History - Legend - Stories - For Sale

MKVI - MK7 S1 | SB1000 - 1499 | SB1500 - 1999 | SB2000 - 2499 | SB2500 - 2999 | SB3000 +
important: chassis numbers are as reported by owners -- their appearance here does not guarantee authenticity.

Don Freeman's Lotus 7
SB1211

November 2014

I was the purchaser of SB1211 from Tom Heacox last Summer. I have made a few changes in the name of streetability and have documented them on the attached photos. The car has the DSK formula car front suspension. I have documentation for the car from 1973.



SOLD, MAY 2014

I acquired chassis number SB1211 in 1976. At that time it had a 1500 Ford engine, stock with a 2 barrel Weber downdraft carb. Unfortunately the head was cracked as was the intake manifold. Due to lack of space, the engine found its way to the local disposal site. I had a Cortina that was modified for autocrossing so I removed the engine, transmission and rear housing, installed them in the 7 and took the body to the local auto dismantler.


The 7 was stripped of its road gear and used just for autocrossing for several years. I visited DSK back in 1979 and eventually acquired several parts from them including the complete Tom Robertson suspension (see Formula Car Front Suspension Kit (close window to return). I am a little embarrassed to admit that it took years to get around to putting them on, but I have now installed the DSK suspension and other bits and now have it back together for street use and autocrossing.



I lived in Manteca, in central California, a smaller town about 60 miles east of San francisco and 60 miles south of Sacramento, about a 45 minute ride from Dave Bean Engineering in San Andraes, Ca. They were very helpful, especially Tom Smith who owned 3 Sevens, a +2 and a Europa as well as 3 Morris Minors. Unfortunately all the 7s had the Thorpe lights and none were drivable!

Anyhow, I began the recently finished frame-up rebuild (it's not really a restoration at this point) years ago. I have many, many pictures. I did a solid model drawing of the chassis and had an FEA done to show which areas would benefit the most with reinforcement. At this point all the panel are riveted on. I also increased the thickness of the floor to .060. I used 3/16 structural rivets (overkill, but I work in the aerospace industry so the were available to me) for all the stressed panels and 1/8 for the for the rest. I filled all the old rivet holes (the chassis had apparently been skinned at least twice) and then had it powder coated ANSI 61 gray. Although I bought new "factory" panels a lot of time was spent hand fitting them.


The engine, a 1600cc from a '68 Cortina GT was completely gone through and a new (I've had for over 20 years and never installed it) Isky cam installed. The head is a ported and polished Holbay item which I got from Winkelman engineering when they were located in Sausalito, California, at which time I also bought forged pistons and Dellorto DLHA 40 carbs. I rebuilt these units with new larger venturii and jets. The flywheel was lightened and the parts were balanced. I am also running a dry sump system.


History - Legend - Stories - For Sale

MKVI - MK7 S1 | SB1000 - 1499 | SB1500 - 1999 | SB2000 - 2499 | SB2500 - 2999 | SB3000 +
important: chassis numbers are as reported by owners -- their appearance here does not guarantee authenticity.