February 2006:

I think the stripping is like most body work projects, they look worse before they look better.  When I step into the garage and look at the Seven, it's a bit disheartening compared to the decent, shiny paint that it had.  I really don't think it'll be too bad of a job to bring it from it's current state to the sanded or buffed aluminum that I've always really wanted.  So far the work hasn't been hard or unpleasant at all.

I'm optimistic about the stripping job. I was using a product called Citris-Strip which worked pretty well, but the body guy recommended an aviation stripper. I feared it would have ultra strong vapors, but it's not bad to use at all ­ it was about $18/gal.  Where I've stripped the aluminum, it has a dull grey finish which I think is partly from the primer not being completely removed.  I think that will clean up quickly with some wet or dry sanding.  I'm still debating on whether or not to polish.  I kind of like the idea of a slightly dull patina.

January 2003 Mark Osterbauer writes:
Well, well, SB1582 showed up at 10pm Friday night [1/17/03] after my impatient wait. It had a light grey spray on all panels from its trip, but fired right up and ran well for the one block trip to my garage. I was smitten with the car at first sight and remain even more so after its bath. I found the car to be just as Greg said it was which is refreshing to say the least.

I took a couple digital photo's with the car carrier in the background, but can't lighten them up sufficiently to see the carrier very well. Took a few more photo's in the garage before taking the nose cone off to investigate the alternator and water pump issues. Looks pretty straightforward - the water pump gasket failed where the alternator bracket bolts to it. The alternator had a ground wire that had pulled out of its connector and the pulley and nut were missing (belt still hanging loose)! Called Dave Bean and ordered a gasket and new alternator tensioning bracket (the one on the car had come from Bean and was made of vinyl). I guess I'm a doubting Thomas; I'd at least like a steel version in my tool box as a spare.

Along with the car, Greg graciously sent Weale's Lotus Seven book and a factory shop manual by Caterham which covers the Lotus Series I through IV as well! I've had Weale's out of print book on back order for the past year and was delighted to have a copy of my own. Through my reading of Weale's book, I've found a couple of things that look to need immediate attention. The interior Lamiplate vinyl coated steel side panels are attached with screws, 50 percent of which are missing with the remainders only finger tight. The book states these need to be attached with Monel pop rivets. I've called the largest supplier of fasteners in Arizona, but the sales person didn't seem too interested in finding if they carried these.

Shipfitter's disease makes me feel queezy about just removing the screws and replacing with Monel rivets. After all, the interior panels were originally red, then painted black. Good time to replace them and might as well add the missing white piping while I'm at it. But red interior with white piping isn't going to look so good with and exterior of green and yellow with black piping. Damned disease always breaks me down. This time I'll just rivet it back together, assess what I have and give consideration to changing it all back to original colors at some point in the future.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting it roadworthy so my second ever drive in a Seven can be a little longer.

Mark Osterbauer is the new owner of SB1582. Along with the temptation of bidding on ebay, the following photos and description sold the car in December of 2002:

It has never been bent or raced, unless you count a handful of autocross events. Still using the original Dunlop Racing Green Dot tire for a spare since it looks like it was never used. The previous owner disposed of a full but worn set on Ford wheels regrettably. I have the original rear fenders, but someone grafted a set of VW lights to them, making it look more like a kit car than it deserves. I spent several years putting this car back together, gathering parts that I didn't get with it, stripping it and building it back up again on relatively limited budget. Now, I'm located in a suburban area of NYC where I can't easily get out on the kind of roads I enjoy most. It deserves a good home.

The car has a 1340cc Cosworth Ford 109E motor that could use some attention to rings, alternator and water pump, although it runs okay for limited distances in fair weather. It has a new exhaust, electronic ignition, Tilton Super Starter, battery, clutch, brake lines, wiring, shocks, tires, Panasport wheels, Momo steering wheel, rollbar, windshield glass, Weber 40DCOE carbs and intakes. It sports a new bonnet, new paint, new rear fenders. The dash has a carbon fiber surface, covering the original. The seats were made up by a friend. Oh, it's right hand drive, which I find amusing but many find intimidating. Original top and doors are in miserable shape, having probably spent a decade outside. Car came with the original front drums, but replaced them with Spitfire disks.