Name: Paul and Rosemarie
Location: Morrisburg, Ontario
Car: early short cockpit Caterham
Due date: spring 2011
A "friend" took Rosemarie for a ride in his seven a couple years ago and she has been all fired up to have her own ever since. So, we've been searching for a seven project of some type...
Found this car(?) through friends in Ohio. What started as a deal on a bare chassis/alloy body ended up being a roller by the time we were done. There is no chassis number evident in the usual spots of the footwell or rear shock mount, the chassis plate is missing, although the claim was that it was a Caterham of unknown vintage. I sent photos to Caterham in England. They identified it as definitely being an early short cockpit Caterham. There is only 1 pair of louvres near the rear edge of the hood. Can anyone give us a clue as to the year, or where to look for a chassis number? We are still corresponding with Caterham but so far without much success with adding a chassis number.
I have been slowly chasing parts to complete it, gradually getting closer. At this point the power will come from a 1.6 litre Ford Escort crossflow. I have original Lotus fibreglass fenders and nose, have found a windscreen, top and doors, later Caterham leather seats, lights, wipers, exhaust, motor mounts. Still looking for a pedal assembly and master cylinders if anyone happens to have spares!
The present "custodian" agreed to add the pieces to make it a roller over the winter, ready for pickup in the spring.
The final build will have to wait a bit as it is going to have to wait til my primary project is completed... a '70 Europa with a Spyder frame and suspension, Zetec motor. The chassis/drivetrain is complete with bodywork just getting started. Hopefully we'll have it on the road next summer so we can get at the Caterham!
Paul