My Grandparents were extras in the prisoner! Has nothing to do with this conversation really but it’s a nice little thing to be able to say. I have photos of them riding around in the mini mokes and my grandfather is even seen being pushed over by number 2 in one episode with human chess.
Best regards, Peter
You were correct, no KARs ending in B. It seems the Chelmsford (Hertfordshire) office issued all of the KAR1-999 series in 1965, so they all had the C suffix (such as the now famous 120C). This, of course, makes the most sense given the lotus records on the car.
Hertfordshire County has an online archive with some basic information, including a hierarchy tree of records of registrations issued between 1903 and 1977. The following screenshot includes part of the listing.
Glad that sorted it for you.
BTW Chelmsford is in Essex not Hertfordshire
I noticed that on a map but it seems Chelmsford issued registrations for Hertfordshire during that period, pre-DVLA.
Sorry to be a bit pedantic, but I find it difficult to accept that. Chelmsford is 50 miles from Hemel Hempstead where the Registration Office for the whole of Hertfordshire was located. AR is definitely an Herts registration. I did live in the area for a while. Happy to be proved wrong though 
Just checked a site online and note that AR registrations were exclusively Herts up until 1974. From 1974 onwards Chelmsford were also allowed to use the numbers. Seems we were both right ??? But too late for registration in 1965 when KAR 120 C was issued
Please don’t apologize, you are teaching me and I appreciate it! I was misinterpreting the records not knowing the area, but now see the correct interpretation is that AR = Hertfordshire pre-1974 and Chelmsford 1974-on.
The Chiltern Vehicle Preservation Group published a useful tool, available at cvpg.co.uk/REG.pdf, the following is a snippet:
Again, thank you!
KAR 120C was a Lotus demonstrator / sales car before it was lent to the studio that was making The Prisoner, so your ‘KAR’ may well have had an interesting Lotus history.
The 1500 Cosworth Seven has to be one of my all time favourite cars, and I agree it looks superb in red and aluminium. Gorgeous!
Mark
Great picture, thanks for sharing Mark! They clearly had a thing for “120”, wonder the importance?
120 was a “hint” that the cars were capable of 120mph ………
Someone in the east might care
Confirmed 1965 - UK registration was mid-65, within days of ex-works date.
Making good headway on the steering rack cleanup and rebuild, hope to finish this weekend. Thought the attached pdf on rebuilding one might be useful to others here.
steering rack rebuild.pdf (464 KB)
I was a part owner and sympathetic restorer of a 1962 Lotus Super 7 which we sold a couple of years ago, pictures attached below. This was also very original and had never been restored. It was great fun to drive and must have been incredible in its day. Apparently they were banned from racing in the UK as all other makes would have been uncompetitive.
I have lots of photo’s if you need information to get it period correct.
Dave
Great looking example, Dave!
I have no schemes on returning it to concourse, but will lean towards period on bits I restore or replace so definitely covet pictures. In fact, the photo you pasted helps me with battery placement. I have a period style/size mount but was looking for pictures to confirm orientation for when I replace the more recent battery and mount that were on the car.
Was fortunate to pick up this fan and blades from forum friend Mike Ostrov after another advised that early Sevens and early Elites shared the parts.
Here’s a few more pics. Paul Shipley of PJS Sportscars is always a good source of parts as he restores them.
Thanks, great pictures of a great looking Seven!
I see the exhaust was extended to the rear and fuel filler as well. Did you do these mods? I’m particularly interested in the exhaust extension and what impact it had on noise for passenger and driver.
It came with the extended exhaust and we decided to keep it. It gave a lovely noise without being uncomfortable for driver or passenger and did not suck back exhaust fumes. Having had a similar car with a side exhaust the rear exhaust is more comfortable.
It also came with the rear filler which was a simple rubber bend to a rubber grommit mounted period filler cap. From a practical point it’s much better than having to remove the wooden boot floor, its contents and possibly the hood to fill with fuel. They also have a small fuel tank, 5 or 6 gallons I recall, and fuel consumption around 25 mpg, so refills are frequent. So not original but very useful.
Dave
Pulled the radiator this weekend to get behind it, and found the rubber/nylon top hat or flange bushings rotted. Haven’t found them yet online - hoping someone here might have a suggestion or lead.
In the UK try Robush they supply many types of vibration mount. They have a good web site.
Henry
Re the Top Hat Bushes
Redline Components in the UK stock them