Order Delays

A couple of days ago I had an email from Caterham midlands with some not so good news due to factory push backs and shortages my order has been delayed by 4 weeks, really not happy about this at all and after a long phone call to caterham it looks like i'll just have to be a bit more patient. roll on mid feb(and not mid jan),..

Day -5 weeks of the build :-)'

Having fitted carpet to axle stand tops there's no way of scratching the chassis!

Ho ho ho

Happy christmas to you all

Garage Gear

Slowly trying to get all the tools and gear sorted before the kit arrives, but you can't build it with out a set of axle stands. 2 sets of Hilka 3 tonne folding stands, should do the job.

Having had look through blatchat I found www.strongmandirect.co.uk I drove over to napton to see them yesterday not that easy to find and i was slightly surprised what i found, its more of an online business not a shop as such and i would recommend its best to order online or give them a call, however having spent 1/2 an hour chatting to the guys and having a laugh i can highly recommend them for lifting gear etc, I have been assured that there coffee machine will be working on the next visit!

Autocar 7th October 1987

I thought that i would share with you my copy of autocar way back from 1987! just spotted it was only 75p, How things have changed,...Some how managed to keep it in one piece over the years, It was around about the mid 80's when i was dreaming and thinking one day i really will have to get a caterham. Funny how life turns out , I ended up with a porsche 996 c4s never thinking i'd ever have porsche! That went a few years ago replaced by a vw passat estate much better for the family and my dog charlie and at long last the caterham kit should arrive in january,...Its been a long wait.

I wonder what ever happened to 7 DUO, great number plate tho.

the last photo is of Arch Motors, the chassis and panelling looks like its hardly changed over the years.

Caterham 160 review on the Register

Found this excellent caterham 160 review on Blatchat this morning well worth a read.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/10/25/caterham_seven_160_review/#sthash.vsuhH6zq.dpuf

165 video

Just found this caterham 165 video on youtube worth a butchers, https://plus.google.com/111992142291488127480/posts/CjRPoENX9mL
,….Just watched it again and it looks like he's not sure about it at the start and and then gets keener towards the end, Any help in translation ,…anyone?

Final order changes

Well I think I really new that it had to be done mainly from a practical point, I have added the weather gear  and carpets to the order, having a screen and roof will just let me enjoy the car far more and not just be restricted to sunny days. So having started out with the keep it it simple and basic approach I seem to be slowly ticking all the option boxes!

Mean while the long wait continues about 12 weeks to go,…yeapeeee!

Weather gear or not?

I think that upgraditis has set in :-), first it was the seat belts now after setting my mind on keeping the car simple and going with an aero screen, I am now pondering getting the weather gear, screen roof and doors. I know that it would make the car so much more practical. I think that after 10 mins with an areoscreen the wife would not be too happy,…….I can see another call to doug is on the way.

In preparation for the cars arrival i have given the garage a once over, painted the floor fitted some new bright lighting and sorted out some tools. Nearly ready i think. Although building it in jan/feb its going to be blinking cold in there so some sort of heating is next on the list to sort out.

Paint colour changes

Well after some thought I have spoken to doug at caterham midlands and changed the paint colour  from caterham blue to black. At first i think that i thought the new colour would suit the car well but after showing the family it just didn't go down too well so a quick vote and black won!

I have also asked for the seat belts to be changed from the standard black inertia belts to 4 point quick release harness in red, doug thought that HQ might not accept this colour with the car, I've no idea why not but i'll have to wait and see. If its a no then i think i'll fit the standard ones first register the car and then order the red harness,..

And as i thought w/c 17 jan 15 is production date at caterham with kit delivery 3 weeks after! looks like i'm going to have to be a bit more patient!!

Low carbon vehicle event 2014

Car magazine 160!

I really like the colour of this 160 and it will be interesting how ben gets on with it. http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/Long-term-tests/Caterham-Seven-160-2014-long-term-test-review2/

Seven 160 in the wet at FSW by caterham cars japan

The long wait,...

Umm, Just been thinking that if the kit arrives this time in december I've got 186 days of waiting! (6 months) ,..maybe a while then before the build blog starts properly:-)'

Caterham Seven 165 TEST DRIVE Part 2 : hot or not ? (Motorsport)

This looks like fun!

The seven that started it,

After hours of searching I have finally found it! The photo of me in the yellow seven at stoneleigh kit car show some time in the late 80's, Thought that i had lost it, that would have been a shame. Ever since then i've always wanted one,.. roll on december!

The Test Drive

This is the caterham 160 that I had the pleasure of test driving, Im not to sure about the dark grey paint and the black pack tho.

The Order

After many years of waiting for the right time I have finally placed an order for my new caterham 7 160.
It was around the mid 80's when I first saw a super seven, And have all ways wanted one since then.
I think it was 86 after a trip to le mans me and my father went to stoneleigh kit car show and I remember sitting in an aluminium bodied car with yellow paint work I though that it was amazing!.

Going to caterham midlands on 19 may 2014 I have never been so excited on a car trip in my life thinking I was soon to place my order.

Having not booked a test drive I had my fingers crossed that i'd be able to have a go in the 160.

I had about 2-3 years ago had a test drive in a 125 and a 150 roadsport and thought they were both fantastic but there's something I really like about the 160 its not about the lack of power, it definitely has enough but it's the simplicity of it ,..nippy engine, it's light ,skinny tyres and economical- perfect.

The test drive was great fun and I think I had doug from caterham worried a few times when trying to brake hitting the accelerator! I have got to get some race shoes!

The order:

In kit form
aero filler cap
stainless steel rear wing guards
lowered floors
leather seats
momo steering wheel
heater
unpainted aluminium body with front and rear wings in caterham blue

no screen or roof just nice and simple(if a little windy:-)

And thats it ,due date for delivery is december which seems like an age away. plenty of time to sort out all the tools and gear that I'm going to need tho.