Kitcat

As I have posted elsewhere here, in Cincinnati the Cars and Coffee scene is booming, loads of people jammed together with no masks anywhere in sight. I call it "Cars and Crazy." Even with that, we dont have the lineup of cars that you describe on your weekend blats.

Croc: Why VIR for the shakedown? How are you getting the car there? I assume you have a "crew" going with you?

I have always joked that my Odyssey PC 680 was the only part of my Caterham that I hadn't replaced. But it finally died (to be replaced by another one). So now it's the frame basically:).

For a rare exotic car, it's amazing how many of us have some story connecting us, if briefly, and tenuously, to the Miura. I was a senior in college spending my last quarter of college "studying" abroad, in Italy in 1968. I came around a corner in, I think, Florence and there was a Miura parked between all of the plebeian Fiats and 3 wheeled Piagio "trucks". Time stood still. It was about as low as a Caterham and as wide as the Ohio river, or so it seemed. And the presence and stance and electric neon green color made it such an indelible memory that here I am, 52years later, remembering it like it was yesterday.

As another point of reference, I can say my 1700cc SuperSprint X-flow Caterham engine never did that. Lots of cool popping on deceleration. Maybe BBall will offer his thoughts, he has chased many X-flow engine demons. And, on a related mater, both BBall and I had huge problems with our carbs due to worn engine mounts. The engine moved (a lot) as a result of the worn mounts, the air filters poking out of the bonnet were then forced against the edge of the bonnet, causing a vacuum leak and resulting in poor running. This only occurred on left hand turns. The X-flow mounts are a high wear item and should be swapped out every 5K miles or so, FWIW.

The car looks great in "normal" pix too! My rebuilt Zetec's leaky rear main seal has earned it a respite from use this summer. I just got a can of Blue Devil "Rear Main Sealer" and will give that a shot before extracting the engine.

Ingenious:)!

It might be simpler (and cheaper) to buy a Cat with a Duratec, or spec one from Bruce B or spec a 2.5 Duratec Birkin from Tom Carlin. You have a different ECU, wiring, intake and exhausts are on opposite sides, probably different fueling system, engine mounts, etc. (I know this as I had this same thought one time:)). Pretty hard to get big HP out of a Zetc, 220hp at the fly wheel seems to be about it. With the Duratec, the hp potential is higher, esp with 2.3 and 2.5 versions

Prisoner7: How do you like the Evora 400? Do you track it? If so, how does it do?(overheating???). Reliability issues? I am test driving a 2020 Evora GT next week.

Welcome Justin, what a beautiful Caterham! The S3 is the standard size (smallish) Caterham. This is clearly a late 90's, early 2000's Caterham.The Zetec engine doesn't quite fit, so they notched the frame a bit on the passenger side of the engine bay. I noticed your car had the notch when it was for sale on BAT. So this is occasionally called a notched frame Cat (like mine). Anyhow, that notch is a definitive bit of automotive DNA. I am not sure what model S3 it is. There were several back then, as always. Maybe a Roadsport or a Superlight? I think there was also an "America" version then which was intended for racing. That may be what what mine started out as, tho the spec has changed via upgrades over the years. I will let those more informed than I comment on that. Now that you know what it is, how does it drive? Best upgrade (IMHO) is new tires if those are the originals or on the old side. Short trips at first with some handy tools so you can trouble-shoot any lurking mechanical issues that newly purchased Caterhams occasionally have. Have fun, it will be an adventure, and the car will blow everyone who sees its mind!

I totally agree Croc. I like to say the first lesson every racer must learn is humility (hmmm, did my 'Vette just get passed by a Civic?). It seems to be true of mechanical work as well. I had my Miata aligned today by a mechanic I have known forever who, among other things, has his 50 year SCCA pin (The Caterham is in a time-out for bad behavior). But he spent almost as much time looking for the right wrench in his pile of wrenches as I do. And $hit happens. I agree the R&T writing abt this project is exemplary. And who doesn't identify with all the dumb stuff that has happened on that build? .

One of 5 pins in a terminal pin inside the fuel injector harness was a little too short...???? Sounds like the proverbial needle in a haystack, made more interesting by needing to trouble shoot it at the side of the road. Hey, at least it wasn't dark (and raining:)). Croc is on point, first year fettling is to be expected.

My Bikin came with a "boot", why didn't yours? In any event, nice work!

I make it a point never to disagree with Croc, esp on the issue of Caterhams and how to set them up. But really, about anything. But... my (maybe)150 hp Zetec SVT S3 Caterham has 6x13 in front and 7x15 in the rear for a non-square and staggered set up. It works great at the track(track only car), very neutral and balanced.

In chatting with other sellers, putting the car up here in the For-Sale section gives you a bit of control over who the car goes to. I have sold two se7ens here and neither went to the highest bidder, but both went to a great home. If maximizing $ received is your goal (and I applaud that) BAT seems to be the place, assuming that they are willing to list it. Since they were recently bought out, they appear to be listing more cars. I agree a reserve of $20K seems (very) low, given what Caterhams have gone for there recently. Chris T (Sevens and Elans) is about to list a near-identical Cat to yours on BAT, per his Facebook site.That may be instructive. Where I live, you can get a dyno pull for $100. Probably worth doing that as it may up the buying price considerably (tho not as much as inspired photos). Please, no I-phone shots in the driveway with your reflection in the car, next to the garbage cans....Hire a pro, if you must. The SVT quasi-Caterham that sold recently for $47K(?) was notable only for its iffy authenticity and fabulous photos, AND driving video which, I guesstimate, added $10K-$20K over retail, to the ultimate price.

I paid $1,200 to have a pro put protective clear vinyl on much of my like-new Birkin, years ago. I added it to the sides as well. Someone here asked why I bothered to put it on the sides. To which someone else, I think Croc or YellowSS7, pointed out that, as anyone who had spent time with me on the track knew, my car spent a considerable time traveling sideways. So hurtful (and true...).

Congratulations! Someone got a great car.

I think a solid black racing stripe down the middle to the black lipstick stripe on the nose cone would be ideal. Or multiple black/red stripes. That would keep it bold and simple and would compliment the car's other black components, like the headlights. I think the black and white stripe looks busy and disjointed, especially when it meets/crosses the nose stripe. I think the silver disappears in a sea of red. Of course, I have been told my sense taste is limited to my mouth....

My former Caterham, listed at the very bottom of Croc's Canadian group, has a price this week. Translating Canadian $ to U.S. $, the price is roughly $29K. Might be worth it in today's market. I sold it for $21.5K, I think. Also the new Hemmings 1.6 Cat is being offered by a apparently new authorized dealer in Daytona Beach Fl. They are only showing artist's renderings of the car,so seems like it has not been assembled. Looks like same spec as the Beachman SV with a 1.6 Sigma power (but at least $10K more....).

A corollary to my car-fantasy life is a trailer-fantasy life. And my favorite super cool, overpriced, trailer is the very lightweight and aerodynamic, Bowlus Road Chief. In connection with that, I have followed a blog of one of their owners who tows it with a Tesla 3, and averages around 165 mile per charge. Takes a certain amount of patience and planning, but their trips have lasted many thousands of miles.

Per the current stock price of $1400, Tesla, which sold 368K vehicles in '19, is worth more than Toyota, which sold over 10M units. And almost as much as Toyota and GM (which sold 7.7M units in '19) combined. I think Tesla has a pretty cool product, and know there are many happy owners here, but that valuation seems absurd. And the prediction is the stock may go to $2100, before gravity starts to pull it back to a more realistic valuation ($300-$700 per share?).

Croc: ban politics? So what are you going to do with all of the "Trump 2020 MAGA" stickers you were going to put on my car at the USA7s meet up in NJ this Oct:)? And I assume Tom (Yellow SS7) gets an exemption, by virtue of his age, seniority, geniality, and basic incorrigibility:)?

Croc: So what is this Fiat you have been referencing of late?

Man, so many memories from LOG 30! First Norm, who was the head tech (and I think set up the auto-X course with help from Scott and Michae lD), failed me on inspection. My front A-arm was loose, thanks to a impossible to reach nut, on the inside of the frame. So I employed my lawyerly skills and convinced him that, since I had just driven 700 miles to the event, it must be ok. He gave me a massive eye-roll and then let me. But I could not remember the course. So Boxologist jumped in and started barking instructions and pointing: "Turn left here, NOW, OK, slow up for that right-hander, NOW", etc. And I finished without DNF'g and actually has a fairly competitive time (top 5 or 10???). I'm pretty sure Norm won the whole thing. I was in awe of Ross and his incredible Lotus 7 trip to the event. Too bad his inclusive view of se7ens did not prevail. We all were looked down upon. I had so many Lotus folks walk by and compliment my "Lotus 7", only to walk off in scorn when told it was a lowly Caterham.... But as Croc notes, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship among all of us orphans and lead directly to the annual Se7ens gathering at NJMP-where everyone is disrespected equally:)! In other words, bring a sense of humor.

What wemtd is referencing is that I gave him a ride in that car, and let him drive it, and he promptly went out and bought his own se7en kit (Birkin) and built it:).