The Caterham Seven delivers classic British sports car thrills and blistering pace, if you can live with the stripped back design
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The Seven has its roots way back in 1957. Designed originally by Lotus founder Colin Chapman nearly 60 years ago, the first Seven looked similar to how it does today, proving that the recipe has remained pure and true to the car’s original values.
The Seven is unlikely to be your only car, but if you’re looking for a raw driving experience and plenty of driving fun, then it could well hit the spot. Practicality is obviously limited, but Caterham does offer myriad ways to customise your perfect model – although be sure to do your homework before you buy as costs can soon mount up.
- Changing engine suppliers over the years has secured the car’s future, with Ford-sourced power units ensuring Caterham’s most famous model should live on for years to come. You can now choose from a Suzuki 660cc supercharged, three-cylinder petrol unit in the 170 model, or a 2.0-litre Ford Duratec in three power outputs: 180bhp (Seven 360), 210bhp (Seven 420) and 310bhp (Seven 620).
In 1973 Caterham bought the rights to build the Seven and has being doing so ever since, offering buyers a brilliantly British open- top two-seater sports car experience. Over the years the Seven has steadily evolved to deliver more power and performance while retaining the classic looks, but the firm’s timeline hasn’t been without its troubled periods.
Along with these different engine options buyers can also opt for either an S or R pack. The standard S pack adds extra equipment to make the Seven more hospitable for road use, while the R pack costs a further £1,000 and brings with it options that enhance the Caterham’s hardcore focus. However, R models are still great to drive on the road.