GTO 57 Solved: Clairmonte Special (aka "the original Lotus Mk VII")

[250gto]

To get the point this time tell me what this car is called and what its what its name would have been, if it had been built as originally planned (once you know what it is you'll know what I mean) 

[250gto]

Easy for an expert?

[D-type]

The Clairmonte, which would have been a Lotus 7

[250gto]

Thats exactly right, the point is yours.
It had originally been comissioned from Lotus by Clive Clairmonte as a Formula 2 car in 1952. Had it been finished to its original design it would have been called the Lotus Mk VII and been the first Lotus single-seater racing car. As it was construction was halted when its intended Riley engine was destroyed while being raced in another car (by Clairmonte not Lotus). Clairmonte bought the unfinished car and completed it as a sportscar with a Lea Francis 1500cc engine. Colin Chapman later decided it didn't count as a proper Lotus and so used the (now considered unused) name Lotus 7 for the successor the the Mk VI instead.

[250gto]

PS here's how the car would have looked as the Lotus Mk VII.

[petertross]

Whilst I am pleased that this car has featured on your website, I feel that 250gto might have had the courtesy to acknowledge the source of the image.

It is from the book "Lotus - The Early Years 1951-54" by Peter Ross, published by Coterie Press price £34.95.

The Clairmonte Special is now owned by Peter Ross and Dr David Harvey and its restoration is nearly complete.

We are also well down the road to build a replica of the original Lotus Mk VII single seater as may be seen in the attached images.

We need a Riley 15/6 engine and manual gearbox - can anyone help?  A Riley 1.5 RM gearbox would do.

[Ultra]

Whilst I am pleased that this car has featured on your website, I feel that 250gto might have had the courtesy to acknowledge the source of the image.

It is from the book "Lotus - The Early Years 1951-54" by Peter Ross, published by Coterie Press price £34.95.

The Clairmonte Special is now owned by Peter Ross and Dr David Harvey and its restoration is nearly complete.

We are also well down the road to build a replica of the original Lotus Mk VII single seater as may be seen in the attached images.

We need a Riley 15/6 engine and manual gearbox - can anyone help?  A Riley 1.5 RM gearbox would do.

Thank you for sharing!

[Carnut]

What's this, by whom, from when - for 1 point?:

Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!

[Allan L]

Another that will be solved before I get my chance!

[nicanary]

Another that will be solved before I get my chance!

I share your feelings, Allan.

[Carnut]

Yes - I couldn't believe it hadn't been puzzled so I thought I'd better post it!

[Carnut]

Yes - I couldn't believe it hadn't been puzzled so I thought I'd better post it!

Unsurprisingly it has been puzzled before, but with a slightly different spelling from the one I have (my car doesn't have an 'e' at the end of "Clairmont")!

So I'm merging it with the original.

[nicanary]

I have never seen the original puzzle photo before (250gto). I thought the only existing image was the one posted by carnut, it's the only one which ever appears if you ask Google. I'm pretty sure the name is spelt with the "e" on the end.

[nicanary]

The chassis under construction.