Formula 27

Formula 27

The original concept that Colin Chapman had for the first Lotus Seven in 1957 was for an extremely lightweight (and hence primitive) car, that could be easily thrown around corners and required only moderate power units to propel it at great speed with excellent fuel consumption.

Over the years, this concept has been further refined by the various Lotus 7 replicas that have appeared, and one of the ultimate of this breed is the Formula 27 Wide-Bodied Rover-V8 powered beast.

Formula 27 generations (31 Kb)

Our Formula 27 was constructed by Phil White to the following specification. It is comparatively docile until the engine reaches 4000 rpm, at which stage you will wish you had a surgical neck brace and asbestos underwear fitted ....

Formula 27 (23 Kb)

Donor Vehicle: 1982 Ford Capri 2.8i
Bodywork: 18 gauge aluminium skin over fully triangulated space frame box girder chassis, fibreglass (GRP) wings and nose cone
Engine: Rover 3.5 litre (216 cu.in) V8
Inlet Manifold: Offenhauser 360° Dual-Plane
Carburettor: Weber 500 four-barrel
Ignition: Contactless, high-energy competition coil, MD RL8 adjustable rev. limiter, Spitfire Multi-Spark HT lead, Accel silicone/steel braided plug leads
Power: 185 bhp @ 5400 rpm
Torque: 205 lb/ft @ 4080 rpm
Gearbox: Rover SDI 5 speed manual
Front Suspension: Inboard fully-adjustable, AVO coil springs (12" x 150 lb) and gas shock absorbers
Front Brakes: BMW 320i ventilated discs and four-pot calipers, no servo-assistance
Steering: standard Ford Capri rack and pinion, no servo-assistance
Exhaust: twin free-flow stainless steel 4:1 manifolds, free-flow 2" stainless steel system (sidepipes with twin rear exits)
Noise: lovely burble on tick-over transforms into vicious growl under hard acceleration, with wind and tyre noise taking over at cruising speeds. Not suitable for listening to radio or mobile phones whilst moving.
Rear Axle: Ford Capri 2.8i, 3.08:1
Rear Brakes: Ford Capri 9" drums
Rear Suspension: live rear axle, panhard rod, fully-adjustable, AVO coil springs (12" x 200 lb) and gas shock absorbers
Wheels: MIM (BMW style) 7" x 15" ET 13
Tyres: new Bridgestone Potenza S02 Pole Position 225ZR50/15 rear, Goodyear Eagle F1 195ZR50/15 front
Gearing: 35.5 kph (22.2 mph) / 1000 rpm in top
Weight: 660 kg
Power/Weight Ratio: 28,0 bhp / 100 kg
Fuel Tank: Stainless steel, 38 litres (8,3 gallons)
Fuel Consumption: 13.05 l/100 km (21.77 mpg) (averaged over 6668 kms / 4168 miles)
Acceleration: 0 - 100 kph in ca. 4,6 seconds
Top Speed: over 195 kph (122 mph) before braking for Veedol chicane on Nürburgring GP circuit
Weather Kit: German Mohair tonneau, mohair hood and side screens
Next Projects: Fit 4.6 litre Rover V8 with Piper camshaft (more torque at lower revs.)
Disadvantages: Road tax (over GBP 500,-- per annum in Germany), minute boot, small fuel tank
Advantages: Affordable limited mileage specialist policy insurance, phenomenal acceleration, superb sound from the tuned V8 engine - just looking for a twisty hilly road to have some fun. More smiles per gallon and more reliable than a Ferrari, for a fraction of the cost. Every garage should have one!

FUEL LOG

Date	Miles	kms	Gallons	Litres	mpg	l/100 km	Average mpg	Average l/100 km
	0	0	Phil	White	built	Formula	27 V8	FIL 6008
16.04.99	2473	3957	-----	We	bought	Formula	27 V8	FIL 6008
16.04.99	2475	3960	7,47	33,97	-----	-----	-----	-----
16.04.99	2627	4203	6,34	28,82	23,98	11,85	23,98	11,85
17.04.99	2777	4443	6,88	31,29	21,79	13,04	22,84	12,44
18.04.99	2975	4760	9,28	42,17	21,35	13,31	22,22	12,79
29.05.99	3131	5010	6,83	31,04	22,85	12,44	22,37	12,70
29.05.99	3258	5213	4,61	20,98	27,52	10,32	23,07	12,32
20.06.99	3444	5510	8,59	39,05	21,65	13,12	22,78	12,47
25.06.99	3632	5811	6,65	30,25	28,25	10,06	23,52	12,08
27.06.99	3781	6050	6,52	29,66	22,84	12,44	23,44	12,12
17.07.99	3974	6358	7,22	32,84	26,72	10,63	23,82	11,93
27.08.99	4293	6869	12,93	58,80	24,66	11,52	23,96	11,86
28.08.99	4434	7094	6,46	29,35	21,84	13,01	23,80	11,94
30.08.99	4625	7400	14,98	68,10	12,75	22,28	22,10	12,86
31.08.99	4843	7749	10,60	48,20	20,56	13,82	21,95	12,95
15.04.00	4949	7918	5,77	26,23	18,37	15,47	21,76	13,06
01.06.01	5209	8334	9,95	45,22	26,12	10,88	22,11	12,85
01.06.01	5404	8646	7,25	32,95	26,89	10,57	22,38	12,70
04.06.01	5576	8922	7,36	33,48	23,43	12,13	22,43	12,66
04.06.01	5824	9319	7,81	35,52	31,76	8,95	22,93	12,39
09.09.01	6297	10076	29,38	133,53	16,10	17,65	21,79	13,04
09.08.03	6505	10408	9,87	44,85	21,05	13,50	21,75	13,06
14.08.05	6642	10628	6,17	28,04	22,26	12,77	21,77	13,05

The following photos were taken during the Lotus 7 IG Track Day at the Nürburgring on the 31^st August 1999, by Ralf Kraemer with his digital camera ....

Formula 27 at Nuerburgring (58 Kb)

.... here after exiting the Bit-Kurve, heading down towards the fastest part of the track, on the approach to the Veedol chicane ....

Formula 27 at Nuerburgring (62 Kb)

.... and after the Coca-Cola curve, heading down the start-finish straight, towards the grandstands and pits ....

Formula 27 at Nuerburgring (43 Kb)

.... and chasing the Magnum 427 (Cobra replica) of Peter Rahs, at the end of the start-finish straight, heading into the Dunlop curves.

Formula 27 at Nuerburgring (59 Kb)

A couple of still-life shots - both front cycle wings flew off earlier in the day at the speeds reached on this track - in excess of 122 mph (195 kph)! They are now secured to the car somewhat better than before.

Formula 27 at Nuerburgring (80 Kb)

This photo was taken at the Bottrop Slalom race on 07.05.00.

Formula 27 ( Kb)

The new stainless steel side silencer on the driver's side ....

Formula 27 ( Kb)

.... and on the passenger's side - although these look like sidepipes, the exhaust tucks under the chassis just in front of the rear wheels ....

Formula 27 ( Kb)

.... and after an additional pair of silencers, passes under the rear axle ....

Formula 27 ( Kb)

.... and exits in twin pipes at the rear - this has the advantage of providing a V8 burble for those inside and outside the car, with the optics of sidepipes and greater ground clearance.

Formula 27 ( Kb)

Here is a close-up of the stainless steel 4:1 exhaust manifold on the passenger's side. The driver's side is harder to photograph, because the brake and clutch master cylinders are in front of the exhaust manifold ....

Formula 27 ( Kb)

.... and the right rear silencer.

Formula 27 ( Kb)

When the boot box and roll bar have been removed, the petrol tank and Ford Capri rear axle can be clearly seen.

Formula 27 ( Kb)

The adjustable coil springs and gas shock absorbers can also be clearly seen,
and on the left is the fuel filler neck, on the right is the Facet electric fuel pump and filter ....

Formula 27 ( Kb)

.... and in between is the fuel level sensor.

Formula 27 ( Kb)

The front suspension is unique amongst the Seven replicas to the Formula 27 - using technology copied from single-seater racing cars, with adjustable inboard coil springs and gas adjustable shock absorbers ....
.... the unsprung weight is greatly reduced, improving road-holding and providing much cleaner exterior lines.

For Sale

I have decided to sell my Formula 27, mainly because (as you can see from the fuel log table above) I am hardly using the car. If you fancy a comparatively economical performance car, offers in the region of £ 11.125 or Euro 15.575 could see you as the new owner of this exceptional car.

This price includes both the UK personal number plates "FIL 6008" and V5 registration document, plus 07 registration in Germany (the 07 registration plates are only available for vehicles over 20 years old, and only valid for organisied events or test drives, but allow very cheap road tax and insurance).

This can't be me, your honour, I haven't got a red hat and green scarf.

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