RE: Caterham 21: Unsung Hero

[Alex]

I liked the Caterham 21 from day one. Would still like one now!

[Kawasicki]

I love these, but the one in the pictures looks a bit tall!

[LasseV]

Why this beauty is an unsung hero? ie why it is under the radar?

[Alex]

Because it was a sales failure. Less than 50 were sold.

[LasseV]

Alex said:

Because it was a sales failure. Less than 50 were sold.

Is there any particular reasons why sales flopped?

[MogulBoy]

Terrible photos in this article taken on a phone or close up with a wide angle lens?

Stand back, use a longer lens and it looks a lot better.

This one looks rather nice.

[soad]

Yes, V8 engine helps.

http://www.caterham21.com/index.php?page=gallery

[T1berious]

I thought the main reason it was sales flop was that Elise was night and day a better car? Similarly priced but (even in hardcore sports car terms) more practical?

The MK 1 Elise also looked like a spaceship and was sub 700 Kg?

Also the motoring press gushed over the Elise in a way very few cars at the time got as excited about .

I remember Tiff giving one the beans on Top Gear and that was pretty much it.

The 21 just didn't get the same main stream coverage.

T1b

[scubadude]

MogulBoy said:

Terrible photos in this article taken on a phone or close up with a wide angle lens?

Stand back, use a longer lens and it looks a lot better.

This one looks rather nice.

I believe that one is also now a V8!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4GcVoZHNEc

[sanctum]

ugly rear end.

Is this story a more positive one on Caterham than the recent administration fiasco of the F1 team? Odd not to read about that on PH.

[lee_erm]

De Dion suspension done well.

[Andy JB]

Lovely body lines aesthetically, but trade mark kit car esque ride height/stance, wheels, & topped off by obviously borrowed rear lights - why couldn't they use something different like the Elise did, no new tooling costs but not from a recognisable donor. Noble, Ginetta, and to an extent TVR all made the same mistake spoling an otherwise intersting & functional design.

A great handling car though i recall

[Cotty]

Love the GTO

[kambites]

LasseV said:

Alex said:

Because it was a sales failure. Less than 50 were sold.

Is there any particular reasons why sales flopped?

Yes. The Elise was a better, cheaper car.

[LasseV]

kambites said:

Yes. The Elise was a better, cheaper car.

Thanks mate!

[Nutty Slack]

This is a Marcos rip-off but considerably uglier.
In fact, the windscreen looks 100% stock Marcos.

[MCBrowncoat]

"Its interior still looks great today, and totally unique."

The double cowl is a carbon copy of a 60's Corvette

[Baryonyx]

MogulBoy said:

Terrible photos in this article taken on a phone or close up with a wide angle lens?

Stand back, use a longer lens and it looks a lot better.

This one looks rather nice.

The extended skirt on the side to cover the exhaust, coupled with the slightly Halfords-looking wheels, alter the proportions of that car considerably over the ones in the article.

[canucklehead]

has that red one in the pics had its suspension jacked up, or is that they way they always look?

[whitestu]

The big problem with the 21 is the Fisher Fury looks miles nicer and is much cheaper.