We are a few friends how are just starting build projects based on Lotus 23. We have acquired a set of good GRP-molds and at the moment we are looking for someone to make the bodies. We have also started to model a frame in 3d-cad after a set of paper drawings we bought a from Lee Chapman Racing.
At the moment we are talking about two builds with bike engines and VW-trans axles and two with engine and gearbox from some front wheel drive car, possibly Suzuki Swift, plus one more still to be decided. It is still very early in planing so expect changes.
Biggest problem at the moment is deciding on what front uprights to use. The frames will probably stray more or less from the original. I'm planing a build mainly for road use. with square tube frame, slightly longer and wider cockpit and a transverse engine. In time (likely looong), we hope to be able to release drawings for the frames.

23-frame01

Cool!

My friend, Andy, bought a 23C last year. He races it in the HSCC.



Andy in a Lotus 23c at Cadwell

Mike

Hmm...any plans to produce extra bodies?

hi i'm currently rebuilding a noble 23 which is lee noble recreation of the lotus23 but the body tub is a few inches wider the noble uses cortina front uprights and square box frame chassis if you wat any easurements off mine don't hessitate to ask hopefuly a picture before it was painted

The 23 is the only car that I thought, "No way I'd ever drive that on the street." Waaaay too low. Your head is about the same height as wheel hubs of trucks. Get any closer than 50ft behind a minivan and you're absolutely invisible.

[Edited on 2/26/08 by kb58]

I love the 23 and before getting into locost I looked far and wide for frame drawings but finally gave up.
I am currently developing uprights for my composite Mini and Locost projects, that use standard hub assemblies and hope to sell them aftermarket once I get them completed and tested.
Let us know if you think you will send anything stateside.

Guinness
Nice! I don't think we will get into more serious racing than a trackday now and then.

stevebubs
Well, yes. But the transport might be a problem, we are located in Sweden.

andybod
Lovely. A little wider on the “inside” won't hurt. The original is less then 36” wide, a 7-S2 is 37”.

kb58
A 23 is lower than a seven alright but not that much lower. About an inch or two, so the problem is about the same.

Rogue Se7ens
At the moment we are only producing dreams and we can make them here. When needs get more specific we'll let you know. Thanks!

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Originally posted by leto
kb58
A 23 is lower than a seven alright but not that much lower. About an inch or two, so the problem is about the same.

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quote:

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Originally posted by leto
stevebubs
Well, yes. But the transport might be a problem, we are located in Sweden.

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Originally posted by kb58

quote:

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Originally posted by leto
kb58
A 23 is lower than a seven alright but not that much lower. About an inch or two, so the problem is about the same.

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Do you have numbers to compare? I stood next to an authentic Lotus 23, and it was very, very low. My impression was that it was maybe 25% lower than a Seven.

Also, "just a couple inches" is far more than just that. Those few inches are the difference between being really hard to see, and invisible.

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Originally posted by stevebubs

quote:

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Originally posted by leto
stevebubs
Well, yes. But the transport might be a problem, we are located in Sweden.

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Ignoring transport costs, I'd be interested in knowing how much a bodyshell would be (will send U2U with my email address)

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Resurrection of an old thread I know but I have just popped onto my local industrial estate to see if i could get some glass fibre resin and mat from a local moulder - Guess what - Yep Lotus 23 mold in the back of the shop and yes he would build one if you wanted and even had plenty of Racing green gel coat - price is very reasonable.

Hmmmmmmmm.

Andrew

Having been in Guinness' mates garage I can say with certainty that the 23c is at it's highest point (back end) roughly the same height as a Lotus 7 mk4's bonnet.

You do sit a lot more reclined in it though so your eye height is lower.

It looks a lot lower because the front end is very very low, and considerably shorter than a 7. So low it will be difficult to get the lights legal for a road car I'd have thought.

Wasn't there someone here rebuilding a Noble replica?

i'm still building the noble and at it's highest point i think it's 32 inches now all in paint and slowly being rebuilt hopefully there should be a picture atached
Rescued attachment nokia 015.jpg

A local race workshop has a full set off blue prints measured off an original Lotus 23 - made when he did an exact copy for the owner of an original who wanted to race the copy and preserve the original - I am sure he would be happy to make a copy for you. (The copy has a Toyota 20V in it.

U2U me and if there is interest I can talk to him.

Like most early Lotus and Brabhams, the 23'S front uprights were from the Triumph Herald.

I have forgotten the company that made them.

quote:

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Originally posted by designer
I have forgotten the company that made them.

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quote:

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Originally posted by kb58

quote:

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Originally posted by leto
kb58
A 23 is lower than a seven alright but not that much lower. About an inch or two, so the problem is about the same.

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Do you have numbers to compare? I stood next to an authentic Lotus 23, and it was very, very low. My impression was that it was maybe 25% lower than a Seven.

Also, "just a couple inches" is far more than just that. Those few inches are the difference between being really hard to see, and invisible.

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Originally posted by Angel Acevedo
much snipped......

Also, "just a couple inches" is far more than just that. Those few inches are the difference between being really hard to see, and invisible.


If you have any doubts, ask James Dean.

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Originally posted by Alan B

quote:

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Originally posted by Angel Acevedo
much snipped......

Also, "just a couple inches" is far more than just that. Those few inches are the difference between being really hard to see, and invisible.


If you have any doubts, ask James Dean.

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But that was a Porsche right?.....but I think I get your point

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quote:

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Originally posted by Ivan
A local race workshop has a full set off blue prints measured off an original Lotus 23 - made when he did an exact copy for the owner of an original who wanted to race the copy and preserve the original - I am sure he would be happy to make a copy for you. (The copy has a Toyota 20V in it.

U2U me and if there is interest I can talk to him.

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I have done some testing of my 23 on the road.

I could write war and peace but the bottom line is that its a death trap.

A fun one though.

I was a young boy, and present at Lakeside, when a mate of my father was killed in one of those. They went to school together, and were very close friends.

A traumatic day which I still remember vividly. It went under the armco, just exiting the downhill onto the straight.

I can still see the state of the car, as it sat on the recovery truck. Not a pretty sight.

Circuits now have better safety, and I'd like to think this would never happen again. But, armco on some roads and highways is still too high at the bottom edge.

Nev.

[Edited on 14/1/10 by Neville Jones]

The current Caterham upright is improved over the older Triumph design, just search on trunnion here.

Geometry should be better then the Cortina ones.

Lotus 23 drawing

/http://enderw88.wordpress.com/drawings/

That link didn't work!!!

http://enderw88.wordpress.com/drawings/

An old post from Leto in 2008 says that he had purchased a set of paper drawings for a Lotus 23b body from Lee Chapman Racing. Is Leto still around and are the drawings still available?. The reason for asking is that I have almost finished building a Martyni 23 which is a monocoque Lotus 23 replica but I would like a better body than was originally supplied. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Looks like you're out of luck... he last logged-in on 26/4/08

This thread might help find him
http://www.locostsweden.se/ipb/index.php?showtopic=5938

Poster called BeLo looks very much like the same guy.

Taken today at the Barber motor sports museum...


[img][/img]

Posted for no reason other then the coolness of the car.