the two autocrosses i have done have me all fired up. i am thinking of selling off some of my unneccessary automotive iron and buying a caterham 7.

anybody have experience with these?

i have admired them since the mid fifties when my dad and i saw a test of the lotus six which was designed for a side valve english ford engine with a three speed non synchro first gearbox. they came as a kit so dad and i daydreamed together about building one.

with a final total of eight kids and very ordinary income, dad was lucky to keep up with basic maintenance though.

he did have a really pretty cool 53 studie with a custom paint job though. a v8 starliner hardtop,

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I got that book on building them, plan to build one when I get time. Relatively simple, I just dont see paying that ridiculousness for a birkin or caterham. Then you're engines are limited, I saw one a guy built with a lame toyota engine, but he supercharged it, had a bunch of power. There are a few creative builders make larger, wider, capable of some big engines or motorcycle engines even, but they want crazy money too. Best thing is to research and get the best one with the most options and potential for customization.

There is an article on people tha built their own 7 like cars in this month's Car and Driver. One guy did it for less than $2,500.

All the people that I know with 7's have to wear driving shoes or aqua socks, or else they find themselves hitting both the gas and the brake at the same time.

Yeah, the Locost (Low cost) plans. Cool article.

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1984 300D turbo, 250K
1971 MGBGT, 101K
2007 VW Jetta, 4K

i would buy one already put together. i have size 9 feet, am 5'8 and weigh 195. i am a wide body. i havent ever actually sat in one, so i guess i dont really know if i would fit.

they can be built with virtually any motor including the rover v8 and rotary mazda engines. most i think have english ford engines. even with 175 hp at 1200 lb they are pretty quick.

if i had my drothers i would want a honda 2000 9000 rpm engine with the six manual.

i will check out the car and driver article.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.