1978 LOTUS 7 MK4

Dutton Garage, for the 1st time, is very proud to present this stunning New Zealand New 1978 Lotus 7 MK4, Finished in Lotus Red, with Period Silver/Polished Minilite Style Alloys, Over a Soft Black Cabin, with Matching Carpets, a very desirable colour combination for a zippy Lotus like this!

This example is one of the very few New Zealand assembled cars made under licence by Steel Brothers Limited.

In 1973, Lotus decided to shed fully its "British tax system"-inspired kit car image and concentrate on limited series motor racing cars. As part of this plan, it sold the rights to the Seven to its only remaining agents Caterham Cars in England and Steel Brothers Limited in New Zealand.

Steel Brothers Limited in Christchurch, New Zealand, assembled Lotus Seven Series 4s until March 1979 when the last of the 95 kits provided by Lotus was used up. The Steel Brothers had a much wider range of factory options than the UK models with carpet, centre console glove-box, radio, window-washer and hard top. There were sold largely to competition enthusiasts, the NZ cars also had engine modifications, close-ratio gears and adjustable suspension as factory options. As such they were very successful in local racing. With officially licensed production stopping in 1979, the last Lotus badged Seven, a Series 4, was therefore produced in New Zealand.

This example has been meticulously maintained and still presents in superb condition, it has two removable doors, a soft top, and even a tonneua cover!, as well as these highly desirable features/options:

- New Zealand New
- Assembled by Steel Brothers Limited
- Finished in Lotus Red
- Period Silver/Polished Minilite Style Alloys
- Soft Black Cabin with Matching Carpets
- 1558cc Twin Cam Lotus Engine
- 4 Speed Gearbox
- 4 Point Harness'
- Sports Steering Wheel
- Smiths Dials
- Recent Head Work
- Soft Top
- Tonneau Cover
- Roll Bar