Saturday 8th October 2016

Caterham Harrods edition

A luxury Caterham? It's actually a thing, and quite an expensive one at that

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What, one wonders, would Harrods customers accustomed to (one imagines) lives of luxury, opulence and general pampering make of your typical drive in a Caterham? We're long-standing fans of the car at PH of course but even as enthusiasts there are certain ... challenges to life with a Seven that don't crop up when you drive a Bentley or Rolls-Royce. Picking at random from personal experiences with Caterhams these would include having to have flying windscreen wipers picked out of the gutter and handed back to you by friendly pedestrians, roofs peeling off while driving along the motorway in a rainstorm, legs burned on hot exhausts and the general indignity of trying to post yourself through a 'door' smaller than your average letterbox without totally losing your cool.

Even when it goes right you're left picking flies out of your teeth after an enjoyable roof-down blast, your ears ringing and with an overdose of adrenaline to somehow work off.

Teaming up with Harrods to promote the new Caterham Signature personalisation programme therefore seems a little odd, though a spokesman for the store said: "Caterham is one of Great Britain's most famous and instantly recognisable motoring brands and it has been a pleasure to partner with the team there to create this Harrods special edition of the legendary Seven." Clearly someone who works there is a fan also!

Based around a 420S, the Harrods Caterham costs - brace yourself - £59,995 and is on display in-store right now. For that you get a gold-painted chassis, Harrods green paint with gold pinstriping, butterscotch leather and embroidered logos on the seats and a similar one on the gearknob. The intention of the car is to show the range and scope of personalisation options open to Seven buyers under the new Signature scheme. The result is a slightly odd mix of trademark Caterham rawness and well-appointed Harrods luxury but, given the idea is you build it to your own spec, the world is your oyster. With Beluga caviar and a side order of truffles. Because, obviously, that's what people who do their weekly shop at Harrods have for breakfast every day, right?

Watch the video here

 

[WhiteBaron]

I like the outside paint colour.........

[olliete]

It doesn't even look like the right green

[Matt UK]

Well is this unexpectedly odd...

[Durzel]

[Limpet]

I am genuinely struggling to understand who the target market is for this.

[LB14]

I'm happy to see Caterham offering a personalisation service but .....

That car is £20k above a 'normal' 420S - all for a bit of paint, wood and leather ????

[numtumfutunch]

April fool

[FourWheelDrift]

Not enough gold for the Arab market.

[Hitch]

What the juddering fk?!

[SuperchargedVR6]

Maybe it's for getting around the store quicker for those in a hurry?

But yeah, weird. Did Caterham really sit down in a board meeting and came up with a posh department store as a partner to team up with?!? Odd.

[spookly]

Personalisation is great. Not keen on what Harrods have come up with.

And, also, £20K for a paint job and some leather?
I'm quite sure I could find a local spray shop, and re-trim specialist, buy a few more bits, and duplicate that monstrosity for about £5K above a base car.

[jet_noise]

Using a sledgehammer to miss a nut.






I've been waiting ages to use that

[Phooey]

£60k!!!



Let me know if Caterham do an Aldi edition

[jet_noise]

Phooey said:

£60k!!!



Let me know if Caterham do an Aldi edition

They already do; it's called the 160 isn't it?
Removes tongue from cheek

[Cotty]

olliete said:

It doesn't even look like the right green

That was my first though. But then the Harrods Lotus Elise in the correct colour is

[dunnoreally]

And the Durex Pope Francis Edition award for utterly baffling licencing deals goes to...

[Oilchange]

I thought it all looked nicely done until I focussed on the steering wheel. Looks like its been covered by Stevie Wonder...

[g7jhp]

Limpet said:

I am genuinely struggling to understand who the target market is for this.

Well the Seven Sprint sold well to those looking for something retro.

This will sell to rich tourists from the Far East visiting Harrods, so they don't even have to leave London.

They'll love the iconic British sportcar with a touch of luxury which will look good and perform well.

Although that dash is a tasteless!

[cybersimon]

If it's not it should be automatic (proper slush-box auto)

[FN2TypeR]

jet_noise said:

Phooey said:

£60k!!!



Let me know if Caterham do an Aldi edition

They already do; it's called the 160 isn't it?
Removes tongue from cheek

Great car, the 160, in fairness. If I were to own a Caterham (bucket list tbh) I'd want a bit more oomph, but I can see the appeal, it's a terrific wee thing.