Thinking of a Caterham
Discussion
Hi folks, new fella here. I''m after bit of general advice if you don't mind regarding buying a Caterham. I've wanted one for years but being a biker it got kind of pushed to the back of my head, but after quite a serious illness last year it looks like my biking days may soon be over as I'm finding the weight, riding position etc a bit of a struggle now so my thoughts have once again turned to buying a Caterham as the time seems about right.
I've been to look at one last week which came up for sale locally and was quite impressed with the condition of it, it's a factory built 1995/6 Super Sprint with 1600 X flow motor, twin Weber 40s & it's on an 'N' plate. It has 24k miles showing. All the past Mots are available and lots of other paperwork showing service records etc. It was owned for a good number of years by one person. The seller was reluctant to take me out in it on the day as it was snowing like the blazes and the gritter trucks had just been out so I can't say as I blame him. We left it that I'd return when the weather bucks up a bit in a week or so and we'll go do the test run and he'll take me to a local tyre/ exhaust place he knows where they'll let us get it on a 4 poster to have a look underneath.
I'm just after a bit of advice really of what to look out for, I know my way around cars pretty well so can spot the obvious stuff but are there any points that are common to the breed that I should know about. Also has anyone any idea of what taxation band these cars are in? Ive scoured the 'net but can't find anything to suggest what it may be. I've had insurance quotes and I was surprised how reasonable they were.
Thanks in advance for any info or help
Cheers
Dewi
I've been to look at one last week which came up for sale locally and was quite impressed with the condition of it, it's a factory built 1995/6 Super Sprint with 1600 X flow motor, twin Weber 40s & it's on an 'N' plate. It has 24k miles showing. All the past Mots are available and lots of other paperwork showing service records etc. It was owned for a good number of years by one person. The seller was reluctant to take me out in it on the day as it was snowing like the blazes and the gritter trucks had just been out so I can't say as I blame him. We left it that I'd return when the weather bucks up a bit in a week or so and we'll go do the test run and he'll take me to a local tyre/ exhaust place he knows where they'll let us get it on a 4 poster to have a look underneath.
I'm just after a bit of advice really of what to look out for, I know my way around cars pretty well so can spot the obvious stuff but are there any points that are common to the breed that I should know about. Also has anyone any idea of what taxation band these cars are in? Ive scoured the 'net but can't find anything to suggest what it may be. I've had insurance quotes and I was surprised how reasonable they were.
Thanks in advance for any info or help
Cheers
Dewi
Hi, there are plenty of bikers and ex-bikers who own Caterhams I reckon. With a Caterham you buy on specification, condition, mileage and price and possibly in that order. Caterhams are pretty easy to check over and make a decent decision
If you are under the car, have a good look at the chassis around the rear A frame and axle area. Powdercoating can tend to be a problem in the era you are considering although this was somewhat helped with the Xflow's built anti-corrosion system (a little bit of oil breathing from the engine keeping the underside nicely coated and resilient to salt effects...). You should be able to check the front wishbone mounting points and any evidence of damage or poor repair. Look at the sidepanels for corrosion that is coming from the "grot" traps which is where the dirt gets trapped in a channel immediately alongside the pedal box area on both sides - it may be hidden on the passenger side by the silencer.
Look at the floor for loose rivets. These often work loose over a period of years and not necessarily because the car has had a hard life. They are usually an easy fix with steel rivet replacements.
Check the car over generally for wear and tear. At 12-13 years old and 24k miles, there is bound to be some but if you buy at the right price, you will enjoy a car that has seen most of its depreciation and will return a good sum if you decide to uprgrade or sell on in the future.
T
If you are under the car, have a good look at the chassis around the rear A frame and axle area. Powdercoating can tend to be a problem in the era you are considering although this was somewhat helped with the Xflow's built anti-corrosion system (a little bit of oil breathing from the engine keeping the underside nicely coated and resilient to salt effects...). You should be able to check the front wishbone mounting points and any evidence of damage or poor repair. Look at the sidepanels for corrosion that is coming from the "grot" traps which is where the dirt gets trapped in a channel immediately alongside the pedal box area on both sides - it may be hidden on the passenger side by the silencer.
Look at the floor for loose rivets. These often work loose over a period of years and not necessarily because the car has had a hard life. They are usually an easy fix with steel rivet replacements.
Check the car over generally for wear and tear. At 12-13 years old and 24k miles, there is bound to be some but if you buy at the right price, you will enjoy a car that has seen most of its depreciation and will return a good sum if you decide to uprgrade or sell on in the future.
T
PS I've just noticed where you are. There is a very healthy club presence in Lancashire with the LADS group and I'm sure there would be offers of help to look over a prospective purchase if you wanted assistance. Also there is a Get to Know Your 7 event being organised by LADS that could be useful to you : http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?id=227497
ZX6R to an R300. Bike performance on 4 wheels. Cheap insurance. And you can take her in doors as well. Track day fun too. I find most bike riders respect the se7ens as they know the performance of them. Just like a bike they hate salt and love a warm garage, with an optimate charger plugged in. Just as easy to work on as a bike too. Enjoy.
LADS is the Lancashire area meeting of the Lotus 7 Cub (for Caterham and Lotus 7 enthusiasts). Next meeting is next Wednesday (3.4.13). see:-http://www.lads7.co.uk/index.html for details.
I looked at your website. You'll feel at home at LADS - joint AR is a big MX5 enthusiast and there are 3 BMW riders (and they look like 1200s to me).
Please come along if you would like to find out more.
I looked at your website. You'll feel at home at LADS - joint AR is a big MX5 enthusiast and there are 3 BMW riders (and they look like 1200s to me).
Please come along if you would like to find out more.
Wow! Thanks for the replies, I wasn't expecting such a great response. I'll try and get over to the Blundell Arms this Wed and pick a few brains, it's not too far from me. If not then def the following month. Erm, how bad are the speed bumps there? My MX5 is lowered and it catches on almost every one I go over.
Cheers to all
Dewi
Cheers to all
Dewi
The SuperSprint was the name given to cars using an engine which was the handy work of Peter Cooper (Retired but formerly of Redline Components) It originated from from a sprint car Peter built while he worked at Caterham. Be assures the line up is:
1600CC 84BHP - "GT"
1600CC 110BHP Webers and Newmann (later Cosworth) A2 Cam "Sprint"
1700CC 135BHP 711M or AX block, Webers, big valve head and Kent 234 Cam "SuperSprint"
The 1700 bottom end was adopted by Caterham/Cosworth for the BDR.
Peter's influence on the Seven is often overlooked. It was he who in 1973/4 changed the nose and bonnet profile so a Twin Cam would fit the early S3 Caterham, it was he who added chassis triangulation in order that the chassis of the era could handle the additional power of the Twin Cam.
After lots of problems with the Twin Cams head castings and the tooling being mislaid, Caterham in 1979 gave up with the Twin Cam and tried the CVH from the then new FWD Escort. This was a failure and this was when Caterham turned to Peter's 1700SS spec engine. The rest is history.
1600CC 84BHP - "GT"
1600CC 110BHP Webers and Newmann (later Cosworth) A2 Cam "Sprint"
1700CC 135BHP 711M or AX block, Webers, big valve head and Kent 234 Cam "SuperSprint"
The 1700 bottom end was adopted by Caterham/Cosworth for the BDR.
Peter's influence on the Seven is often overlooked. It was he who in 1973/4 changed the nose and bonnet profile so a Twin Cam would fit the early S3 Caterham, it was he who added chassis triangulation in order that the chassis of the era could handle the additional power of the Twin Cam.
After lots of problems with the Twin Cams head castings and the tooling being mislaid, Caterham in 1979 gave up with the Twin Cam and tried the CVH from the then new FWD Escort. This was a failure and this was when Caterham turned to Peter's 1700SS spec engine. The rest is history.
Edited by TelfonTurd on Sunday 31st March 10:12
I bought my first Caterham after having an off on a bike. Got a 1700 xflow engined car. Great car, but moved onto a K series car, when I discovered track days. My advice would be to buy on condition, but also with an eye on what you want to use the car for, if you want to go anywhere near a track day, you really need a quieter engine, the xflow will struggle to get through the noise police. I went back to biking after an off on a track which wrote off my car. Will buy another Caterham in the future.
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