Kenneth Cheng
kpc123@verizon.net
LSB 2086

My search for an early Lotus began more than 20 years ago and had been delayed and detoured by the usual things including education, work, marriage, children, odd BMW's and a TVR. My second son is named Colin as when my pregnant wife was bemoaning my lack of interest in picking a name for the soon to be born baby I was reading a book about Elans in bed and promptly displayed my interest by suggesting the name Colin.  

A letter from Lotus Cars LTD describes LSB 2086 as originally being equipped with a 116E Cosworth, twin Webers, a KPH speedometer, heater, oil cooler, French headlights, a detachable roll bar, and Elan wheels. It was dispatched from the factory on January 5, 1965 to Sport Autos, Evreux, France. 2086's history in France and its passage to the United States is unknown to me but the car was registered in Virginia in 1987 with the plate “LOTUS 4”. The car was then registered to owners in Swarthmore. PA in 1988 (25513 km) and Schwenksville, PA in 1992 (25823 km). The car was then sold to Pat Parsons of Charleston, WV in June, 2006 through a listing on ebay.

ebay auction description and photos: This is an orignal, factory-built 1966 Lotus Super Seven as documented by Lotus Cars, Ltd. I have owned the car for 15 years. It's in running condition and is driven on summer weekends for enjoyment and to car shows. The rest of the time it's stored in a heated garge.

 

The Ford-Cosworth engine has dual Weber 40DCOE carburetors and is fitted to the close-ratio 4-speed. The car has the original Standard Triumph rear axle that has been strengthened. It is also fitted with the original roll bar, oil cooler, Smith's heater, side curtains and hood (top). The car retains the original wood steering wheel, Smith's tachometer and speedometer, and AC oil, amps and temp gauges. It also has vintage-style Minilite wheels [actually American Racing Silverstone wheels] and the original electric cooling fan.

The frame tubing is solid with no rust. Floors and body are solid. There are stone chips and dings on the body and wings (fenders). There are stress cracks at the mounting points of the fiberglas clamshell wings. The seats have no rips or tears. The side curtains are in good condition, but there is a tear in the top. The car is a solid driver, not a show car.

I just purchased the car, September 2008 with 26643 km on the clock. The car at this time appears to be significantly original with the correct instruments, lights (including the French headlights which need to be put back on) steering wheel, heater and detachable roll bar (looks nice but probably less than useless as a safety device). Somewhere along the line it picked up a tall-block (711m) but it has the correct non-crossflow head and dual Webers. There is a patched hole on the right for a right sided exhaust so there must have been another engine swap along the line too.

My intention is to keep it as close to original as is reasonable so the first correction will be the wheels and rear wings. Many thanks to Pat for parting with the car, to John Donohoe for leading me to the car and for keeping this tremendous website, and to Mike Ostrov for being a wealth of information and assistance on things Lotus.