1998 Caterham Seven 1.6 VX

Highlights

• Factory-built with original chassis checklist, welcome letter and stamped service booklet

• Just 21,061 miles from new across 28 years

• Twin Weber 40 DCOE carburettors on the 1.6-litre Vauxhall 8v engine

• Sympathetic modifications including Alcantara steering wheel, powder-coated black windscreen frame and carbon fibre rear wing protectors

• Extensive documentation 

Overview

You could say that when you buy a Caterham Seven, you're buying into something more than a lightweight sports car. You're buying a legend. And the late '90s VX Classic represents a particularly charismatic chapter in the Seven story, because it was among the last models Caterham offered with carburettors. Twin Weber 40 DCOE sidedraught carbs feeding a 1.6-litre Vauxhall 8v engine, a live rear axle, cycle wings and the traditional narrow S3 body: this is the Seven formula at its most elemental, delivering a sensory experience no fuel-injected car can replicate. In a car weighing around 525 kg, even 100 bhp is more than enough to make every B road feel like a special stage.

This car was first registered on 9th June 1998 and is a confirmed factory build, accompanied by its original Caterham chassis checklist (Kit No. 632), welcome letter from Caterham Cars Ltd and factory-stamped service booklet. Within weeks of registration, the twin Webers were professionally set up on a rolling road, with compression readings of 230 to 235 psi recorded across all four cylinders. In the hands of enthusiasts from day one, then.

In current ownership since August 2021, it's covered just 21,061 miles in nearly three decades and the seller reports that it has been garage-stored and used exclusively in dry weather in his ownership. Sympathetic enhancements sharpen the car's visual presence without diluting its character: powder-coated black windscreen frame and headlight bowls, orange racing stripes, carbon fibre rear wing protectors, and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel with blue contrast stitching.

The car wears virtually new Toyo R888 semi-slicks on all four corners. Replacement rear shock absorbers and a new battery were fitted in 2024, and full wet weather gear is included. The service booklet records seven stamped services from Caterham's own premises and recognised specialists, and an extensive documentation folder traces the car's life from the factory floor.

Twin K&N chrome air filters poking through the bonnet. The induction roar of the DCOEs under load. 100 bhp in a car weighing 525 kg. Sometimes less really is more.

History and documentation

• Registered 09 Jun 1998

• Factory-built with original Caterham chassis checklist (Kit No. 632), welcome letter from Caterham Cars Ltd and factory-stamped service booklet with Pre-Delivery Inspection certification

• Rolling road tuning in August 1998 confirming DCOE rejetting and compression readings of 230 to 235 psi across all four cylinders

• In current ownership since August 2021, purchased from a Caterham specialist at 18,187 miles with a six-month unlimited-mileage warranty

• Stamped service book with seven services as follows: Jun 2003 @ 9,447 miles, Aug 2011 @ 13,496 miles, May 2015 @ 14,713 miles, Oct 2016 @ 15,300 miles, Mar 2019 @ 15,701 miles, Jun 2020 @ 17,140 miles, Aug 2021 @ 18,187 miles

• Caterham Cars Ltd factory service invoice from June 2003 documenting a comprehensive 12,000-mile service

• Extensive documentation folder including factory chassis checklist, welcome letter, service booklet, factory service invoice, rolling road tuning invoice, specialist parts invoices, warranty record, SCMG Safety Handbook and harness documentation

• Two keys with original Caterham-branded leather keychain

• V5C present in the current keeper's name

• MOT history showing 19 recorded tests dating back to 2006 with consistent, gentle annual mileage progression

• Current MOT with no advisories expires 15 Apr 2026 but the vendor is having the car MOT'd before the auction completes

Interior

• The snug S3 cockpit has a crackle-finish dashboard housing the full suite of Caterham-branded analogue gauges (speedometer, tachometer, water temperature, oil pressure and fuel level), all clear and legible

• Black leather seats with Caterham-embossed headrests show moderate wear consistent with age but no tears or splits

• Blue four-point harnesses fitted to both seats

• Alcantara-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel with Caterham Super 7 centre badge and blue contrast stitching, re-covered in summer 2024, presents well

• The vendor tells us a complete new set of dashboard toggle and rocker switches was installed during their ownership

• Digital GPS speedometer supplements the original analogue instruments; the vendor notes the original speedo and rev counter needles have a tendency to bounce

• Softbits tunnel bag included alongside the gear lever

• Black carpeted interior is clean and tidy throughout; aluminium transmission tunnel panels show light surface patina consistent with age

• Heater fitted and functional

• Roll bar fitted behind the seats in good condition with no obvious corrosion

• Overall the cockpit is clean, presentable and well maintained for a 1998 Seven

Exterior

• Finished in vibrant blue GRP (which the vendor notes is Bugatti Blue) with twin orange racing stripes and a small Union Jack emblem applied from nose to tail; the paintwork is glossy and vibrant

• The vendor tells us the car is in good condition for its age with a couple of areas where the GRP shows minor signs of cracking and a couple of small dents

• Powder-coated black windscreen frame with replacement windscreen presents well with no corrosion or peeling

• Black headlight bowls replace the originals, flanking the Caterham grille badge and gold "7" nose graphic

• Carbon fibre rear wing protectors fitted to both sides, presenting a clean weave pattern in good condition

• 13-inch Minilite-style alloy wheels with Caterham centre caps are in tidy condition with no obvious kerbing; wheel nuts show some light surface corrosion

• Toyo Proxes R888 semi-slick tyres fitted all round which the vendor states have seen fewer than 500 miles of use; tread is virtually unworn

• Spare wheel and holder available to refit

• Side-exit exhaust with powder-coated black heat shield runs along the passenger sill, terminating in a polished stainless-steel tailpipe

• Full wet weather gear (soft-top and side doors) is included; the soft-top shows mild signs of ageing but appears complete and intact

• Underneath, the steel spaceframe chassis shows age-appropriate surface patina on exposed tubes and mounting brackets, typical for a 1998 Seven

• No obvious signs of structural corrosion

• In summary, it’s looking great for its age

Mechanical

• 1.6-litre Vauxhall 8v SOHC engine producing 100 bhp at 5,500 rpm and 107 lb ft at 3,600 rpm, fed by twin Weber 40 DCOE sidedraught carburettors

• Five-speed manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive via a live rear axle

• 0-60 mph in approximately six to seven seconds; top speed of 110 mph

• Kerb weight of approximately 525 kg

• Double-wishbone front suspension with coil-over-damper units; live axle rear with trailing arms and Panhard rod

• The vendor tells us replacement rear shock absorbers were fitted in 2024 and notes that a new battery was also fitted in 2024

• The vendor tells us it starts, stops and drives with no issues and has been faultless during nearly five years of ownership

• Last serviced approximately two years ago due to limited use; the vendor tells us fluids have been checked and are satisfactory

• No known mechanical faults reported by the vendor

Summary

Twin Webers, a live axle, cycle wings, and nothing between you and the mechanical experience but fresh air. That's what this 1998 Caterham Seven Classic offers: the carburetted driving experience in its most undiluted form. Factory-built with from-birth documentation, this car has covered just 21,061 miles across 28 years and has been garage-stored and kept dry-weather-only during nearly five years of current ownership. Are you ready to write this delightful car’s next chapter?

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 Barnet, Hertfordshire.