Lotus 7 unbuilt chassis kit, $1500, NMNA

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/5656912637.html

Please, save me from buying this one. I'm NOT too far, and I CAN come up with the money. But it would be a project too far at the moment.

If someone buys that, they should stop by and buy my zetec and 4 speed. $200 for the pair just to help keep it below challenge price...

I do believe if that was somewhere reasonably close to PA I'd snatch it up. But it's not. Yay!

Looks like a nice locost starter kit

EXCELLENT starter kit.

I'm so glad that is not close to me......

Wow! Good thing I am A) unemployed and B) in Oregon.

I wish I could find someone to grab that, Ross' pile of parts, and meet me in IL, but I'm just not able to tackle a project like this now. Damn responsibility/restraint/adulthood all to hell!

That seems really far along! What a shame someone gave up.

Some day I'll build one but now is not the time.. Despite it being a good deal.

And here's the link for nick

Yup, good thing that's far away.

I would never try to sway your decision, but I saw one with a 5.0 & T-10.

I've been out of the Locost community for a while now, is that probably a 442 chassis?

wow, for once i'm sad i am not in minnesota. also, don't need more project.

RossD wrote: I've been out of the Locost community for a while now, is that probably a 442 chassis?

One would have to measure it and see if it is larger than a Book build...

In reply to bentwrench:

I was just figuring since he mentions putting a LSx in it.

I did shoot the guy an e-mail to find out more about the chassis, such as who made it and how old it is. I'll pass on the info as I get it.

But I am NOT going to be making any moves to buy this, which is depressing. I really want, and technically could, but it would not be a good idea right now for me.

RossD wrote: I've been out of the Locost community for a while now, is that probably a 442 chassis?

It could be a CMC chassis, actually. It's got the same stupid front lower control arm design. Although the aluminum scuttle wasn't their thing IIRC.

Nope, it's not CMC. Solid axle rear from the look of the pickup locations. Is it just me, or is that one really narrow trans tunnel?

Internet mojo is good to me today.

http://web.archive.org/web/20140909095843/http://classiccarsunder1000.com/?p=77085

Looks like a home-built chassis and body, I'm guessing from a set of plans in one of those books.

The one thing that keeps going on in the back of my head (as well as that retro-Miata idea).

and I have an Alfa powertrain that would go in quite well. So the nose would change a little for that.

Alas, like the Miata- not enough garage space nor ambition.

hhaase wrote: Internet mojo is good to me today. http://web.archive.org/web/20140909095843/http://classiccarsunder1000.com/?p=77085 Looks like a home-built chassis and body, I'm guessing from a set of plans in one of those books.

I know one of those books pretty well It's called a Locost, and there are a few variants on the chassis design. There have also been a few folks build those chassis with some variations, such as the defunct Champion Motor Cars. The Miata uprights mean it's not a straight copy of one of the published plans, as I don't think the Haynes version has a live rear.

Keith Tanner wrote:

hhaase wrote: Internet mojo is good to me today. http://web.archive.org/web/20140909095843/http://classiccarsunder1000.com/?p=77085 Looks like a home-built chassis and body, I'm guessing from a set of plans in one of those books.

I know one of those books pretty well It's called a Locost, and there are a few variants on the chassis design. There have also been a few folks build those chassis with some variations, such as the defunct Champion Motor Cars. The Miata uprights mean it's not a straight copy of one of the published plans, as I don't think the Haynes version has a live rear.

You know, I didn't know that backstory, now I'm intrigued. Someday I want to build a tube-frame kit of somekind, so I'll have to keep all this in mind.

-Hans

In reply to hhaase:

An American forum dedicated to Locosts: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/index.php?sid=f80c3a9d7b1873a6e1887235ffea5bc6

The plans: http://sevenesque.com/plans/

Let us know when you're done with that rabbit hole!

That is quite the steal for what you get for $1500. Assuming the front suspension was done by someone that did some homework on suspension design.

Based on the way the shock is mounted, it looks like a straight copy of the CMC arms on my car. So, it's not perfect. At the very least, it has a very low motion ratio and puts the shock load right into the middle of the arm.

But that said, too many Locost owners get obsessed over the front suspension design and get in to design paralysis. Even a sub-par design works pretty well given the rear weight bias, light weight and low CG on these cars. And any design that's been built works better than a design that only exists on paper

The UK Locost forum used to be really strong as well - http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk.

And hhase, check out http://www.cheapsportscar.net - it's the story of the build of my own Locost, and it turned into one of the books being sold with the frame we're discussing.

Keith Tanner wrote: I know one of those books pretty well

It does look like some guy named Tanner authored one of those books...