The main design of the Caterham 7 model can be called the oldest of all in production. Its “roots” are drawn to the 1957 Lotus Seven model, a machine, which, according to the brilliant engineer Colin Chepman, was “born for one weekend”. The Lotus company produced cars for 15 years, and they were sold by Caterham Cars, which was owned by Graham Nirn (Graham Nearn). In addition to them, no one was engaged in this model, considering it unpromising.
When in 1973 the Lotus company decided to end the production of Lotus Seven, Graham Nirn, taking advantage of its friendly relations with Colin Chepman, persuaded him to sell him the right to further release of the car. At first, Caterham Cars tried, – I must say, with great difficulty, – release Caterham 7 series models 4 with plastic housing. However, the company soon switched to the release of a simpler and artless model of the 3 with aluminum body.
For the most part, the model does not like what it is in it, but what is not in it. It has no cunning technical devices, no complex electronics, no expensive, curly body panels. The Caterham 7 model pursues only one goal: to ensure maximum driving pleasure in the minimum use of materials. It was this that became the motto of Colin of Chepman, who went on a “crusade” to reduce the weight of the car.
In its design, Caterham 7 was a tubular steel chassis, sheathed with aluminum panels; only the nose of the car and its wings were made of fiberglass.
“Inside” Caterham 7
At the very beginning of the production of Semerka, it was equipped with the same magnificent engine from the Lotus model with a capacity of 126 liters. C, 1558 cm3 with two camshafts, but subsequently, when the existing supply of engines has exhausted itself, Caterham switched to engines from Ford models: GT (84 liters. c), sprint (110 l.With.) and SupersPrint (135 liters. With). If the buyer needed a high speed, the Cosworth BDA engine with up to 170 liters was put on his car.With. And subsequently, the VAUXHALL engine with a volume of 2.0 liters and a capacity of 175 liters.With. Since 1991, Caterham has moved to the use of Rover series M: 1.4 (103 l. With.), 1.4 Supersport (128 l. With.), 1.6 (115 l. With.) and 1.6 Supersport (138 liters.With). The last “seven” was called JPE (Jonathan Palmer Evolyushn), in honor of the member of the Formula-1 member, which helped improve the machine. This model was equipped with an engine with a capacity of 250 liters. C, which gave her opportunity to participate in races, she did not have a windshield, and her wings were made of carbon fiber. The exceptional lightness of the car and the unique brake system made it very fast: from 0 to 96 km/h, it accelerated in 3.5 seconds.
But regardless of which engine was installed on the Caterham 7 model, the driver received enormous pleasure from driving it, much more than another car could guarantee him for the same money. Even today, 50 years after the appearance of the first “seven”, the Caterham 7 model is considered the standard of both the controllability and the degree of pleasure that the driver gets behind her steering wheel.
Photo Caterham 7
Video Caterham 7