Emergency back up Caterham 7

[Chewie]

I picked up my stand-by car incase the Supra ever lets me down – a Caterham 7. It comes with a Raceline 2.0 L Ford Zetec tuned to 160 bhp wrapped up in 530 kg of aluminium foil. It couldn't be more different than a Supra. No ABS, servo'd brakes, powersteering, it doesn’t get less basic than this. I didn't trust myself going on the A & B twisties from Bracknell to back to Cheltenham. I figured keep it simple - M4 one straight line. You’re so low you can see ahead of the car in front by looking underneath it! Sat just 5 inches off the M4, I could’ve trimmed my nails by dragging my hand along the tarmac. You wonder when you overtake an artic lorry whether the trucker has actually seen you. There were a few moments when I got tailgated and all I could see was the reg plate in my mirror. I forgot to stick my ear plugs in or bring my crash helmet. 1 hr 30 mins of motorway later and I was stone deaf.

[JustGav]

BUT still good fun aren't they

[mark newman]

whats the heating like

[paul mac]

I picked up my stand-by car incase the Supra ever lets me down

 

if my supra is anything to go by it may be sat around for a long long time mate, nice toy

[Gaz6002]

Stick a bike engine in it

[Chewie]

Yeah topfun rating is 11/10. It was good sunny day. Had a few toots and waves as I overtook/got over taken. There's a few things I need to do like fit an FIA roll bar for trackdays, big brake kit, cycle wings, tillet seats. It's was owned by a 70 yr old boy who sold it to the last owner who wanted it solely for track days but he had the chance to buy an Elise with an Audi engine. So decided to sell up.

[Chewie]

Heating is very good. You stick your hand on the gearbox tunnel.

[Chewie]

Stick a bike engine in it

 

I've got a choice of an R1, Speed Triple or the NC35 but I quite like my bikes.

[Gaz6002]

I've got a choice of an R1, Speed Triple or the NC35 but I quite like my bikes.

 

OK, stick a bike engine in it and turbo it

 

R1 engine would be a nice start...

[JustGav]

I just happen to have a fireblade engine that I never got round to using

[pjavon]

Take the screen and wipers etc off for trackdays, they just add weight and get in the way. Then fit an aero screen;)

Add a set of R888 and you'll have serious fun.

I put DS2500 brake pads on mine for a cheap but very effective upgrade until the money for big brakes is available.

It may already have one but an LSD was one of the best improvements i fitted to mine.

But in any spec there just great fun aren't they:d

[Smallshinyant]

I love those things, if i could persuade my wife/myself that i did not need a roof/heating/storage/radio/doors/crumple zones i would snap one up.

 

Enjoy it.

[sdistc]

I picked up my stand-by car incase the Supra ever lets me down – a Caterham 7. It comes with a Raceline 2.0 L Ford Zetec tuned to 160 bhp wrapped up in 530 kg of aluminium foil. It couldn't be more different than a Supra.

 

So let me get this correct.. the Cat is noisy, basic, low, very fast and almost completely impractical. Sounds *exactly* like my Supra

 

But in all seriousness, love the Cats! Put up some nice high-res pictures for us, please

[dude]

I've got a choice of an R1, Speed Triple or the NC35 but I quite like my bikes.

 

Only one choice, stroked Busa engine to 1480 with a turbo;)

[Porky1978]

Busa turbo ftw. Seen one of these in a mk 1 golf and it made 450bhp

[AJI]

Great choice of car.

I have actually raced Caterhams in the past and they are really good fun. If you're on very grippy tyres such as semi-slick trackday types then be careful of how the car will snap out of line if too much power.

If on normal road tyres however then it does give you plenty of time to react.

If I owned one for road driving I'd also drive with the lights on all the time to make sure that people do actually see you.

 

I've been thinking of owneing a Caterham for sometime, but as you say they are not the most practical of cars!

 

As pjavon mentions, if not already fitted a LSD is a must on these cars.

[Wez]

Great cars

[Chewie]

Took the wee beastie out for blast around the Cotswolds and Malverns. Getting the hang of it. Found a few niggles. The idle is a tad low at an indicated 600 rpm and the pedals are very close. It's all too easy to stamp on the brake and hit the throttle at the same time. I'll have to work on the heel-and-toe technique. Amazing road holding and found myself catching up with loads of Sunday traffic but being so low down it was hard seeing what was up ahead. The headlights tip is spot on.

[Smallshinyant]

Love to see some more pics. Love these things, can i ask what the going rate is for one of these?

[Chewie]

Love to see some more pics. Love these things, can i ask what the going rate is for one of these?

 

I looked at a 93 plate 1.7 Kent x-flow Roadsport for £10.5K an yet I also looked at an 05 Academy 1.6 K series race car for the same price, an 05 Roadsport with a 1.6 K series for £15K, get the picture. There's no rhyme or reason to the pricing. I started off with the idea of an R400 and looked at a track day machine with no tax or MOT for £23.5K. It's still on Pistonheads. It was undriveable on the road. After 2 months I realised lets start off with a Roadsport. The one I ended up with was tuned to 160 bhp so happy all round. [GRIN][/GRIN].

 

Here's a few snappies I took for the agreed valuation.

[j_jza80]

I got to hoon around Bedford aerodrome a few years back in a si

Similar spec car to this, was amazing fun. They do love to slide if provoked

[Smallshinyant]

I looked at a 93 plate 1.7 Kent x-flow Roadsport for £10.5K an yet I also looked at an 05 Academy 1.6 K series race car for the same price, an 05 Roadsport with a 1.6 K series for £15K, get the picture. There's no rhyme or reason to the pricing. I started off with the idea of an R400 and looked at a track day machine with no tax or MOT for £23.5K. It's still on Pistonheads. It was undriveable on the road. After 2 months I realised lets start off with a Roadsport. The one I ended up with was tuned to 160 bhp so happy all round. [GRIN][/GRIN].

 

Here's a few snappies I took for the agreed valuation.

 

Cheers for the info, you have got my cogs turning. Love the pics, the air filter out the side of the bonnet looks old school fun.

[Thorin]

I'd stick with the car engine and actually have a decent amount of torque

 

You can see 200BHP out of those little 2L zetecs.

[Chewie]

This in on twin Weber 40 DCOEs hence the K & Ns poking out the side. The Zetec though not the lighter than the K series is definitely more reliable. Indeed Raceline the guys who built the engine do a 200 bhp conversion. Before that I'll uprate the front brakes.