RE: Caterham Seven 420R | Spotted
Discussion
darren f said:
I’m really surprised Chris Hoy actually fitted in a S3. They are pretty narrow and I’m guessing he probably has thighs the diameter of tree trunks. Which no doubt explains the lack of seat, I reckon he was using a foam seat with him sat on the floor- he’d certainly never fit in Tillets. When I built my Seven there were no such thing as lowered floors, a foam seat was the only way for 6’+ drivers to get sat low enough for using an aero screen...., I have happy memories of a winter’s afternoon sat in the drivers seat enjoying the exothermic reaction of the foam curing around me, it does wonders for a bad back.
That’s why there’s no seat in it. He obviously just sat on the bare floor with a bit of dyno-foam under his arse. 
I was told he also owned this at one point (which is an SV): https://www.caterhamcars.com/en/in-stock/model?id=...
CoffeePls said:
Clearly he specified the sequential box because the usual clutch was just too heavy for him 
You've clearly never experienced the clutch that goes with this Sadev box then! It's as progressive as a light switch and needs most of you're body weight behind it. The normal 'Caterham' box is a great deal lighter than most normal cars by comparison.The car very much looks like it's one of the 420R race cars (he owned one) that's been given a bit of a power bump (they're 180hp in race trim) given a decent paint job and then 'converted' to road use. The 'outboard' full cage and Sadev box are classic signs of race car origins. I suspect it's done a lot more than 520 miles....it's practice to disconnect the speedo if you race them as the fuse for the wheel speed sensor is the same as the one for the ignition. If the sensor breaks (not uncommon) it kills the car. Less than ideal mid race.
And as for those unimpressed by the power output.....at Silverstone I did a lap behind my mate who I'd raced in Caterhams when I'd moved up to doing GT4. There was nothing in it in a straight line between the 420R and our 450hp V8 Aston GT4 car....it was actually the corners where the GT4 car destroyed the Caterham which I didn't expect! A 210hp Caterham is not in anyway slow.
RacerMike said:
You've clearly never experienced the clutch that goes with this Sadev box then! It's as progressive as a light switch and needs most of you're body weight behind it. The normal 'Caterham' box is a great deal lighter than most normal cars by comparison.
The car very much looks like it's one of the 420R race cars (he owned one) that's been given a bit of a power bump (they're 180hp in race trim) given a decent paint job and then 'converted' to road use. The 'outboard' full cage and Sadev box are classic signs of race car origins. I suspect it's done a lot more than 520 miles....it's practice to disconnect the speedo if you race them as the fuse for the wheel speed sensor is the same as the one for the ignition. If the sensor breaks (not uncommon) it kills the car. Less than ideal mid race.
And as for those unimpressed by the power output.....at Silverstone I did a lap behind my mate who I'd raced in Caterhams when I'd moved up to doing GT4. There was nothing in it in a straight line between the 420R and our 450hp V8 Aston GT4 car....it was actually the corners where the GT4 car destroyed the Caterham which I didn't expect! A 210hp Caterham is not in anyway slow.
Not unimpressed but when you have had the hit of the 620, or have owned big power Duranails on anything other than a tight twisty track you do run out of steam sometimes. And, it's expensive. The issue with that box is it makes you drive like a loon, otherwise it's just awkward. Less awkward than the truly agricultural Quaife in the old R500's but it's very much a race box. The car very much looks like it's one of the 420R race cars (he owned one) that's been given a bit of a power bump (they're 180hp in race trim) given a decent paint job and then 'converted' to road use. The 'outboard' full cage and Sadev box are classic signs of race car origins. I suspect it's done a lot more than 520 miles....it's practice to disconnect the speedo if you race them as the fuse for the wheel speed sensor is the same as the one for the ignition. If the sensor breaks (not uncommon) it kills the car. Less than ideal mid race.
And as for those unimpressed by the power output.....at Silverstone I did a lap behind my mate who I'd raced in Caterhams when I'd moved up to doing GT4. There was nothing in it in a straight line between the 420R and our 450hp V8 Aston GT4 car....it was actually the corners where the GT4 car destroyed the Caterham which I didn't expect! A 210hp Caterham is not in anyway slow.
ddom said:
Not unimpressed but when you have had the hit of the 620, or have owned big power Duranails on anything other than a tight twisty track you do run out of steam sometimes. And, it's expensive. The issue with that box is it makes you drive like a loon, otherwise it's just awkward. Less awkward than the truly agricultural Quaife in the old R500's but it's very much a race box.
Interesting that you say that as the 620R series failed to take off because nearly everyone who tested it felt it wasn’t significantly quick enough than the 420R to warrant the pricey upgrade. At the time the (then) R300s still had the manual 6sp box so they ended up flogging the 620R upgrade parts to existing R300 drivers to upgrade the series but without the supercharger and intercooler. With the Sadev ratio’s your Rev limited in 6th anyway at about 130mph. With a tow a 320R is actually quicker!I would agree on the road I can imagine any sequential is pretty brutal. I had bruises on my left palm after doing an hours worth of driving at Estoril in a 420R.
Dr G said:
Is there anything Pistonheads can't arbitrarily complain about?
That showroom looks a wonderful place to stroll around over a coffee; many lovely things to ogle.
It is just a PistonHeads thing, because no matter what the subject, what the view point on the subject is, or who it is that has that viewpoint, there is always someone out there, who will have an opposing view. That showroom looks a wonderful place to stroll around over a coffee; many lovely things to ogle.
Which is part of what make PistonHeads such an interesting, entertaining, and sometimes informative forum to visit.
RudeDog said:
Is this an optional thing? Every other car I've seen has the leather thing with the press studs around the side. I agree, it looks much better.
It's the motorsport boot which is aluminium panels held on with dzeus fasteners. It's not easily removable so doesn't work so well for road cars!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff