Why no removable hard tops for Caterhams?
Discussion
Just wondering...
Apart from adding weight and altering distribution? But with modern lightweight materials this would be minimal.
Often hear people say they'd like one, and the reason they don't drive more often is the lack of weather protection, etc.
Personally I'd love to see Caterham do a Ginetta-like coupe, but with styling cues from the seven.
Like this!
Apart from adding weight and altering distribution? But with modern lightweight materials this would be minimal.
Often hear people say they'd like one, and the reason they don't drive more often is the lack of weather protection, etc.
Personally I'd love to see Caterham do a Ginetta-like coupe, but with styling cues from the seven.
Like this!
Have you ever tried to get in and out of a Caterham with the soft top on?
A hard top could have some kind of clever hinge arrangement, then of course it would also need a clever seal arrangement to make sure it did not leak. I bet people have tried and found it is quite hard to make it work.
Be really good if someone could make it work though.
A hard top could have some kind of clever hinge arrangement, then of course it would also need a clever seal arrangement to make sure it did not leak. I bet people have tried and found it is quite hard to make it work.
Be really good if someone could make it work though.
Ever tried getting into a Seven with the fabric roof on? Its a bit like posting yourself into the car, so a hard top would require contortionist training.
Caterhams have high sills & low rooflines so to enable a reasonably quick entry & exit would require gullwing or scissor doors which would be heavy and expensive.
Caterhams have high sills & low rooflines so to enable a reasonably quick entry & exit would require gullwing or scissor doors which would be heavy and expensive.
About 50 years too late 
The S4 had one as an option too.
And Millwood used to do one up until a few years ago, I assume they stopped due to lack of sales ?
I think the Black Brick may have had a hard top, and there are some around that have been GT racing so needed the roof (and then get banned for being "too fast to race" ).
But if you have ever driven a 7 with a cloth roof up...you will know why having even MORE noise in the cabin would be a pain. Plus it would be stuffy and uncomfortable, and probably dangerous.
Most 7s are fair weather cars, so a lot of people take stuff OFF, not put it on. Aeroscreens are fun
One assumes that Donkey is going GT racing, it is probably a lot bigger than a standard Caterham (but they are pretty light) so a hard top is an option.
Anyway, as if by magic, Ansar Ali announced the new Caterham which will fit your specification back in Feb. Due in 2015
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Searc...
The S4 had one as an option too.
And Millwood used to do one up until a few years ago, I assume they stopped due to lack of sales ?
I think the Black Brick may have had a hard top, and there are some around that have been GT racing so needed the roof (and then get banned for being "too fast to race"
).But if you have ever driven a 7 with a cloth roof up...you will know why having even MORE noise in the cabin would be a pain. Plus it would be stuffy and uncomfortable, and probably dangerous.
Most 7s are fair weather cars, so a lot of people take stuff OFF, not put it on. Aeroscreens are fun
One assumes that Donkey is going GT racing, it is probably a lot bigger than a standard Caterham (but they are pretty light) so a hard top is an option.
Anyway, as if by magic, Ansar Ali announced the new Caterham which will fit your specification back in Feb. Due in 2015
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Searc...
I've owned three Caterhams and driven them miles and miles over the years ( where are you L7FUN?), had the roof up only once, and that was for less then half an hour, far too claustrophobic, and the noise level was painful, sounded like driving along in a biscuit tin being pelted by ball bearings..honest!
A roof is for wimps!
A roof is for wimps!
I've done 80,000+ miles in my Caterham in all weather conditions. The soft top works fine. Fit it properly and it won't leak; unzip the rear window for better ventilation when it is up. The half-hood options are great too for a bit of protection (from sun or rain 
) while being even easier to put on.
I don't really see any need for a hard-top option, just more space taken up in the garage.
) while being even easier to put on.I don't really see any need for a hard-top option, just more space taken up in the garage.
As others have said there are many about, if you look. However if you think getting in and out of an Elise is challenging, you have not tried getting in and out of a 7 with a roof. The car become so cramped and noisy. You can live with an aero screen on an every day car with a little preparation. Have a look at CW7s diary for a honest and open insight in to using a 7 on a daily basis.
edited to add they look ugly as well IMHO
edited to add they look ugly as well IMHO
MX7 said:
Westfield considered doing it too.
It never happened.
The trouble is with Westfield, is that they have no sense of proportion or flow.It never happened.
A hard top would be possible on a Caterham, you would need fairly clever door system to do it, but it's by no means impossible. Sealing isn't a problem if it's thought out properly.
It's purely down to the shape.
You wouldn't want the car to look as disjointed as a BMW Z4 coupe with a sharp lined body with agressive looks with a swoopy lid that would be better suited to a 60's GT car on it.
CW, fancy turning your car into a prototype?
I don't see any advantage of a hardtop over a softtop, but then I don't find it difficult to put the softtop on or to get in and out of the car with it on. IMO for anyone who does struggle with the standard roof, a half-hood is a better (and cheaper and existing ) solution than a hardtop.
) solution than a hardtop.Edited by ewenm on Wednesday 9th May 12:33
Twincam16 said:
I wondered that too. Given that most wet-weather trips in a Caterham would only be made by one occupant, what about a kind of gullwing hardtop for the driver's side only that hinged somewhere near the passenger-side door top? It'd provide enough room to step in and out.
Too complicated and too restrictive.You want it to be simple, light and able to be made for peanuts.
Luckily the prices of rubber "D" section seals have dropped as has the costs of moulds etc due to the proliferation of CNC machining in epoxy blocks.
BTW, door mechanisms need be no mor complicated than the current Caterham system.
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