1962 Lotus Seven Restoration

Wow, its coming along really well, it evens looks like it has a smiley face in one of the pictures well done, thanks for the progress pictures- truely great!

Spent the last week or so trying to figure out the wiring, got there in the end and it all works

Not exactly the most exciting thing to photograph so just the one picture.

Again, not the most exciting thing to report but I got the back axle finished this weekend ready to go in.

It's originally from a Standard 10 but with a few strengthening bars welded on and also the ratio lowered a bit from the Standard 10s 4.55 to 4.11 using Herald parts....

Spent the last few weekends trying to get something resembling a shine on the aluminium panels. At times very frustrating but it came out OK in the end.

Also fitted the front and rear suspension.






not exactly mirror finish but I'm happy enough.



Just waiting for a few parts before it can come off the trestles and the engine can go in.

Getting excited now......

Dream Machine!!!

Looking good... its a real credit to you -it will be great to see it finished, seeing the pictures as it develops is like the spring flowers - a bit slow to start because of the cold - but then all of a sudden bloomin
fabulous
Cheers,
Tim

I've been following your restoration since your 1st post, and with every update I'm more and more impressed with your progress and the very the high standard of your work. It would be lovely to see the car in the flesh one day. It's going to be a real gem

Matt

Mattwatts wrote:I've been following your restoration since your 1st post, and with every update I'm more and more impressed with your progress and the very the high standard of your work. It would be lovely to see the car in the flesh one day. It's going to be a real gem

Matt

Well it is booked on the LDC stand for the NEC Classic Car Show this Year.

Eddie.

Hi Dusty,

would you share with us your secret for polishing Aluminium Sheet?
I've tried Duraglit (Brasso) Wadding, Brasso, Buffing wheels with Soap & yes they do it but what an effort with all of that black residue that occurs. Horrible job

Cheers
John

Thanks for the kind comments folks,

Matt if that was your Esprit at the NEC last year then you do pretty good work yourself!

John, No secret to the polishing I'm afraid just lots of hard work and black rags, started with wet flatting with 2000 wet and dry, then on to course compound with an electric polisher, then autosolve by hand and finally a liquid polish (the name escapes me) also by hand and buff with clean cloths until no more black comes off.

The laws of diminishing returns definately applies which is why I've stopped a little way short of a perfect mirror finish!

Thanks for that answer Dusty; so just lots of work & black rags
I've seen 7 copies (Robin Hoods or something similar) where the Body panels have been made from Mirror finished Sheet but that just looks wrong
Cheers
John

I agree, if it's too shiny it looks fake, that's my excuse for not putting another 50 hours into polishing anyway

Strapping the bonnet down to allow fitment of the catches, or perhaps I'll leave the ratchet straps they look quite fetching in blue!

The original screen frame also came up quite well (new glass though)