Bruce Bowker - question RE: Your Caterham 7

Bruce - I saw your picture of your Caterham Lotus 7 in the members ride gallery. What engine does that thing have? Did you nuy it turn key or build it from a rolling chassis?

Basil

Basil - it has the 1700 Ford Crossflow with twin Webers. Somewhere around 150 Hp. I bought the car from

https://www.autocourseinc.com/

I would have liked to have put the car together myself but his price for doing so was so reasonbale I said why bother plus I have the car in NJ and would have only been able to work on it periodically.

He had a special going where if he could get X people to order, price would be better since all would be in one conatiner and the price was great.

And I have to say it is perhaps the most fun car I have ever driven. The seats are very comfortable. Only seats I ever sat in where the head rest is exactly that, a head rest - not 6 inches behind your head. For anyone reading this who is still into the absurdity of being politically correct - I know they are not head rests per se.

The Seven that I have is basically the same size as the original Lotus Super Seven Series III. There is now a "stretch" version which is slightly wider and I think longer. I prefer original but it is obviously roomier if one can use that word.

I have to drive barefoot or with socks because the pedals are so close and no foot rest. Therefore I keep one foot under the pedals so to speak. I have found with any kind of shoe, it can get caught for a split second on the pedals when trying to get to the clutch or break quickly.

The foot well is HOT. Exhaust is on my side but just the overall engine heat makes it HOT HOT HOT. But I don't care. I love driving it. In reading about these cars you will see comments like wind buffeting in the cockpit and that is true. I have a pair of side wings which help slightly but I like the wind. Doesn't bother me a bit. You will see pictures of the cars with the dorrs attached which cuts the wind almost completely but driving that way is not fun and visisbilty is extremely restricted. I do not feel comfortable with the doors attached.

Not sure of your height but I am over 6 feet and I have plenty of room. The first Seven I saw was in 1964 and I have wanted one ever since.

That is a beautiful little machine Bruce, I am envious!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cryin.gif

A thing of beauty! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I've always liked Sevens and hopefully I'll own one someday.

Very nice.. The web site is interesting too, but no prices
( not that I could afford one of those anyway..)