Another half-hour of automotive gold. This video incorporates a charming unrehearsed presentation style with wonderful analogue engineering skills, unique and personal historical references and a road test that bears testament to not only the experience and skill of a remarkable driver but also the genius of the original Lotus design.
"In 1957 This must've been fantastic", sir, this looks fantastic now, this concert of engine and gearbox, what a symphony. The voice is low but the engine is perfect, for me, no changes are necessary.
That was the best 30min i have spent i a long time. The sound of the straight cut gearbox. And the sound of a pair of DCO40s Webbers just awesome. I have just been taken back 45 years.
I'm taken back to 1968 when a pal arrived at my home in his new Cooper S. Off we went, so fast that I felt as though I was going through the seat. In 20 minutes we had travelled 20 miles across Sydney, not something you could do nowadays, of course.
This is the first time, in a very, very long time, that something on the internet has made me beam! Sat with a s**t eating grin on my face the whole way through!
What a kick ! Watching this "senior" (that's ok, I'm 74), revving this beauty up to racing speeds. The sound ! Music, lovely music. A gorgeous car, the Lotus 7. I'd love to have one myself, with that same setup. Thanks for one of the best half hours (well, a bit longer. I had to watch it again from 16:00) I've ever spent .
"got to sensible on the road" HA HA you looked like you were driving it like you stole it, you young hooligan! Great video, can't wait for your Brands Hatch video
Love all of Ivan’s videos. In this one, his description of how the driveshaft was trying to come through the shaft tunnel at Brands Hatch brought back memories of when just before Christmas many years ago, my 72 Capri 2600 rear shaft coupling was on its way out and I was hoping I could make it home before it let loose. Well I 😂didn’t, and there I was about 3 miles from home, and it was snowing to boot. Called AAA for a tow service and had it flatbedded home. As we pulled into the neighborhood with the wrecker, the streets were all lit up for Luminaria like an airport runway with cables burning in paper bags about every 6 feet, and everyone out Christmas Caroling in the streets to welcome us back in. Wish I had a video of it.
Ivan is an absolute joy to watch and listen to, he has a huge wealth of motor engineering experience, he has a very engaging manner in his videos and is supported by a gentleman with all the machinist and skills to complement Ivan. Such a down to earth style that will go down well with those who love good old fashioned motor engineering
Holy hell, the second gear pull on that is insane. Had me grinning from ear to ear. If you /do/ manage to get down to the south of France, you're more than welcome to come and stay with us on the way, we run a gite in the Alps, loads of wicked twisty roads to thrash about on round here. What was very refreshing was seeing someone driving a performance car the way it's supposed to be driven, i.e with the pedal to the floor, but still being courteous and respectful of other road users. Might be a generational thing, that.
My father, Jack Field will have sold this car, most likely in kit form. The chassis were made in one of the gardens of a house across the street from the Tottenham site (now Jewsons builders merchants). The Lotus Tottenham factory site has been made a historic site, Colin Chapmans desk is still in his upstairs office, my mother worked in the office below as the receptionist. Thanks for sharing, Michael
Awesome in car footage(got to love a straight cut gearbox)-Takes me back-My Dad built Lotus 7 in 1958- eventually with a 1340cc Ford engine. Had a second one in 1964 (ex hillclimbcar with a triumph TR4 engine)All before I was born '68.When I was 17 he then bought a series 4 big valve headed 7.
Wow, what a fantastic restoration. The car looks and sounds amazing. As a former Caterham 7 owner, I can only guess how good that car feels. You're also the kind of attentive, thoughtful driver we need more of. Slow and careful where you need to be, fast when it is safe and vision permits. Driving 'raw' cars like this really puts you in touch with the car and the road. Looking forward to seeing more of her on track.
Some how you still have people who thumbs down this type of content. Who would do that? Fantastic video - the type of person that exemplify's what was great about Great Britain.
What a legend Mr Ivan is, how he uses the gearbox as an engine brake. It’s wonderful to see he hasn’t lost the need for speed. I hope I’m still able to drive like this when I’m his age. Kudos to you sir 👏👏👏👏👏
@@colinunderdown1758 I’m almost seventy & still driving my V8 Hotrod. Gave the bikes up a few years ago after a bad accident. In my head, I’m still seventeen. Enjoy your bike 👍.
Now I began realizing what can be "the real Lotus 7" ... Catherham are Nescafé I think :D Brakes : this original car seems light, "minimalist" may I say? Looking at the disks : supposing the constant fresh air flow in their large room and the big diameter of the rear ones with such a light car, they can make it, I think!
same here. i've been devouring vids on old sportscars with daydreams of cobbling together a junkyard dog of my own. nowhere near ivan's level of expertise or resources but even so......
my eldest brother still has his Lotus 7 which he built from kit in the early 1960's and is among the first 100 to be produced. Sadly he is now getting old and can longer get in and it hasn't been driven for quite a while. I remember going in it when I was I was small and it only had aircraft style half moon windscreens to begin with. He raced it in the late 60's and early 70's and was restored in the late 90's. Great fun
He is a legend isn`t he .Actually it puts me back to memories of my Hillclimb & Sprint Imp with a 1070cc engine and s/s c/r lsd transaxle..The noise i mean at pushing the revs up like that.
I owned a couple of caterhams back in the late '80s. I used to commute into London every day in one, and started my racing career in other. But wow, back in the 50s these cars must have been untouchable on the road.
excellent work sir...stunning example of a racecar from the past before electronics took away feel from the driver and guts and intuition made the car do things thought to be impossible at the time
Excellent content, thoroughly enjoyed this video and your others. Keep up the good work, very professional and so interesting with all the different facts. I have a Westfield Eleven which I love, it’s coming out of store at the end of April in readiness for hopefully a few Abingdon track days. Thank you again and good luck.
What a fascinating half hours watch, such a lovely example of a car beautifully restored. Great fun experiencing the Lotus getting thrashed through those narrow country lanes. Good work, nice video.
Wow that ride was great😊 loved the sound. I would like to see Code Masters Sim racing for Ps4 develop historical cars for their gaming systems. We need to learn more about these cars. Your a great Professor and driver.
glad I found this channel, great content. old guy joke--- contemplating the hereafter: old guy in the basement/shop wondering what the hell he's here after. knew a guy here in St.Louis, Mo. that had a L7, leather helmet, goggles, it was a daily driver. be safe, have fun.
I would love to see pictures of him as a young man working on these cars. And it is so nice to see him in his mature age enjoying the thrill of a vintage sports car. Brings back memories of me and my 1969 Datsun 2000 roadster.
So glad I subbed your channel Ivan, been enjoying and learning from all your videos, you are a pleasure to watch and listen to! When I found your channel last week regarding the old Salmson from a 2018 video, I saw this car in the background of a later update and thought 'Oooo, a Lotus 7, wonder if we'll get to see this?', and sure enough here it is! As a side thought, there's just something about the whine of straight-cut gears that makes my hair stand on end, but in a very good way :) Thank you for all the knowledge you share, please don't stop! Cheers from PNW Canada!
In 15 years I will look like your twin, and if I am living half the life you have, I will be a happy man. Wish I had your knowledge. Your an inspiration sir. Thank you.
There's so much to learn from Ivan Dutton, and his "shed" has so many wonderful pieces of automobile history! I wish i had a seven, even today! Wonderful car. Keep those videos coming, and i will keep clicking the like button!
The CC engine had to be light because it would be hand carried by 2 firemen to where it was needed I think the whole thing weighed in at 180 pounds it was also used in fork lifts and the Hillman Imp.
This video is absolutely brilliant. Ivan : considering your love of Bugatti, Salmson, Edwardian Peugeot and your spirited drive on these roads, I think you may have a portion of French blood in your veins ! Christian
I've enjoyed Lotus road cars for thirty-odd years - from an Elan +2, then switched to an Excel SE when the children were bigger, now a Elise 111S. In all that time, I'm not sure I've enjoyed a drive very much more than being perched on your roll bar. Brilliant. Long may you keep on being 'a bit sensible..." , and thank you for sharing.
Hi Ivan, great video/story, I tried to buy back my Dad’s (Jack Richards) s1 Seven TBY404 a few years ago, it is in a very sorry state and I have some pictures of the car now and in period. When life is back to normal I would love to see your car sometime. All the best, Clive
Do the Brands or Mallory session, pretty please :) My mate Jim owns an original Lotus Elise with the MGF engine. His uncle was the Worth in Cosworth. I have just sent him a link to this. What an amazing car, two years older than myself and capable of that kind of performance. How very wonderful. Thank you for this. I really appreciate all of it and your channel very much. Literally delicious for someone like me.
