A sevenesque roadster may be defined as sports car that resembles a Lotus Seven either visually or in spirit. The Lotus Seven was originally designed by Colin Chapman in the late 1950's and for over 40 years, dozens of manufacturer's have produced everything from basic instructions for the do-it-yourselfer, to no-holds-barred, turn-key rocket cars that are highly customized, but can still easily be identified as "sevenesque". A typical home-built sevenesque roadster can accelerate from 0-60mph in under 6 seconds and usually costs anywhere from $2,000 and $10,000 depending on the skill and tastes of the builder.
This website is dedicated to building a sevenesque roadster based on the inspirational writing in Ron Champion's book entitled, "Build Your Own Sports Car for as Little as £250" from Haynes Publishing. To distinguish Ron's design from other sevenesque roadsters, Ron adopted the name "Locost" (pronounced 'low-cost') to reflect the similarity with the Lotus design while reminding us that building a sports car from the ground up can be done on a minimal budget.
Work In
Progress: First Trial Fit of Powertrain
(10/13/02)
Today there are hundreds of
builders around the world that have created, or are in
the process of creating their own sevenesque roadster with
nothing more than basic shop tools in their home garage.
Each car develops it's own characteristics as the builder is
challenged with a unique combination of budget constraints,
parts availability, mechanical knowledge, and even
government regulation. For those who desire an even greater
challenge, the "750 Series" in the United Kingdom is
dedicated to racing Ron Champion's Locost design. Similar
creations also compete in the Sports Car Club of America's
Solo II, D-mod classification (SCCA)
with great success and a healthy dose of controversy. A
competitive application of the sevenesque roadster is also
gaining ground with the Grassroots
Motorsports's officially recognized Locost class at
their $2004 Challenge.
In addition to full CAD drawings of the "book" design to assist the Locost builder, this website contains drawings for alternative designs, an interactive 3-dimensional model of a sevenesque chassis, a comprehensive list of builders from around the world, and step-by-step documentation of a sevenesque build through the assembly process. Please share my enthusiasm for the sevenesque roadster and email me with any suggestions for improving this website.
-Jim McSorley
Why am I Building a Sports Car?
My interest in all things mechanical and low-cost began at a young age while growing up in eastern Pennsylvania, USA. I use to save a portion of my weekly allowance to buy used bicycles from yard-sales and then 'frankenstein' the bike pieces together in an effort to constantly improve my trustworthy transportation. More often than not however, I found myself using the parts to fix something that had broken along the way. My interests continued with my first engine rebuild... a 1.5HP Tecumseh side shaft lawn mower engine that I bolted to a mini-bike frame assembled from parts (at the tender age of 11), followed by two seasons of trying to keep a 250cc Suzuki Enduro running with a broken compression release valve.
The previous owner clutch-started the Suzuki for many seasons until the gearbox no longer agreed with that procedure. It would slip into neutral everytime, leaving all observers to assume that the gearbox was shot. $50 later, I was more than ready to tear the bike apart and to learn how it all worked inside. Before tearing it down however, I figured it wouldn't hurt to whale on the kick start and see what happens. I quickly realized that I was the only kid on the block big enough to kick the bike over (without the compression valve) and it started right up! I was now the proud driver of an off-road motorcycle that I would have never been able to afford under other circumstances.
Later while studying for a degree in Mechanical Engineering (go figure) I had the opportunity to participate in the rebuild of a 318 cubic inch Mopar V8 as part of an optional 'self improvement' class that was offered during the annual holiday. I decided to teach the class the following year and I instructed a small group through the complete rebuild of a 1978 MGB.
My interest in sports cars and especially roadsters originated with the '59 Triumph TR3A that my Dad liberated from a barn in 1969 for $100, 4 years prior to my introduction to the world. The car sat in the family garage for nearly 18 years until Dad realized that mechanical aptitude must have skipped a generation in our family.... After tinkering in the garage for years he finally had the car shipped off to a professional for a complete restoration.
Fueled by watching the rebuild of the TR and having personally rebuilt an MG, I decided that one day I would own a roadster of my own. Fearing that this dream wouldn't be realized for many years due to the costs involved, I began rebuilding an '87 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 in the two car garage of my home in sunny Orlando, Florida. Motorcycles are more managable at home and tend to be much less expensive. "A good place to start," I figured... And that's when I found Ron's book. I quickly convinced myself (and more importantly, my better half) that the Locost really is feasible. I could hardly finish the Ninja without thinking about my next project. A bike powered Locost you might ask?... probably not as my wife and I like to ride together with her on a '95 Suzuki ES550.
So, my efforts have been dedicated (well, as much as possible) to the Locost ever since I found the book. In preparation for the build, I've developed the 3D models and drawings you see on this site, as well as completing a MIG welding certification at the local tech school. With a well stocked 2 car garage, great Florida weather, and a very understanding wife (also a Mech. Eng.), I plan to satiate my need for mechanical artistry by building a "Sevenesque Roadster" from scratch!