Discussion
I have a friend who has owned a couple of HPCs (including a 218 Swindown version - that I nearly bought before getting a different one) and who now owns a JPE. The JPE is a very different beast to the point where it is not very civilised on the street. I have yet to have a ride and experience it but I understand it is very peaky and very brutal. I am sure the owner will along soon to tell more.
As Rubystone says (hi by the way
), there are HPCs and there are HPCs so you also need to decide if you want a genuine HPC or a vauxhall powered Seven. As sort of mentioned above, between the standard HPC and the JPE lies three factory upgrade model versions by Swindon Race Engineering (who built the JPE engine) giving power options of 218, 225 or 235bhp (a simple visual clue is the colour of the spark plug cover assuming no one has been cheeky with a spray can). These are pretty rare to find but not as rare as the 'hens teeth' JPE. Most JPEs went to the far East I believe.
Best of luck with your search.
Cheers
SS
As Rubystone says (hi by the way
), there are HPCs and there are HPCs so you also need to decide if you want a genuine HPC or a vauxhall powered Seven. As sort of mentioned above, between the standard HPC and the JPE lies three factory upgrade model versions by Swindon Race Engineering (who built the JPE engine) giving power options of 218, 225 or 235bhp (a simple visual clue is the colour of the spark plug cover assuming no one has been cheeky with a spray can). These are pretty rare to find but not as rare as the 'hens teeth' JPE. Most JPEs went to the far East I believe.Best of luck with your search.
Cheers
SS
snapper seven said:
giving power options of 218, 225 or 235bhp
thegamekeeper said:
Will travel, got money.
There would seem little point in searching out 165bhp of standard VX HPC these days unless you are on a budget - even mildy uprated cheesy engines do much better. So if you are going for the higher power, then with money go for a Duratec surely?Bert
I'm meant to be selling my 1992 HPC - Twin 45 Webers, clamshells. Pretty much standard apart from a new mappable ECU. Going for a service and MOT next week.
I love it, superb little thing with bags of grunt. I'm only selling to start saving for a new one to build with my sons.
Drop me a PM if you want some info.
Ian
I love it, superb little thing with bags of grunt. I'm only selling to start saving for a new one to build with my sons.
Drop me a PM if you want some info.
Ian
the difference between HPC(vauxhall engined seven) and JPE is also going to be £10000 plus, this does put a lot of nice goodies onto an already uprated/modified HPC, of which you see a few on piston heads. JPEs have always been very rare. I think they made around 45. I have driven both and have a 21year old HPC which is now much like "trigger's brush", and i have spent that £10000 over the years. the difference between my car and the boss's JPE is 50bhp and around 40000 miles, but the drive is very similar untill the car is moving really fast, would i swap, you bet i would.
I think JPE's are significantly more than HPC's now by around £13-15k. JPE's hardly ever enter the market and I expect they would be close to £29-30k or even a bit higher dependant on spec/condition as usual. Having owned an HPC for several years and been lucky to drive a JPE for a decent run, I found the JPE to be far more intense than I perhaps expected. It was more akin to driving an R500 with the induction roar, throttle response and general demanding behaviour. That's not such a bad thing but definitely more of an experience than my HPC (170bhp standard on 45's)
T
T
Hi Kenny, yes that car does belong to the boss, a very nice low milage car in pristine condition. Arnie i wasnt meaning that it would cost 10K to bring a HPC up to JPE spec, just giving the idea that a car similar to mine, 21 years old, one owner and 21 years of fiddling etc would have a price of perhaps 11 to 14K and that a JPE of any age that could be considered as a replacement for my car, even in standard JPE trim, would be 22k +. I agree that there have been some very powerful and very well prepared VX cars for sale below 20K, but we are talking authentic JPE's arnt we.
Oh Hand on. I thought it was being suggested a JPE engine had a aspec that would cost £10k over the cost of an HPC engine...
Sure Kenny, Most HPC's will not be worth over £15k. The JPE is a rare iconic model worth IRO double that. As they become rarer, and when Caterham are finally unable to make the Seven for road use, values will rocket for good unmolested versions specced like the press car was. (Dymags, correct aeroscreen, original Weber Alpha etc)
Sure Kenny, Most HPC's will not be worth over £15k. The JPE is a rare iconic model worth IRO double that. As they become rarer, and when Caterham are finally unable to make the Seven for road use, values will rocket for good unmolested versions specced like the press car was. (Dymags, correct aeroscreen, original Weber Alpha etc)
Very hard to put a value on one and very hard to negotiate when one comes up for sale as I found out. If you don't buy it sharpish it'll be gone and the wait goes on.
As for specs, I guess the only way to check if it's "original" is to compare the car to its original build sheet.
As with most other models they evolved over the build period. You've only got to look at for arguments sake the "SLR" over its 4 year run. Wheels changed,fuel injection changed as did a host of other things...........all coupled with how the original buyer specced it.....no two identical I'd bet.
Had a bloody good chat with Swindon about the engines recently and was pleased to hear they still can look after them if needed. I think it's the head over and above everything else that makes this engine what it is. Just a shame it's not that tad more civilised for stress free summer blats............hence I'm thinking of a little 1.6k or similar to fill that role when funds allow.
As for HPCs........they are climbing in price all the time still............as let's face most used 7's are.........which has to be good news for all owners.
As for specs, I guess the only way to check if it's "original" is to compare the car to its original build sheet.
As with most other models they evolved over the build period. You've only got to look at for arguments sake the "SLR" over its 4 year run. Wheels changed,fuel injection changed as did a host of other things...........all coupled with how the original buyer specced it.....no two identical I'd bet.
Had a bloody good chat with Swindon about the engines recently and was pleased to hear they still can look after them if needed. I think it's the head over and above everything else that makes this engine what it is. Just a shame it's not that tad more civilised for stress free summer blats............hence I'm thinking of a little 1.6k or similar to fill that role when funds allow.
As for HPCs........they are climbing in price all the time still............as let's face most used 7's are.........which has to be good news for all owners.
The SLR started out with the 5 spoke KNs Arnie, switching to the Barmby/R500 type rim later on in circa 2001. Mine was supplied in March/April 2002 and had the latter wheels fitted as standard.
Mine was also supplied with the PTP throttle bodies.........I believed earlier cars were fitted with the Rover KV6 items. Having said that mine went back under w'tee for a complete ECU and loom swap out and fitment of the roller barrels FOC.........as the car simply died at 4000rpm and nothing other than that fix would sort it......it came back to me badgded up R400 but it was still an SLR no 120, it went very well.
Mine was also supplied with the PTP throttle bodies.........I believed earlier cars were fitted with the Rover KV6 items. Having said that mine went back under w'tee for a complete ECU and loom swap out and fitment of the roller barrels FOC.........as the car simply died at 4000rpm and nothing other than that fix would sort it......it came back to me badgded up R400 but it was still an SLR no 120, it went very well.
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