Lotus Super 7 S3 Holbay S, 1969

A recent welcome addition to the Hexagon Classic showroom is this unique and historically significant piece of Lotus motoring history. In 1969 Lotus added a new performance orientated Super 7 to its range – the Lotus Super 7 S3 Holbay S featured a John Read-developed 1558cc Holbay-tuned crossflow engine producing an impressive 120bhp and mated to a close-ratio 4-speed manual gearbox. A driver focused offering, this top-of-the-range Super 7 weighed just 600kg assisting it in completing the traditional 0-60mph dash in just 6.2-seconds, the quarter mile was dispatched in just 15-seconds, its top speed was a claimed 114mph. However, the financial cost for all this performance and exclusivity was somewhat dear for the period – priced at £1600, the Super 7 S3 Holbay S was more than twice the cost of a standard Lotus Super 7 of the time.

This particular Super 7 S3 Holbay S was specially built at Lotus Components in Hethel, finished in Regal Red Metallic – a Rolls-Royce-inspired factory colour scheme – it was destined for use as a publicity vehicle. The star of the 1970 Sports Car Show, the vehicle featured prominently on the event's advertising artwork and was also used on the front cover of the show guide. As an official Lotus press fleet vehicle it went on to subsequent feature in many period road tests by respected print publications such as Autosport, Motorsport, and Hot Car – the latter stating: 'It’s the nearest thing that you’ll come to a racing car that you can live with on the road.'

The rest of the car's specification is truly fabulous with striking paintwork complimented by Champagne contoured hide, a matching Champagne hood, wool carpets, and extensive chrome work. On each corner sit Dunlop D1 alloy wheels shod with authentic Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet tyres.

The subject of a comprehensive, open cheque book, restoration and recommissioning by classic Lotus marque experts in the 1980s, the car has been maintained in meticulous and unremitting fashion ever since. Today, this matching-numbers Lotus is presented in superb condition and comes complete with an extensive history file, its period green log book and original printed advertising and marketing materials.

Without doubt an extremely rare Super 7 with unrivalled Lotus factory provenance, this Super 7 S3 Holbay S presents an opportunity to own a highly significant piece of Lotus motoring history – it will make a wonderful addition to any Lotus collection. The car is available to view now at our London showrooms priced at £49,995. Those who wish to view it in further detail online beforehand may like to peruse our 360 degree photographs of the vehicle – we will be systematically adding this engaging image format to the rest of our inventory to allow customers to obtain the best possible visual representation of our vehicles. Furthermore we will be adding to our website fascinating 360 degree images of our workshop on a regular basis, providing a glimpse 'behind the scenes' at Hexagon Classics.

For more information on Hexagon's Lotus Super 7 S3 Holbay S please contact either: Jonathan Ostroff (+44 (0)7522 911 911 / jono@hexagonclassics.com) or Russell Gilbert (+44 (0)7544 911 911 / russell@hexagonclassics.com)