Avery Waterman

With payment made and title transferred, only "gone baby gone" transport remains. Caterham Seven has lived up to its sterling name for value on and ease of resale. Were I only so lucky with my Panthers and BMWs . . . .

Members and guests: I did not post the specs and photos yesterday after all, because yesterday a member reached an agreement on which a deposit was wired today. Thank you very much for your interest. Sandy

SteveT's old Caterham for sale is not a superlight. But it's a very nice car! Sandy

After 2 months, 1,500 miles, 4 new tires and oil change, I am flipping Steve T's most recent ride. I also will be selling my Panther and BMWs toward massing capital for Sugino's 7 or another fine BDR. It was assembled in 2000 by Cat dealer Rocky Mountain Motorsports, was titled in 2002 as a Ford, and is titled without (replica) restriction here in Virginia. Inspection is current. It can be seen right now at Steve T's postings under "Member Rides" on July 1, 2007, and March 10, 2008. I hope to post remaining photos and all of its specifications tomorrow. I just wanted to give members a quick heads-up. Absent prompt serious interest through this site, I am leaning to listing it on ebay later this week. Coincidentally, Dean got a good look at her last weekend. Thank you in advance for spreading the word on this great looker and daily driver. Sandy

Sugino says $65K previously was paid for it on eBay and that there now is $100K in it. I do not doubt that, that is it "worth" $95K. But that is one hunk of cash, insurance and taxes for a Se7en, a Se7en that you probably would not want to drive very much at all because of its condition, looks and cost. In a way, it is too good for its own good. Sugino needs a museum or pure collector as purchaser, which may prove the proverbial "needle in a haystack" to find.

Then call him too, Jack. Some people do not check their email for days. Sandy

Yesterday was told I could have the Sugino for only $95,000.00 . . . . Sandy

Today there is a 1976 Blakely with 12,000 miles for $12,000.00 "buy it now". Sandy

Tom: Indeed! Let me add a couple more uncanny overlaps. A number of my contemporaries worked at NLRG before moving on. And in 1983, then a bachelor new associate in New Orleans, I flew to Alaska with my 18-speed bicycle and rode for the Heart Fund from Anchorage to Denali over the Summer Solstice. For 5 days, I arose each morning and had a hearty breakfast, hammered out about 50 miles with 40 pounds of gear on my panniers, made tent camp at a friendly river, and kicked back and hydrated with my 6-pack unto the dusk-like midnight. (Riding a bicycle 250 miles on your then shoulderless route 10 alongside innumerable double-hauling tractor-trailers actually was more a rush and mindgame than driving a Se7en on our Interstates.) The 85-degree days and world-class horseflies contrasted sharply with the world-class snowy peaks and frigid mountain streams. Hands-down, it still stands among the several best vacations of my life. My only regret: not riding on to Fairbanks after the fundraising tour ended! Drop in if ever you are in the 'Burg. Regards from the "Lower 48"! Sandy

There currently are 2 postings: (1) 1980 Caterham in NY with 8,000 miles at $18,000 with 3 days to go; and (2) 1990 Birkin in Edmonton with 10,000 miles for $17,500 "buy it now" at $0 with about 6 days to go. Sandy

So, Dino and Paul, why no deal but silence? Just testing and not selling?

Jack: Contact jbanker@indy.rr.com. When I was looking for a first purchase, he posted knowing of a Stalker for sale on May 16, 2008. Good luck. Sandy P.S. I had a great time in Maui last August and cannot wait to retrun!

Dean: I recently heard there is a British car club in Williamsburg. Is that the WMS? If not, what is the latter? Are you a member? When do they meet, what do they do, and who heads it? Ay other Se7ens? Thanks. Sandy

Thanks for the reply, Mike, and pardon the tardiness of mine. Often I have stretches of little more than attending work and kids. This time my chronic home internet problems delayed too. Mine is a 2002 Cat Roadster with base Zetec and intake cam only upgrade - Steve T's long-time ride that I succeeded last month. (Guess I need to get some sort of photo appended to my posting name and locale.) I am debating whether to complete the full Webcon F1 upgrade to 200 HP, which I really do not need for my riding, or to reverse the partial upgrade into which I bought, as the ECU is not handling it well at and under 2500 rpm. About once a decade a compelling civil rights case lands on my doorstep unsolicited, this time a NC trooper who at point blank put several fatal bullets through the driver's window of an unarmed escapee who was backing away slowing in his patrol car. But as you know, "qualified immunity" ever is a serious uphill battle, so mentally I approach such cases as my pro bono publico work . . . . Obviously he would have been better off moving forward fast in a Se7en. My given name is Avery. My nickname is Sandy. Actually I answer to some other colorful things too. Don't suppose you know the Giblers in Cinncinnati, a family of doctors associated with St. Xavier? My oldest dates one. Got to ride to the Virginia state high school soccer Final Four in Blacksburg.

I posed an analogous question last month late in the replies to "Yupe...Alabama" and then in "FIRST-TIME 7 PURCHASE ADVICE WANTED" under "Cars for Sale". Good luck. Sandy

I am a RI-born trial lawyer of 26 years, specializing in personal injury on behalf of victims, predominantly medical malpractice and motor vehicle accidents, secondarily in civil rights, sexual abuse and other miscellany interesting to me. (Should know better than to race about in a Se7en, let alone without a helmet!) Although my caseload centers in my state of Virginia - adopted after attending the College of William & Mary and UVA Law School - I also am licensed n DC and LA and have handled significant cases in MA, PA, MD, NC and TX - like Paladin, "Have gun, will travel". I single-parent 4 children - a daughter at Harvard, a son at VCU, a son in high school, and a daughter in junior high school. Current double tuition and the nearing specter of triple and quadruple tuition for college and professional schools for all for years to come is a great motivator. Thank God my practice is booming. We live at Kingsmill, site of the LPGA Michelob Ultra Open, adjacent Colonial Williamsburg. Our semi-rural locality in general and resort subdivision in paticular are cool safe places to tool around in a Se7en. The 15-mile interstate strip from home to office makes for an adrenaline-filled commute during rush hours. Never really a car nut, I spent most of my driving time racking up over 300,000 miles on my steadfast BMW 5-series, which I still own along with a couple Mercedes and H2. With the death of my wife and advent of midlife, I treated myself to a 911 and then Boxster, but ultimately grew tired of the countless police stops and turned to unique smaller-engine British sports cars. A lifetime lover of long bonnets, I lately have bought a Panther Kallista, Morgan Plus 4 and, most recently, a Caterham Super - the 7 because of its rue billing as the ultimate driving rush, not to mention its introduction during my birth year.

Although it is not behind this sale, the economy is a tough one and legendary financial wizard Warren Buffett just predicted a protracted recession; so look for many more expensive toys for bargain sale.

Steve, I had more fun driving today than any other day in my life, save the first day I ever drove - no kidding. Tom, I joined earlier this week and intend to stay. Al, thanks for your advice, which bagged this Virginia Cat instead of another one. Sandy

Many thanks to everyone who welcomed and shared with me as a newcomer. Today I had the good fortune of purchasing SteveT's red ali Cat! Some may recall it spearheading the 7/7/07 Tail of the Dragon, while others can view it on Member Rides in March, 2008. Steve patiently spent hours reminiscing, reviewing, and even chauffeuring, for which I am grateful. The 125-mile drive from Charlottesville to Williamsburg under mild sunny wispy skies was glorious - except possibly for the 90 mph stretch amid 3-lane tractor-trailer and other heavy traffic on I-95 around Richmond. The Cat was more solid and powerful than imagined, and it nestling about me felt like a veritable extension of my body; not to mention the aesthetics of gazing upon the long bonnet, polished headlights and pivoting wheels. My decision to bid farewell to my 911 and Boxster for this Se7en was spot on. Even my 69 year-old mother raved about her evening guet-passenger ride upon my return. Added bonus was me inheriting the Cat's urestricted Virginia title and registration. Wish I did not have to turn in and instead could keep on ridng into the night. Thank you all again. P.S. My nickname is Sandy, so guess it is Sandy's 7 now.

It hit the reserve of $30K about 1 1/2 hours before close. I had been on it for $25.5K, but bid no further based on good advice to stay off the BDR as a first Se7en and on having found a better Se7en.

Commentators agree about the craftmanship of Superformance S1. But I really would like to hear from current and/or recent S1 owners about my real concern: parts availability and other support by Superformance since it stopped production of the S1 in 2004. Thank you.

You are right; and if I had known and planned ahead, I would be at Carlisle. But seriously, I cannot stand her up like that, and she cannot make the roadtrip. Also, beyond finding the right Se7en, I really need to find out whether, under what circumstances, and to what extent any can be registered for general versus limited transportation use in Virginia. I am not interested in driving limited to hobby-related events.

John, although listed on the Craiglist for Atlanta, the Caterham actually is more out of the way in Alabama. Al, does John V. happen to be located close to the Alabama site or is he in Atlanta? Unfortuantely, it is very hard for me to break away from my practice now to travel for test-drives, though obviously there would be great comparison benefit to that.

Thanks, Al. I have seen your name many places many times, so certainly value your opinions. Obviously you have no reservation about the longevity of the Westfield's 100K+ Mazda donor parts. Since yesterday the Caterham seller advised me that some authority said he should get [only] "$20,000-$30,000" for it, so at what price point would you say the Caterham becomes a relatively better buy than the Westfield? Would love to meet all of you guys at Carlisle, but already have a young date for "first in" tickets to the Seventh Annual Beer Festival in Norfolk tomorrow . . . . And at bachelor 50, a pretty woman and libations still outstrips good-looking Sevens.

[My bad: Reflecting my Newbie status, this essentially is a reposting as a new topic of what I initially posted as a reply on the 1993 Caterham for sale topic.] As a belated 50th birthday present to myself (6'0" 180 pounds), I am looking to buy my first 7. I seek a somewhat regular street driver that is the "best bang for the buck" in the $20,000-$30,000 range, with basic reliability and resaleability being more important than raw power and performance. I am considering the following, but invite any other suggestions: 1. 1993 Caterham Super 7 (2,500 miles with 1.7 Cosworth BDR and de dion) [guessing $25,000-$30,000] 2. 2007 Westfield SEi (1,300+ miles and 1992 103,000-miles Mazda 1.6 DOHC, et al.) $21,900 3. 2004 Birkin S3 (new with 0 miles and rebuilt low-mile 200HP Zetec) $29,900 4. 2003 Superformance S1 (4,500 miles and with "stock" 148HP Zetec) $25,400 5. 2001 Superformance S1 (new with 0 miles and 175HP Zetec) $29,995 6. Other [you spec it out] I am not sure what to think about the Westfield's old high-mlieage Mazda donor parts, its fiberglas skin, and it not clearing $19,100 on a couple eBay auctions. I do not know how much to make of the Superformance S1 no longer being made vis-avis replacements and resalability. Caterham is classic, though the need for replacements and other work for relative age and non-use is unclear. Birkin seems to approximate Caterham most closely and to be sufficiently stable despite dealer turnover. The Robin Hood on eBay concerns me mainly for lack of tubular chassis and secondarily for its locost finish. I do not know what else might fit my bill that is available now or shortly. Your various viewpoints from technical, practical and all other standpoints are appreciated greatly. Thank you very much in advance for helping get me started.