1965 Track car

[Rob]

View attachment 1Don't know if I should put this on here as not a genuine Lotus, but I thought a few people may be interested in the build plus the forums been a bit quiet lately ?

I've started this project as I've gone as far as I can go with KPU. That is now ready for paintwork stage ?

As per the other post I bought this LHD car from an overseas friend with a view to doing a few track days, car shows and just having a bit of fun with it. Sharon is also keen to get involved with this and it will basically be her car.

I've had a well sorted Lotus twin cam engine for a couple of years. All steel, dry sumped AX on twin 50 weber's.
I did not build it, I purchased it 'as is' but it was a stupid amount of money to build 5 years ago. It came with lightweight balanced flywheel and paddle clutch assembly. Also got a quaife straight cut gearbox. Only thing I did not have was a car to put it in?

I also had a garage full of spares that I have collected over the years that can be used on this car


Now I have a good car the fun can start.

The car will be built as a Lotus 'look a like' but will be keeping the blue and white colour scheme
Going to fit Lotus dash etc

The car went up to Wayne's Saturday morning. By lunchtime we had converted it from LHD to RHD.
Existing dash left in it just cut out and welded in glove box (Swapped sides) hardest part is swapping the steering column support bracket behind the dash over.
I had everything I needed. The front crossmember was also changed as the existing one had been modified to take a Cosworth engine that was in it.

I managed to break the windscreen removing it just through being lazy, lucky I have spares ?

The car is staying with Wayne now as he has to do a few local rust repairs, also tidy up under bonnet where converted to RHD (Old holes and openings that have been welded up need to be filled and lost)
He will be painting complete bottom half of car under the blue line

I will put up a few pictures as work progresses

Again at the end of the day I want a nice original period looking race car not a trailor queen

 

[Keith Halstead]

Lovely looking car that Rob - great fun I expect in the wet!

 

[Rob]

Has anyone got a 2 gallon Alley dry sump tank they want to sell

Thanks

Rob

 

[Lashman]

Hi, If you have no luck finding one I've got a spare 1 gallon dry sump tank you can have.

 

[Steve 155C]

Keep the update coming Rob - lotus or not I love seeing these types of post.

Looks like its good a good handbrake judging by the slope you parked it on!

 

[Keith Halstead]

Keep the update coming Rob - lotus or not I love seeing these types of post.

Looks like its good a good handbrake judging by the slope you parked it on!

Steve - you should have gone to specsavers - check out the bricks under the rear wheel! :shock:

 

[Steve 155C]

Ah - I see now. I hadn't scrolled down to see the bottom of the picture.

 

[Rob]

Steering wheel now on right hand side

 

[Brian c]

Looks a nice solid shell Rob, i'm doing exactly the same thing but with a early 63 car, i have most of the panels i need so far but still need most of the mechanicals i do have a twin cam engine built on a 711 block. Looking forward to how your one turns out, all the best.

 

[Rob]

All the cutting about and metal work done now
Swapped over most things for RHD conversion
I had all the parts kicking around
We even managed to convert existing wiper assembly to fit RHD
I’m simply going to weld glove box lid shut from inside to hide opening formed for old guages etc

I’ve put hole in bulkhead for dash handbrake but will stay with Floor mounted handbrake

Filler work done to tidy up around old pedals and steering holes in bulkhead.

Going to paint everything under the bonnet before engine goes in

Engine and box going in next week
We are still unsure where to site dry sump tank, would rather put it under bonnet than in boot area