Toronto Star

FEJER SUPER SEVEN A RARE CANADIAN ROADSTER

A retiree found his dream car, which he keeps well-preserved by only driving short distances during the warm months

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Wheels reader: John Roger Phillips Occupation: Retired audio/visual production manager

The car: 1985 Fejer Super Seven Roadster As a teenager in the 1950s, I dreamed of owning a Super Seven automobile. When I retired in 1990, I found one advertised for sale and immediatel­y seized the opportunit­y.

It was manufactur­ed in 1985 by the Super Seven Sportcars Company in Newmarket. George Fejer, the president of the company, based it on the Lotus Seven, and his were the only Super Sevens that were factory built in Canada. My Super Seven came with a convertibl­e top (black), side curtain panels, tonneau cover, a chrome bumper with fog lights, wind deflectors and stainless-steel fender protectors.

The engine and gearbox were from the Toyota Corolla, along with the back axle and brakes. The carburetor­s are twin Japanese Solex and the 1600 cc (2 TG) D.O.H.C. The Toyota engine has four cylinders with a five-speed manual transmissi­on. The car was made of fibreglass and aluminum.

Geoge Fejer believed that his Toyota-powered Super Seven was superior to the Super Sevens being built in the United Kingdom because the Fejer Super Seven was lighter, and thus, faster. He claimed that the Fejer Super Seven had good fuel economy and could go from 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds. Several magazine road testers of the period thought that the overall quality was very high.

Unfortunat­ely, Fejer was unable to sell the car in the American market because of U.S. regulation­s and thus only produced a handful of Super Sevens as the Canadian market was very limited. However, the Fejer Super Seven met Ontario standards, and mine is currently licensed in Ontario.

This Super Seven has the original engine and equipment, has been winter stored and has less than 40,000 kilometres, as I have driven it only in good weather for short distances. The furthest I’ve driven it was to Collingwoo­d. I don’t take it out if it looks like its going rain because it takes a long time to get the top and side panels on, unlike my 2006 Mazda Miata convertibl­e, which takes a minute to get the top up.

It is a beautiful racing car worthy of being called “Eye Candy” and when I do take it out on the road, the Super Seven draws a lot of attention.

Several people have said that my Fejer Super Seven should end up in a museum as these are truly heritage Canadian automobile­s.

Meanwhile, however, I will live my dream. Show us your candy: Got a cool custom or vintage car? Send us high-res pictures (at least 1 MB) of you and your family with your beauty, and your story. We like photos — the more the better — of the interior, trim, wheels, emblems. Email

and type “Eye Candy” in the subject line. Google “Toronto Star Eye Candy” to see classic cars featured in the past.

 ?? WILLIAM PHILLIPS PHOTOS ?? John Roger Phillips’ dream of owning a Super Seven came true when he found his 1985 Fejer Super Seven Roadster for sale the year he retired.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS PHOTOS John Roger Phillips’ dream of owning a Super Seven came true when he found his 1985 Fejer Super Seven Roadster for sale the year he retired.
 ??  ?? Powered by a 1600 cc four-cylinder Toyota engine, the Super Seven makes about 185 horsepower.
Powered by a 1600 cc four-cylinder Toyota engine, the Super Seven makes about 185 horsepower.
 ??  ?? Built in Newmarket, Ont., for the Canadian market, John Roger Phillips’ 1985 Fejer Super Seven Roadster is a unique sports car.
Built in Newmarket, Ont., for the Canadian market, John Roger Phillips’ 1985 Fejer Super Seven Roadster is a unique sports car.
 ??  ?? Based on the Lotus Seven racing car, only a handful were built, making it a very rare automobile.
Based on the Lotus Seven racing car, only a handful were built, making it a very rare automobile.
 ??  ?? The car is kept under wraps in the winter, which is why it has less than 40,000 kilometres on it.
The car is kept under wraps in the winter, which is why it has less than 40,000 kilometres on it.

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