My Caterham 7 was the best sportscar I have ever owned. So fast, so pure, so raw, so simple, so much fun. There is no substitute.
@marksulloway56695 ай бұрын
Lotus 7 was my dream car since I first saw one in 1963 beat a group of then new Jaguar XKE's at an airport time trials in France. Purchased the Dutch variant - Donkervoort in the 1980's. Would have kept it forever but could not import it back to the USA when I returned.
@Heavenlygamer19YT5 ай бұрын
I'm thinking about getting one at some point tbh
@deseast12675 ай бұрын
The Lotus Seven was banned by the British Racing and Sports car club from UK racing with other sports car makes because usually they won virtually any races they entered which had other marques competing, so when Caterham took over production they had to go for a one make racing series. I saw just one mixed make race at Brands hatch where the Caterham's were allowed to race against MG's, Triumphs, Jaguars, Porsches, TVR's and some other smaller makes, the only proviso being that all the Caterhams had to start at the back of the grid regardless of qualifying times. Once the race started within about 4 laps virtually all of the Sevens had got past the competiton and gapped them. It was an unusual sight but it made me want to get hold of a Caterham.
@stevesteve2015 ай бұрын
Tottaly impractical. I carry a change of clothes. In case it rains. But the most engaging car there is. It's surprising how many people drive it for a couple of minutes then say they want someone else to drive. You really do have to have a passion for cars to drive it. Perfect drivers car.
@jamesonpace7265 ай бұрын
At 16 I drove the 7 back from a show as only I fit in it. Lost my vision at 130mph on well known back roads & have needed 1 ever since. This may be the moment....
@brake_later5 ай бұрын
Nothing better than a lightweight car. I've a Westfield (similar to a Caterham) with 250bhp in 550kg, it's such an adrenaline rush!
@ianashton15935 ай бұрын
Have a Westfield too, mines only a 1.8 Zetec putting out about 155 bhp but it’s great fun 👍
@brake_later5 ай бұрын
@@ianashton1593 With just over half a tonne to push around, it'll still be rapid!
@ianashton15935 ай бұрын
@@brake_later It is, looking to sell at the moment though and get a 2.0 Duratec powered car 👍
@brake_later5 ай бұрын
@ianashton1593 I know quite a few people with duratecs, they're a good engine and can make good power (quite light too). Mine is the Honda S2000 powered car, my previous car was a Zetec
@ianashton15935 ай бұрын
@@brake_later Cool, I’ve heard the S2000 cars are very quick 👍 Haven’t driven a Duratec engined car but have been out in one and was surprised how quick it was. Just need to get my current car sold.
@HarleyPebley5 ай бұрын
Wow! An EV that weighs in less than my FRS! Wonder what it's range will be. I'd absolutely take the "experience of a raw, analog sports car" over anything digital. I grew up before all the computerization of the driving experience and hate the insulation modern cars have from the road. That's one of the things I love about my FRS. It's pretty minimalistic by modern standards; and why my wife hates it. 🙂
@douganderson7712 ай бұрын
I would dearly love to have one , it will be a replacement for my motorcycle . I will need one with an automatic gear box since I can no longer depend on my clutch leg . I wonder if the sequential gear box might work ?? Any help or direction is appreciated .
@vito106429 күн бұрын
sequentials still are three pedals cars, they work just like motorcycles. you need the clutch pedal to take off, you can do clutchless upshifts even if the car doesn't have a quickshifter lifting the throttle but I don't think they have a blipper to do clutchless downshifts. some drivers do clutchless downshifts blipping the throttle themselves because they brake with the left foot but still, both feet are required to drive them
@davidmcdermott34152 ай бұрын
I want a Project V so bad, I hope it comes stateside. It's exactly what I want, a sport coupe EV, not an SUV or Crossover.
@stankygeorge12 күн бұрын
The Super 7s are sports cars not touring cars, therefor they are not meant to be daily drivers, so comfort takes a back seat, driving fun is what counts in this type of car.
@MENSA.lady25 ай бұрын
What would I swap a Caterham for ? Maybe a 1948 Mk.6 Bentley. Totally different but both fun to drive. About the same price today.
@paullubliner62214 ай бұрын
I have always had one since 1983. Built 3 so far. Keep your Porsche or Ferrari. Absolutely NOTHING else literally puts you as close to the road at speed ...or at a standstill. I'm considering being buried in my current 1720cc Lotus Twin Cam powered 6 speed deDion as it's about the same size as a casket...
@soweboughtacaterham3 ай бұрын
A great 'drivers car' with none of the gadgets and gizmos you see in modern cars and a low end entry level Caterham can still be tweaked over time to get a lot more out of it.
@chizzlemo30945 ай бұрын
used models retain value because many of us don't have time to build one!
@dafunkfresh2195 ай бұрын
wait, what? it's pronounced "Katrem"? I always called it "Kater-Ham" 😆
@paullubliner62214 ай бұрын
The town and the auto-mobeele company refer to themselves as KAY-TRUM!
@davidblalock99455 ай бұрын
I’m crazy enough to build one with a boosted Coyote.
@SvenTvikingАй бұрын
The weight would screw the handling. The 620R has 620hp per ton. That’s Bugatti figures.
@findkip5 ай бұрын
Yes please
@philipethier91365 ай бұрын
5:52 There's my car, sold on 10/10/23
@philipethier91363 ай бұрын
It looks different now. I have had the fenders and nose painted Caterham Firecracker Yellow to make the car more-visible.
@Dggb23455 ай бұрын
Brilliant video. Editing was best ever I’ve seen for selling the Caterham. The Outlaw narrative for Colin Chapman was a smart move. If Caterham didn’t pay for this they should have. Oh and BTW, dump the EV they’re passé.
@martinluke9470Күн бұрын
Lotus got it right in 1958.
@bigl63225 ай бұрын
Fun looking toy, way to much dollars for the ride tho. I’m rolling a 1st gen firebird with a stroked small block for the same money.
@joeracer3025 ай бұрын
Bro.
@jeffmoffat5202Ай бұрын
The caterham is soooo much faster.
@bigl6322Ай бұрын
@@jeffmoffat5202 so is a hellcat, so is an Ariel atom, or a new corvette for chrissakes… what’s your point? Speed equals fun?? I disagree
@bigl6322Ай бұрын
@@jeffmoffat5202 and how much does it weigh? And can you roll your windows up and put the heat on? Whatever…. You do your original story and I’ll do mine
@tigerrider67115 ай бұрын
How is it better than a written off corvette with all the body panels removed?
@jonathanhicks1405 ай бұрын
It goes straight round a tight bend at a speed that the Corvette would be off the road/ track before it hit the apex.
@tigerrider67115 ай бұрын
@@jonathanhicks140 how about any other used open wheel chassis? I just don’t see much of a use case for these cars. The street legal part isn’t much of a selling feature to me, these are terrifying to be sharing the road on.
@jonathanhicks1405 ай бұрын
@@tigerrider6711 you wouldn’t want one as a daily driver, but for fun on a challenging track or a weekend drive in the winding mountain roads of Wales where I live (with a drop off to eternity on the outside of the bends), there’s nothing to touch these for thrills and performance this side of a quarter of a million pound hyper car - which will then need to overhauled in a laboratory, whereas you just get the spanners out with the Caterham. Years ago I met a chap who had the Westfield version with a 4.5 litre “breathed on” TVR V8 in it - he was trying to get a set of rear tires to last 3,000 miles, but failing….
@aceytoja5 ай бұрын
the difference is that Catherams are good cars
@tigerrider67115 ай бұрын
@@aceytojanot disagreeing there, but it’s a tired comparison to compare it to a super car. It’s 70s chassis and should be compared with other open wheel cars.
@ibast15 ай бұрын
They are now far too dear for what they are. Far too narrow a focus car, and impractical focus at that, for that price.
@hotmechanic2225 ай бұрын
There are literally dozens of other companies in the UK producing their own version of the Lotus 7, most of them a lot cheaper then Caterham
@chizzlemo30945 ай бұрын
disassembly manual ahahaha
@hotmechanic2225 ай бұрын
That is classic Colin Chapman for you!!
@MENSA.lady25 ай бұрын
Only compeditor ? maybe a Morgan. Only the British could build either.