One-of-six Strathcarron SC-5A for sale
Caterham too common? Try the forgotten flyweight British sports car
History is littered with tales of weird and wonderful British sports cars. No other country has produced quite so many vehicles explicitly designed with driving fun in mind, usually shorn of fripperies and with a firm focus on enormous excitement. To this day, nothing will quite put a smile on your face like a Caterham, Morgan, or Lotus.
And even for those whose star only shone for a short while, they most certainly shone brightly. Strathcarron emerged at the end of the '90s, when the small sports car phenomenon was arguably at its peak. There was a fresh derivative of TVR Speed Six engine most months, along with a new Lotus Elise special edition, and Lee Noble was beginning to demonstrate just how good a Ford-engined sports car could be. Jensen was back, Marcos offered V8 thrills, and AC was still ace. You get the picture.
Such a busy market meant Strathcarron had to do something different to stand out - so that’s exactly what it did. The SC-5A not only looked like a hot-washed Can-Am racer, it came solely with motorbike power. Three-cylinder motorbike power, no less, with a modified Triumph triple occupying the space between occupants and rear wheels; it was no mere engine swap, either, as the SC-5A engine actually had its own block and fuel injection. The gearbox was a Quaife sequential.
Indeed, even by British sports car standards, the Strathcarron was raw and pared back. There was no roof, no doors and no windows, with only the very bare essentials for inside. It meant a kerbweight of just 550kg. Money was spent where required though, with an aluminium honeycomb chassis from Reynard (which was building single-seat racers at the time) plus Prodrive input for the suspension and brakes. Reviews for the SC-5A were universally positive; a nascent PH praised it for ‘amazing rigidity of the structure’, and Tiff Needell enjoyed a spin around old Anglesey on old old Top Gear with it. The Strathcarron even made it to the Geneva motor show.
Ultimately, a change in SVA rules early in the 21st century killed the SC-5A, as it became almost impossible for bike-engined cars to comply. As was so often the case with manufacturers like Strathcaroon, ambitious plans were afoot for a more affordable model, a version with a different engine and so on, but they would never see the light of day. With just six believed to have been produced in total, it’s hardly like they were flying out of the door beforehand. Too much else for buyers to choose from back then…
This orange SC-5A is said to be the last one assembled, and has covered fewer than 6,000 miles since 2001. Even back in the days when it was acceptable to call men who washed metrosexual, the Strathcarron would have been pretty tough going, given the powertrain and the barren interior. But what exhilarating miles they must have been and will be from now on, the car looking as good as new and to be sold freshly serviced. The asking price will of course buy all manner of Great British sports car, from Ariel to Zenos, though none will be quite so scarce as the Strathcarron. There’s not going to be another at the next Sunday Service you come to, put it that way.
https://www.speedhunters.com/2024/03/tommykaira-zz...
Lotus did it brilliantly with the 2-11 (and later the 3-11) but even they didn't sell many.
My overiding memory was being driven round by the circuit driver, who was unaware of works being done to the track.
Finding a wheel barrow on an apex was certainly an eye opener!
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