #334 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 1,546	Congratulations! I had a 1962 1500 seven also. What a fun fun car!!

10-17-2009, 05:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
chotto vv My Awesome Wife vv Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 917	That is an awesome story. If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for it? How did that Mustang look? I think I would have bargained for both. __________________ 2005 SY-BWR Supercharger, Challenger Grill, AreaP single tip exhaust, Ohlin Double Adjustables, RTDbrace, Custom Kirkey 58 Series seats, Schroth 6 pt. harnesses, Multivex mirrors, Odyssey PC625 battery, Micromirror, HID's, V2arms, Sparco removeable steering wheel, 15"/16" Rota's with RA-1's, Pagid RS 4-2 pads, Cup airbox, Saikou Michi catch cans

10-17-2009, 05:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
RoadDad perfututum futūtor Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 6,019	I hope you got some pictures of the sellers with the car. That would make for a great addition to the documentation. Congrats. Keep the updates on the car coming. __________________ "Really, you want to maintain a semblance of professionalism since you represent Lotus. Me... I don't need to. Bite me." -Randy

10-17-2009, 06:33 AM	#10 (permalink)
RacyTracy V Not my picture V Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 9,187	Great find!! Great story!! Do they want to sell the Mustang? __________________ Tracy 1996 Porsche 993TT Big news coming Tuesday.....(hopefully). 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser LOG 29 photos

10-17-2009, 10:23 AM	#12 (permalink)
Green Hornet Zzzzzzz Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 874	Too Cool For Words - Congratulations - keep us updated on the restoration... __________________ Life, Liberty and the Happiness of Pursuit

10-17-2009, 10:32 AM	#13 (permalink)
Sweet Adrenaline Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 313	Looking forward to more pictures...Congrats! __________________ There are a number of mechanical devices which increase sexual arousal, particularly in women. Chief among these is the Noble M400.

10-18-2009, 12:35 PM	#14 (permalink)
thruthefence Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 46	A great story, thanks for sharing! Is that a GT 350 in the foreground?

10-18-2009, 04:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
DeanG Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 722	Please send documentation of the car to SimpleSevens.com

10-22-2009, 02:07 PM	#16 (permalink)
dvl Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1	glad to see it went to a good home I'm glad to see the 7 went to a good home. I was attempting to buy the car as well and exchanged multiple emails with the owners. In fact, I even contacted Jeff at JAE and Tony Ingram about the required work to get it on the road. Good luck with that thing. Dave

10-26-2009, 12:04 PM	#17 (permalink)
shay2nak I <3 chicken, I <3 liver Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Land of da 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 15,053	good luck with the restoration! __________________ save ~10 lbs gain 1 hp EQ: Y=(190X) / (1984-X) where Y is (HP) and X is (lbs) '07 EXIGE S * MY CAR ** VIDEOS! '08 ACURA TSX 6-speed http://www.makeNYNYagain.com

10-26-2009, 01:30 PM	#18 (permalink)
knucklehead TWRD & Blip advertising Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Marina del Rey, CA Posts: 3,835	Great find! good luck with the car. Don't forget to take pics of the Shelby when you start working on it. __________________ Jacob Join Lotuscar.ning.com for LA Lotus social events 05 Exise, 2bular 6 inch exhaust. BWR double adjustable Penske shocks, Hypercoil springs, HIDs, BWR front sway bar, Light weight PC680 battery w/BWR brace, BWR Black badges and wheel centers, Custom SCC paint job, SCC OEM Exige mesh kit and Exige rear clam details, LSD, Lotus sport clutch and light weight fly wheel. Sector front splitter. Stebel horn. Multivex Mirrors. Volk CE28 wheels

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