RE: PH Carpool: Caterham 21
Discussion
Ultimately the Caterham 21 was a missed opportunity.
At the time there was a palpable appetite for cars that captured the concept of the classic British sports car but updated for the 90's with a dash more practicality.
People looked at the 21 and assumed it was a more practical & usable 7, partly because of the way it looked and partly because that's the car they wanted.
Sadly it was nothing of the sort.
A potentially significant customer base stayed away in droves.
What a shame.
If Caterham had just done a bit more market research they would have immediately realised what the sports car buying public was looking for.
Widen the chassis, add some creature comforts and gear up for meaningful production and Caterham would have been onto a winner.
With the MX5 already selling like hot cakes, along came the Elise.
If Caterham had pitched their new model somewhere between those two cars the story of the 21 could have been very different.
Like a say, a missed opportunity
At the time there was a palpable appetite for cars that captured the concept of the classic British sports car but updated for the 90's with a dash more practicality.
People looked at the 21 and assumed it was a more practical & usable 7, partly because of the way it looked and partly because that's the car they wanted.
Sadly it was nothing of the sort.
A potentially significant customer base stayed away in droves.
What a shame.
If Caterham had just done a bit more market research they would have immediately realised what the sports car buying public was looking for.
Widen the chassis, add some creature comforts and gear up for meaningful production and Caterham would have been onto a winner.
With the MX5 already selling like hot cakes, along came the Elise.
If Caterham had pitched their new model somewhere between those two cars the story of the 21 could have been very different.
Like a say, a missed opportunity
Edited by ChimpanLucky on Monday 28th May 16:30
I also loved them when they came out, seen my first on a car-show in the Netherlands in Amsterdam, a green one.
Also have the alu bodied brochure and some magazine info with pictures...lovely.
Also a special version in a car magazine which I had to put online because could never find it online
, its about the 21 GTO
which is lovely, see here>>
Also have the alu bodied brochure and some magazine info with pictures...lovely.
Also a special version in a car magazine which I had to put online because could never find it online
, its about the 21 GTOwhich is lovely, see here>>
I remember seeing this at the motorshow when it was launched, in shiny aluminium, there were a few folks milling around the stand, but on the other side of the show the elise was on the lotus stand with a huge crowd. I guess the writing was on the wall for the 21, which is a huge shame as its a very good looking car
ChimpanLucky said:
I remember rushing to the Caterham stand at the British Motor Show in the mid nineties when they released the 21.
Eager to sample this beauty first hand I managed to blag myself a sit in the car.
Oh dear
As soon as I slid in I knew it wasn't for me, at over 6ft & 13.5 stone it was ridiculously cramped.
My dreams dashed I made my way over to the TVR stand and the rest is history.
The Chimaera gave me old school Cobra thrills with modern comforts sufficient to gallop across Europe in 500 mile chunks.
Don't dismiss that old Rover V8 until you've tried a well fettled TVR one.
At 1060kgs it's not exactly a heavy car and with it's Tuscan Challenge derived chassis with the addition of some decent dampers and a few other subtle mods they can handle much better that their reputation suggests.
Shame really, I loved that Caterham 21, right up to the point I sat in one
If that was the Earls Court silver (painted ) car you tried for size, my girlfriend has owned it since 2003 Eager to sample this beauty first hand I managed to blag myself a sit in the car.
Oh dear
As soon as I slid in I knew it wasn't for me, at over 6ft & 13.5 stone it was ridiculously cramped.
My dreams dashed I made my way over to the TVR stand and the rest is history.
The Chimaera gave me old school Cobra thrills with modern comforts sufficient to gallop across Europe in 500 mile chunks.
Don't dismiss that old Rover V8 until you've tried a well fettled TVR one.
At 1060kgs it's not exactly a heavy car and with it's Tuscan Challenge derived chassis with the addition of some decent dampers and a few other subtle mods they can handle much better that their reputation suggests.
Shame really, I loved that Caterham 21, right up to the point I sat in one
. I never even knew these existed!Cock Womble 7 said:
jazzyjeff said:
"I don't think there is another car that has this magical blend of uniqueness, practicality, rawness, smallness and an open top."
This?
Well, it's certainly unique.This?
Please don't sully a thread about the gorgeous Caterham 21 with a picture of that thing.
I'd love a Caterham 21. I couldn't quite afford one when I bought my Seven, but it probably would have been a better choice in many respects.
ETA Going back to the comments above, it's a shame the Scimitar SS was so aesthetically challenged, because I believe it's supposed to be a pretty good drivers' car underneath? I'd be surprised if it could challenge a Caterham dynamically, though - very few affordable road cars can.
ETA Going back to the comments above, it's a shame the Scimitar SS was so aesthetically challenged, because I believe it's supposed to be a pretty good drivers' car underneath? I'd be surprised if it could challenge a Caterham dynamically, though - very few affordable road cars can.
Powderpuff said:
ChimpanLucky said:
I remember rushing to the Caterham stand at the British Motor Show in the mid nineties when they released the 21.
Eager to sample this beauty first hand I managed to blag myself a sit in the car.
Oh dear
As soon as I slid in I knew it wasn't for me, at over 6ft & 13.5 stone it was ridiculously cramped.
My dreams dashed I made my way over to the TVR stand and the rest is history.
The Chimaera gave me old school Cobra thrills with modern comforts sufficient to gallop across Europe in 500 mile chunks.
Don't dismiss that old Rover V8 until you've tried a well fettled TVR one.
At 1060kgs it's not exactly a heavy car and with it's Tuscan Challenge derived chassis with the addition of some decent dampers and a few other subtle mods they can handle much better that their reputation suggests.
Shame really, I loved that Caterham 21, right up to the point I sat in one
If that was the Earls Court silver (painted ) car you tried for size, my girlfriend has owned it since 2003 Eager to sample this beauty first hand I managed to blag myself a sit in the car.
Oh dear
As soon as I slid in I knew it wasn't for me, at over 6ft & 13.5 stone it was ridiculously cramped.
My dreams dashed I made my way over to the TVR stand and the rest is history.
The Chimaera gave me old school Cobra thrills with modern comforts sufficient to gallop across Europe in 500 mile chunks.
Don't dismiss that old Rover V8 until you've tried a well fettled TVR one.
At 1060kgs it's not exactly a heavy car and with it's Tuscan Challenge derived chassis with the addition of some decent dampers and a few other subtle mods they can handle much better that their reputation suggests.
Shame really, I loved that Caterham 21, right up to the point I sat in one
Absolutely gorgeous in silver too.
I will resist the temptation to make comment of your good lady's posterior, suffice to say I'm in no doubt it's considerably more svelte than mine.
What a shame they never widened the beautiful 21 a bit for lard arses like me.
So close to greatness I nearly went on a diet.
Then I realised I could have a Chimaera and keep my burger habit
Edited by ChimpanLucky on Monday 28th May 18:41
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