in the interest of genuine Lotus Sevens and their owners
– cars & owners – ancillary – period galleries – for sale –
Alastair Brown Coldwell Mink FOR SALE: I appreciate that it isn't a Lotus, but it is a direct contemporary of the S2 and indeed raced against many of the famous Sevens racing in England in early clubmans racing in the mid '60s, and as such would I'm sure appeal to many of your readership. Essentially it is a spaceframe chassis with Mallock / Lotus 6 split beam at the front and a fully independent rear (as per Lotus 37/3X). Built by Bill Needham of Coldwell Engineering for John Houghton in 1965, the car was raced by Houghton and Robin Smith. It is understood (from Bill Needham) to have been run in F3 at Oulton park (Minus wheel arches and with a tonneau cover over the nominal passenger space) as well as in Clubmans races.
The picture of under the Coldwell's bonnet (below right, where Arthur Mallock is chatting to Sid Marler) shows a famous seven in the background - the name of the driver escapes me at the moment, but it's featured in Ortenburgers book, and was presumably racing against the Mink [that would be Mike Addington on page 27 of 'Legend of the Lotus Seven' - John D]. The space frame chassis has a split beam axle at the front, as per contemporary Mallock U2s, and at the rear it has a fully independent set up, with a solid mounted diff (in a unique Coldwell alloy casing) and cast alloy uprights, lower wish bones, top links and trailing arms. The engine is a BMC A series, mounted in afront / mid engined configuration. The original was supplied by a certain Frank Williams at the time he was setting Piers Courage on his way to stardom whilst 'wheeling and dealing' out of various lock ups in and around Pinner in London.
The car was planned to enter series production for the new clubmans formula and recieved favourable comment in Autosport, but sadly remained a one off. So close was production that they even produced a sales brocure, one of which is included in the cars history file. Also included is period and correspondence between Sid Marler, the cars second owner (He's the man behind the Progress Chassis company, builder of early Lotus space frames.) and John Houghton, as well as a recent letter he sent me about to the car Also included with the car is the original green log book, and a new style V5 (in my name) for the original registration number, 7007 ET (albeit registered as a Mallock - for reasons that are explained in a letter from Mr Marler). The car is currently stripped down to the bare chassis, and is approx 90% complete. Restoration has started, and it has all new brakes, Shock absorbers and tyres, whilst many other parts have been stripped and painted or re-finished.
It is a straight forward restoration project, and could easily be completed by a home restorer. Any parts not included could be easily made or sourced.
Every other class of 1960's sports and racing car seems to have already gone 'through the roof', so here is a rare chance to get hold of an early Clubmans car which you could race, hillclimb or use on the road. Contemporary S2 Lotus sevens without any racing history are already touching £20k+, and this is a more advanced design, and a genuine race car. Why would you spend more than this on a Caterham?
Please do not mistake this for a car like a mid '70s clubmans car - all wings and slicks and hammer head nose cones - this car is even prettier than a seven, and just as capable of road use - it's got the V5 to prove it! Oh, and the reason it's called the Mink...........The original builder's wife heard what it was costing and declared " what? I could have a mink coat for that!" Please feel free to ask questions or email for further photos if required <alastairbrownuk@yahoo.co.uk> Mob. 07810 433381 Collection: it'll fit in a Transit van, but a LWB Transit would be easier. Alternatively an estate car witha roof rack! Cash on collection, or cleared cheque. Needless to say - if funds have not cleared, the car doesn't leave! Reason for sale: I recently sold another '60s race car project which, with a young family, I didn't have time to complete. Instead of buying a nice up and running Elan, seven or 914 as I'd planned, I saw this and had to have it! Of course, I've now realised I don't have the time for this either...... P/X considered: (up and running) Lotus, Porsche, Mini, VW Camper, TVR , Gilbern, Ginetta etc
Alastair Brown Coldwell Mink FOR SALE
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– cars & owners – ancillary – period galleries – for sale –