cantrade

Hello, What has been the use of your Caterham? I would suppose street vs auto-x, etc. I was also wondering about the license plate. Have you not registered it in AL? The air lnlet screens seem quite cramped in the pics. Any problems with clearance here? What do you estimate the hp of the engine is? Thanks Don

Hi Doug, I thought about that. I even have a "donor" car with running gear etc. I looked at the one you had for sale a few weeks ago and think that you have sold it. Sure, send me information--I can't promise any action but will be interested in the details. I like the Stalker concept though. Do you have .pdf files or do you need my USPS information? If so, you can get it at www.canyontraders.com. Thanks, Doug.

Hi Jack, You are exactly right. David is a good friend and I sponsor his motor sports activities by providing AMSOIL products for his Stalker. We might be doing a track day together this weekend down at Arroyo Seco. Although, he is a bit under the weather and may not make it. (BTW, David usually takes FTD at our events.) I personally auto-x a 1996 Miata but would like to move into the Stalker (EM) class. I am a bit afraid that the car is too much for me to handle at my age but may still do it if a good deal pops up. (I was fast at one time years ago but time has gone by.) I would really like to have an original Lotus 7 but they are well out of my bracket now. I have always been fascinated by the Lotus cars and Colin chapman. Once every so often someone like him comes along with ideas that last for ages, it seems. The Stalker fits well in my idea of what this type of car should be. The running gear is easily fixed here in the states and the car handles like it is on rails. David keeps telling me to build my own but that brings a whole set of new problems. Thanks for the input. Don

Jack, I agree with everything you have said. I have always thought the SS is a bit over-kill for auto-x and have myself driven one that is hard to handle due to the low-end torque. I have not driven a N/A one but think it might be easier to handle and therefore (for auto-x) be a better fit. I am very interested in a Stalker and have been for quite some time. (I would have bid on this car if I had any idea of the minimum required. I think a better way to sell a car is to specify a "starting bid" instead setting a "reserve" amount. To start at $2000 and bid up is senseless to me.) Having said that, I realize that Stalkers do not have the "bloodline" that some others do. It seem to me that when you get away from the original Lotus line and into the knock-offs you can see quite a difference in the used-market prices. Even the Birkins and Robin Hoods bring less. When you add the American power plants and drive lines they are even farther from the original. (An WCM Ultralite with the S2000 driveline is the ultimate as far as I am concerned.) It all comes down to personal use and what you want to do with the car. If you are going to be a rough & tumble auto-xer then a Stalker is right up your alley. If you prefer touring and group trips then one of the others might suit you better. I know from experience that you can not keep a vehicle in concours condition and auto-x in a serious fashion. (At least, not here where I live.) So, I agree that the car is worth more. But, I know at this time folks are really holding back with discretionary spending and the market is smaller so the market will define what anything is worth. Next year this time it might be worth $25K. Stranger things have happened.

Here you go. eBay Member: 124csp I think this auction is a good example of how effective eBay has become. I have bought and sold over 60 cars and certainly wish ebay and the internet was around when I sold them. With its millions of users and referrals from boards like this, the seller will get lots of attention. This auction attracted 2700 hits and got over 20 bids. If this Stalker had a supercharged 3.8 L67 crate engine and some Hoosiers it might have drawn closer to the "reserve" amount. However, this car equipped as it is, in this economic time, drew bids of almost what I predicted. In the long run, something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. A year from now things might be different. Also, if I was going to sell a car on eBay I would not use the "reserve" route and would instead have a "starting bid" just like a real live auction. That would be the price I would want to get for the car and the bidders could float it up if they thought it was worth more. Just my 2 cents worth.

Nice looking Stalker. Really like the green/yellow Lotus look of the paint job. Braced roll bar is nice touch and usable for track days. This engine might be better for auto-x since it doesn't have quite the hp of the Super Stalkers and might be easier to handle.