1990 Caterham HPC?
Discussion
Hello
I am new here.
I want to buy a Caterham.
I found this one, it looks like a 1990 HPC but the engine is a 2.0L Cosworth with 2 Weber carburators (attachment).
I can't find anything about a HPC with Cosworth engine, only about HPC with 2.0L Vauxhall and Opel engines.
Can anyone tell me if this is genuine HPC, and if it really was build/sold with a cosworth 2.0L 16V DOHC engine.
btw they claim its 2.0, i haven't seen it myself, so could it be less.... ?
The price the owner asks is about 7500 Pounds, if you look at the enginecompartment on the picture it shows the general state of the car.
Should i buy it for that money ?
Thx, Henk
Picture of the Cosworth engine in question http://thumbsnap.com/sc/e3OmkcGy.jpg
I am new here.
I want to buy a Caterham.
I found this one, it looks like a 1990 HPC but the engine is a 2.0L Cosworth with 2 Weber carburators (attachment).
I can't find anything about a HPC with Cosworth engine, only about HPC with 2.0L Vauxhall and Opel engines.
Can anyone tell me if this is genuine HPC, and if it really was build/sold with a cosworth 2.0L 16V DOHC engine.
btw they claim its 2.0, i haven't seen it myself, so could it be less.... ?
The price the owner asks is about 7500 Pounds, if you look at the enginecompartment on the picture it shows the general state of the car.
Should i buy it for that money ?
Thx, Henk
Picture of the Cosworth engine in question http://thumbsnap.com/sc/e3OmkcGy.jpg
Hello Caterham experts.
Thank you for your reply's.
Also got a direct email stating that it is no HPC but this type of engine was probably fitted because of the stearing beeing on the left.
The exhaust-part on the original engine seems to be in the way of the steering-axel, that's why they probably choosen this engine.
Concering the car, the price seems right, and i like the car, i consider buying it.
Is there anything particular i have to pay attention to before i make an offer ?
I read somewhere i should check the serialnumers are identical, i have to look beneath the pedalbox for the second serialnumber ?
Are there other known issues, like rost, or wearing out of some specific parts i have to check before buying ?
How can ik check the engine state, it has doen about 35.000 Miles but is over 20 years old.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Henk
Thank you for your reply's.
Also got a direct email stating that it is no HPC but this type of engine was probably fitted because of the stearing beeing on the left.
The exhaust-part on the original engine seems to be in the way of the steering-axel, that's why they probably choosen this engine.
Concering the car, the price seems right, and i like the car, i consider buying it.
Is there anything particular i have to pay attention to before i make an offer ?
I read somewhere i should check the serialnumers are identical, i have to look beneath the pedalbox for the second serialnumber ?
Are there other known issues, like rost, or wearing out of some specific parts i have to check before buying ?
How can ik check the engine state, it has doen about 35.000 Miles but is over 20 years old.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Henk
Hi Guys.
Thanks for the tips, great info.
Ive got the chassisnumber, it reads: AM 84131
I tried to get details from the info in the link from Snapper Seven (thanks).
I can't make anything from matching the chassisnumber with the table.
The first registration date is somewhere in 1987 is what the seller is telling me, but from the letters AM the A is only find post 1990 (meaning alternative chassis type), and the M pré 1990 means "Marina/Ital? Axle".
I would also expect S3B for Dutch market somewhere in the serial/chassisnumber.
Maybe it's not complete, i will check for myself this weekend when i see the car.
Thanks for the tips, great info.
Ive got the chassisnumber, it reads: AM 84131
I tried to get details from the info in the link from Snapper Seven (thanks).
I can't make anything from matching the chassisnumber with the table.
The first registration date is somewhere in 1987 is what the seller is telling me, but from the letters AM the A is only find post 1990 (meaning alternative chassis type), and the M pré 1990 means "Marina/Ital? Axle".
I would also expect S3B for Dutch market somewhere in the serial/chassisnumber.
Maybe it's not complete, i will check for myself this weekend when i see the car.
Hi Guys
I went over yesterday to have a look.
The car looks good, couldn't find any visible rust or anything that worried me, but I couldn't see the tube frame though.
But here's the thing, he's not able to sell it becuase of the Cosworth engine which replaced the original engine but without after this mod getting approval from the authorities (by examination). It will pass MOT but only because they don't check at MOT if this engine is registered to the car-chassis.
I am not going to buy it unless he will have it examend and gets this a proper approval.
By coicidence i found another one. A 1972 black S3, completely restored by a company which only restores and sells classic cars, and with proper approval for the cosworth engine (this one isn't missing the turbo) http://thumbsnap.com/sc/iOb8qgHx.jpg
It's much more expensive, but i don't have to worrie about anything.
I will go over there the coming week(end).
Thanks for yor help !
I went over yesterday to have a look.
The car looks good, couldn't find any visible rust or anything that worried me, but I couldn't see the tube frame though.
But here's the thing, he's not able to sell it becuase of the Cosworth engine which replaced the original engine but without after this mod getting approval from the authorities (by examination). It will pass MOT but only because they don't check at MOT if this engine is registered to the car-chassis.
I am not going to buy it unless he will have it examend and gets this a proper approval.
By coicidence i found another one. A 1972 black S3, completely restored by a company which only restores and sells classic cars, and with proper approval for the cosworth engine (this one isn't missing the turbo) http://thumbsnap.com/sc/iOb8qgHx.jpg
It's much more expensive, but i don't have to worrie about anything.
I will go over there the coming week(end).
Thanks for yor help !
Concerning the Black S3.
yes Caterham started production from 73 or 74, but Lotus had already build S3 before that.
They advertise it as a Lotus S3, so maybe it was one of the last cars Lotus made and was in stock for sometime ?
I am no pistonhead if it comes to telling, anyway it's not original anymore, and i don't really care, as long as i can enjoy driving a Lotus or Caterham Seven.
FYI, it's advertised as a Lotus S3 modded with a Cosworth Engine tuned to 280 pk (by HB Motorsport) after the engine was completely restored with all new parts: pistons, cranks, turbo, sealings, etc.
The gearbox has been upgraded to be able to handle 300bhp at least.
The Intercooler was custom made to fit, the battery is in the boot, probably because there is no room for it in the engine compartment.
It's got Wilwood racing brakes, and is lightened by using carbon parts as much as possible.
After all this is has run only 3700 km.
All papers and invoices are with the car including performance graphics of the engine, i will check them offcourse.
grtx, Henk
yes Caterham started production from 73 or 74, but Lotus had already build S3 before that.
They advertise it as a Lotus S3, so maybe it was one of the last cars Lotus made and was in stock for sometime ?
I am no pistonhead if it comes to telling, anyway it's not original anymore, and i don't really care, as long as i can enjoy driving a Lotus or Caterham Seven.
FYI, it's advertised as a Lotus S3 modded with a Cosworth Engine tuned to 280 pk (by HB Motorsport) after the engine was completely restored with all new parts: pistons, cranks, turbo, sealings, etc.
The gearbox has been upgraded to be able to handle 300bhp at least.
The Intercooler was custom made to fit, the battery is in the boot, probably because there is no room for it in the engine compartment.
It's got Wilwood racing brakes, and is lightened by using carbon parts as much as possible.
After all this is has run only 3700 km.
All papers and invoices are with the car including performance graphics of the engine, i will check them offcourse.
grtx, Henk
Update.
It seems to be a Lotus S4, today they gave me the serialnumber which is 2807.
They didn't mention LSB or LS in front of it, but it is a LHD.
I checked this serial with the link Snapper Seven wrote in this topic above.
Series 4:
Numbers S4/2650 to S4/3315 or maybe more. Left hand drive cars had the 'S4' prefix replaced with either 'LBS4' or 'LS4'
EFA what do you mean by a "primary" which is only 4" long, i am Dutch, don't know what a primary is on a car. Did you suspect by this it could be a S4 ?
Will keep you all informed.
grt, Henk
It seems to be a Lotus S4, today they gave me the serialnumber which is 2807.
They didn't mention LSB or LS in front of it, but it is a LHD.
I checked this serial with the link Snapper Seven wrote in this topic above.
Series 4:
Numbers S4/2650 to S4/3315 or maybe more. Left hand drive cars had the 'S4' prefix replaced with either 'LBS4' or 'LS4'
EFA what do you mean by a "primary" which is only 4" long, i am Dutch, don't know what a primary is on a car. Did you suspect by this it could be a S4 ?
Will keep you all informed.
grt, Henk
Hi Guys
The serialnumber points to Lotus S4 (1972), but it looks like an S3 (see picture).
http://thumbsnap.com/sc/YQPv9hmC.jpg
I am confused.
It's also shorter than the Caterham from 1987 which i fitted earlier.
The Caterham fitted (no SV) but in this Lotus i need about 4 inches more legroom.
Opened up a new topic about this (Moving pedalbox).
Thanks to all for your help and information !
Henk
The serialnumber points to Lotus S4 (1972), but it looks like an S3 (see picture).
http://thumbsnap.com/sc/YQPv9hmC.jpg
I am confused.
It's also shorter than the Caterham from 1987 which i fitted earlier.
The Caterham fitted (no SV) but in this Lotus i need about 4 inches more legroom.
Opened up a new topic about this (Moving pedalbox).
Thanks to all for your help and information !
Henk
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