gdische
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 12:15 PM |
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Help - identify my car!
I’m new on this forum, and I’m hoping someone can help me identify my Seven.
I acquired it late last year, and I’m having a lot of fun with it.
It was registered as a Caterham S3 in 1992, on a Q plate. But it isn’t a Caterham (and the previous owner said so, so I’m not upset about that). It
would be useful to know what it is, for buying spares, etc.
I suspect it may be a Locost of some sort. The chassis is built from 1 inch square and round tubes. The engine is a 1600 crossflow. The gearbox is
a four speed, and the rear axle is I think from an Escort, with radius arms and a Panhard rod. The front upper wishbones look unusual – I’ve not seen
any others like them.
I’ve put some pictures into the archive, and there are more in this folder http://cid-f80b7eedd5258b40.photos.live.com/self.aspx/Seven
If you could give me any clues about my cars type or make, I would be most grateful.
Geoff
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steve m
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 12:43 PM |
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I would say "a book built locost" as it is very very similar to mine <<<
Doesnt look to bad either, apart from the rear panel dents !!
Regards
Steve
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steve m
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 12:53 PM |
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Although registered in 1992, i doubt it was built then
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mookaloid
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 01:16 PM |
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Looks quite like a pre lit westfield to me 
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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watsonpj
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 02:21 PM |
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Not a prelit westy as I had one and the arches (rear) where part of the body and also there are some chassis differences IIRC.
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 02:27 PM |
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Locost I reckon, though not quite "book" as it has the sloping cockpit sides. The upper wishbones aren't book either, but I'm
certain one of the locost/7 clone manufacturers makes wishbones like this.
Quite a tidy example, the only thing that slightly spoils it for me is the rear arches do not follow the lines of the bodywork.
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 02:28 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by watsonpj
Not a prelit westy as I had one and the arches (rear) where part of the body and also there are some chassis differences IIRC.
The early pre-lits had mostly alloy panels and the arches were separate, but I still don't think this is one.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 02:37 PM |
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The panhard rod and the upper wishbones aren't 'Book' - those wishbones look like they came from a kit company (curved sides).
Everything else is very much book-like though.
Perhaps it's from one of the earlier companies who based their kits on the Locost book?
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interestedparty
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 05:41 PM |
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I reckon the upper wishbones are early Martin Keenan
As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I've got a little list-- I've got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed-- who never would be missed!
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britishtrident
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 06:01 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
Looks quite like a pre lit westfield to me
Pre-it westies didn't have slopping sides.
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mookaloid
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 07:01 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
Looks quite like a pre lit westfield to me
Pre-it westies didn't have slopping sides.
not sure what you mean by that but apart from the rear wheel arches not quite matching the body curve I think it's quite close. I have seen the
curved top wishbones as well as straight ones on Pre Lit Westies.
It probably isn't one I agree but maybe it has some pre lit westy roots?
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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gdische
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 07:23 PM |
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Thank you for your replies, they are most useful and interesting. Keep them coming!
I'm going to ask the DVLA for the first owner's details, maybe I can get some information that way. And following on from some of your
suggestions, I'll post this question on the Westfield club forum, maybe they will have something to contribute.
Many thanks again,
Geoff
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martyn1137
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| posted on 19/1/11 at 10:00 PM |
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Geoff, what is it shown as on the V5?
I first posted on here a few weeks ago and raised a question about my recent aquisition that also has a fuzzy history. Feedback was that I should be
wary alerting DVLA of cars that show one 'make' but are infact another and how it may be regarded as a ringer. Some suggested, perhaps
with justification, a risk of it being impounded on presentation for MOT and not returned!
You may wish to consider the situation carefully before asking DVLA any questions.
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gdische
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| posted on 21/1/11 at 09:08 PM |
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Well, I posted the question on the WSCC forum, and it's provoked a lively discussion. There are no firm conclusions yet, more research is to be
done over the weekend. But there does seem to be quite a lot of Westfield in the car, especially at the front. So it may turn out to be a
Westcost!
The thread is here http://boardroom.wscc.co.uk/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=3;t=87042;st=0
Geoff
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Wadders
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| posted on 21/1/11 at 09:16 PM |
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For god sake Geoff, delete this thread immediately, having an incorrectly registered car is tantamount to Peadophilia
in the eyes of many on LB
Enjoy the car whatever its origins..... power to the people!!
Al
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prawnabie
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| posted on 21/1/11 at 09:53 PM |
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SABTV chassis number indicates a Locust origin, I think someone has re-chassied a locust into what you have now.
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Marcus
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| posted on 22/1/11 at 04:08 PM |
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Not sure about that Prawn, one of the Locosts we built has a chassis number starting SABTVR. The top wishbones are the same as mine, ie MK
Engineering. The reason it looks like a Westfield in many respects is that the Locost is basically just that!
It's just the sloping cockpit sides that confuse me, but it's a simple enough mod if you're building the chassis anyway.
Marcus
Because kits are for girls!!
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Peteff
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| posted on 22/1/11 at 05:02 PM |
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It looks like an early MK to me, before the de dion version. The number DVLA issued me was SABTVR prefix in 2000.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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gdische
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| posted on 23/1/11 at 08:58 PM |
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Good weather today, so I got to play with my car. More photos here http://cid-f80b7eedd5258b40.photos.live.com/browse.aspx/More%20Seven
There's no sign of a chassis number in the expected Westfield place, so it looks like it is a Locost, with quite a Westfield influence.
The MK idea is interesting, but, from their web site
"In 1996 and I built my own road going car, from then on I went my own way with certain aspects of the chassis and suspension design, it was the
professional level of finish that got my car noticed."
and my car was registered in 1992.
Do the DVLA recognise Locost as a make? I'm wondering if that was the case in 1992, maybe whoever was procesing the registration thought that
if it was a Seven, then the manufacturer must be Caterham.
I ran out of petrol today! The tank only holds 18 litres - is this normal? And the fuel gauge doesn't work, which doesn't help.
Geoff
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prawnabie
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| posted on 23/1/11 at 09:12 PM |
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My bad, ive seen 3 locusts with SABTV chassis numbers, I assumed it was specific to them!
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Marcus
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| posted on 24/1/11 at 08:18 PM |
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If your car was registered in 1992, it's not a Locost, the book wasn't published till 1996
So I'm out of ideas.....
Marcus
Because kits are for girls!!
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gdische
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 11:07 AM |
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Thank you for that Marcus, I had thought the book was earlier, but I've not got a copy yet.
So, my car may well have some Westfield in it, some Caterham (I'm sure about this because I fitted a Caterham seat a couple of weeks ago!), and
who knows what else. A bit of a mutt, maybe, but it's great fun to drive, which is the main thing.
Geoff
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interestedparty
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 11:17 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Marcus
If your car was registered in 1992, it's not a Locost, the book wasn't published till 1996
So the most likely thing is the chassis number and reg is from a Caterham, but the car itself is.........
As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I've got a little list-- I've got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed-- who never would be missed!
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stevebubs
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 01:00 PM |
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My Fury is registered as a 1980 car...but was built in '96...preSVA the regsitration rules were a little different...
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interestedparty
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 01:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by stevebubs
My Fury is registered as a 1980 car...but was built in '96...preSVA the regsitration rules were a little different...
I assume that was an age related registration, and that 80 was the donor? There would have to be something to tie it to 1980.
As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I've got a little list-- I've got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed-- who never would be missed!
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