The Seven’s Diamond Jubilee

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Lotus-lovers need to be in the UK coming weekend, where the 60th birthday of the brand’s iconic Seven-model will be celebrated. The main stage is Donington Park, where Caterham Cars (who of course have taken over the official production of the Seven since 1973 – historic image here) unfold some big plans. Apart from Seven-only races, rallies, gala parties and plenty of entertainment, there will be a a grand parade with the clubs hoping to get a thousand (1,000!) Sevens together.

We also like the ‘heritage trail’, which will take in a number of key locations and businesses associated with Lotus and Caterham history, including Portmeirion where the Seven’s link is in great 1960s The Prisoner series. There are many tales surrounded by the Seven, which did not only lead to umpteen incarnations but also to other cars. Some of them from a group of ex-Lotus men who didn’t like the Seven Series 4 and gave up their job at Lotus’. Chief Engineer Brian Luff was one of them and founded the Status Motor Company. A tongue in cheek reference to the Lotus name? “Well”, said Luff “The name derived from the band Status Quo that I quite liked at the time.”.
Ha! Have you got any Seven memories yourself?

(Words editor, ghost view drawing Shin Yoshikawa)

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