The Seven was successful for a Lotus car, with 2,500 sold in the original run. It was popular due to the fact that it was road legal but it could also be used in Clubman racing. A company named Caterham bought the rights to make the car after it was discontinued by Lotus, and they still pump out their twin of this car, the Caterham 7, along with body kits for do-it-yourselfers, to this day.

The original Seven had a 40 horsepower engine, which was weak even for a lightweight car such as this one. Still, it was made for budget short track races, so the engine fit the way it would be used. Basically, this was a road legal racing go cart.

These cars were sold as the Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and Series 4. Throughout its production the Seven was always part production car, part kit car. Lotus was trying to shed this image when they decided to stop making them.

These cars can still be bought from collectors who might be giving up the hobby or upgrading to their next project. Try checking ebay listings for original Sevens or the Caterham 7 licensed replica.