The Lotus Seven was
designed by Colin Chapman as a combined racer
and sports car. The first Sevens were offered by Lotus for £1,036
in complete form (including purchase tax), but also as a kit (avoiding
the tax) for only £536. During the Lotus era, the Seven was manufactured
in four series. The series four is also known as the type 60 and differed
from the original in both appearance and design. Engines from Ford,
BMC and Coventry Climax were used. After production started in 1957, approx.
3000 cars were built before the rights to the Seven were taken over by
Graham Nearn in 1973, whereafter the car was called the Caterham Seven.
After a short while the manufacturing of the series III was resumed, which
has been developed continuously. Ford's Kent engine has been the engine
most commonly used. Nowadays engines from Vauxhall and Rover are also used.
Production has grown from approx. 100 to 800 cars per year. The Caterham
Seven is produced both as a complete car and as a component car.
Sevens have, since
the beginning, been an important part of racing. In fact, so much that
the RAC was reluctant to admit the Seven in the Modsport and Prodsport
classes. It was in those days that the slogan "Too fast to race" was invented.
Caterham have been supporting and organizing racing since 1986. There are
currently three different Caterham racing classes in the UK; The Daily
Telegraph Caterham Sport scholarship, the Caterham 1600 Roadsport Championship
and the Lombard Caterham Superlight R Challenge. Also there are Caterhams
and Lotuses involved in racing all over Europe, in Japan and in the USA.
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