My Two Cars
ROAD TEST
E-Mails are starting to come in asking how the Locost handles and differs from and original Lotus Seven.
Simple questions which have complex answers, . For instance, without back to back tests, who is qualified to say? Having owned an original Series Two Lotus Seven Cosworth, with pre crossflow motor, a Series Four plastic Seven, a pre litigation Westfield, and the two cars on my web site, I am in a position to give guidance only.
They all still have the Colin Chapman touch as fakes and replicas. In reality, not many of us could afford the genuine article, which is getting old, rare and expensive, so dream on.
Back to reality, if you cannot afford a Caterham, or fully built Westfield, this is where Ron Champion's Locost enters our more limited dreams, which may turn in top reality with considerable self motivation and effort. So, is it worth it? The simple answer is yes, so buy the book and get started.
My own car was built over a twelve month period and, as I was putting considerable time and effort into the project, I wanted a decent job, not a £250 home brew, made out of tables and transit ali side panels. In the end, my own car cost £3000 which included £350 for seats and £350 for a full paint job. OK, I didn't build it for £250, but it still constitutes good value, and could easily be sold at a profit if put up for sale.
Looking back to the title, which reads 'Road test', I seem to have gone off at a tangent. So here it is, the car handle, drives and feels like a true Seven, at a fraction of the cost. To achieve this, the car is going to need decent dampers and springs, with an engine that can provide the right sort of power, and brakes to match.
It all seems so simple, but the Seven is exactly that type of car.
Buy the book, build the car and enjoy.
PETER DUNN
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