2018 Caterham Seven 160S

Highlights

• Only one owner 

• Weighs under 500 kg

• British Racing Green paint

• Very low mileage 

• Suzuki engine

Overview

One morning in the design office at Caterham, somebody put down their well-buttered crumpet and announced that they had just had a corker of an idea. Presumably it was the kind of announcement that begins with ‘now hear me out on this one…’ because the rest of that sentence introduced the idea of going back to basics to an astonishing degree. And it would result in crossbreeding one of their lightweight sportscars with something from the Japanese kei car stable of teeny tiny city cars. 

The result? Something utterly appealing. It really is lightweight motoring at its most accessible, and the Caterham 160 we see here throws in a goodly pinch of classic styling to boot. Finished in the correct colour choice of British Racing Green with a flamboyant yellow stripe betwixt the bonnet louvres, its chrome headlights and 14-inch steel wheels hark back to simpler times. And the skinny Avon tyres allow you to extract lashings of fun from every corner, roundabout, and junction you’ll come across. 

Extreme lightness has been added to this model from the factory, in the form of a kerb weight which comes in at a smidgeon under 500 kg. Which allows all those 80-odd horses to be at their peak performance. This may not sound like sportscar levels of power, but it really comes into its own in a car this light. 

This particular example was assembled by its current (and only ever) owner back in 2018. Since registering it for use on the road that same year it has only just covered 1,500 miles, so remains in remarkably shiny condition. The paint retains a deep sheen, and the leather seats show barely any sign of use.  

History and documentation

• Registered 1 Oct 2018

• The seller is the car’s first and only registered keeper

• They built the car as a kit when new, in the months prior to its first registration

• The seller informs us that the car was inspected and passed by Caterham after the build (and before the DVSA, IVA Inspection)

• Original owner’s manuals

• Some documentation including current MOT certificate

• Two keys with immobiliser fobs

• Current MOT with no advisories expires 3 Oct 2025

• Clean MOT history with no advisories recorded in the car’s history

• The car has covered very few miles — just over 1,500 — so has not required much servicing 

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Perhaps the most minimalist interior you’ll find

• Leather trimmed bucket seats 

• Caterham logo embossed on the seat backs 

• Protective rollover bar behind the headrests 

• A mesh wind deflector fits between the headrests 

• The seat covers remain in excellent condition, thanks to the car’s low mileage 

• Black carpets, and black rubber footwell mats 

• No doors 

• Leather-trimmed demountable MOMO steering wheel

• No luxuries like cruise control or climate control

• An optional heater has been fitted 

• Simple, uncluttered dashboard, with rocker switches and analogue gauges

• No stereo

• Surprisingly sizeable luggage compartment behind the seats, with fitted tonneau cover 

• A lightweight cover can be fitted over the cockpit when parked 

• There is a small 4" spilt in the hood next to the perspex window

Exterior

• Low, lightweight body

• Finished in an attractive shade of British Racing Green 

• The paint is excellent throughout, and retains a deep shine 

• Yellow painted nose and central stripe along the bonnet 

• Removable louvred bonnet panel 

• Highly polished protective panels on the rear wings 

• Drilled 14-inch alloy wheels give the car a retro look 

• ‘Cycle’ wings hug the wheels closely

• Matching set of Avon ZT5 tyres, with little sign of wear 

• The painted wheels are in superb condition, with no chips or scratches that we could see

• Caterham badging front and rear

• Chrome headlights

• Heated front windscreen 

• Folding soft-top roof and removable sidescreens provide ample weather protection

• There has been a small repair carried out to the roof, where one of the windows joins the fabric, which is fairly inconspicuous 

• The underside is extremely clean and tidy

• Side-exit exhaust with heat deflector

Mechanical

• 660 cc, three-cylinder Suzuki engine

• Produces 79 bhp, and 79 lb ft

• Top speed 100 mph, 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds

• Five-speed manual gearbox

• Rear-wheel drive

• Engine bay extremely clean and tidy 

• All the hoses, wiring, and seals look fresh

• Exposed coil-over shock absorbers, and suspension components

• The seller tells us that the car received an engine oil and filter change at 500 miles, but has not required servicing since

• A new battery was reportedly fitted in 2023, and the car has been kept on a trickle charger 

• The seller tells us that the car starts easily, runs smoothly and accelerates well 

• The brakes are said to work very efficiently and there are no unusual noises

• No mechanical issues or warning lights reported 

Summary

You could be forgiven for thinking you’re bidding on a brand new Caterham here, it’s that shiny. This eager little sportscar is clearly champing at the bit to be driven along some leafy, twisty B-roads on a sunny summer’s day.  

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Ripon, North Yorkshire.