James A Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Has Caterham stopped offering clam shell wings on new cars, I don't see them on the US or UK websites? If they are no longer offered does anyone know why they stopped offering them, was there an 'official' reason given by Caterham cars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 I ordered my Yellow Caterham in December of 1999. When it was delivered in late August of 2000, I was told it was one of only 2 ordered with Clams that year to date. Clams get a bad rep for lift, which I personally think is overrated. I've had mine yellow car up to 125mph and I never felt like it felt light up front. The big plus with the Clams is that I can fit the 10 inch wide Hoosier slicks with no problem. :driving: Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Try these guys: http://www.kineticvehicles.com/Curtis.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 I ordered my Yellow Caterham in December of 1999. When it was delivered in late August of 2000, I was told it was one of only 2 ordered with Clams that year to date. Clams get a bad rep for lift, which I personally think is overrated. I've had mine yellow car up to 125mph and I never felt like it felt light up front. The big plus with the Clams is that I can fit the 10 inch wide Hoosier slicks with no problem. :driving: Tom Tom, there's no room for lift in the front of old yeller.........tires take up all the room. :jester: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee break Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 I've had my '95 Caterham for a few years, I'm the 4th owner, but it came with clams. I like the old school look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 I've had my '95 Caterham for a few years, I'm the 4th owner, but it came with clams. I like the old school look. I too like the look of the old clams but must admit that above 95mph on an open, windy highway my Seven becomes very twitchy.:driving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 I definitely prefer the look of the clams, having owned se7ens with both set ups. Like Tom, the dreaded front end lift never materialized. Perhaps because the Kent engine had trouble powering it much over 100mph? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taber10 Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 I was told--don't know if it is true--that the wider front suspension, as on my SV, doesn't allow for the clamshells. I agree that the look of the clams is "more traditional" so I would have gone for them, but as noted, they weren't offered for my car in 2007. For what it is worth, my Caterham seems "twitchy" over 95mph also! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James A Posted February 17, 2015 Author Share Posted February 17, 2015 I'm just trying to figure out if Caterham has stopped offering clam shells on there new cars, I like the look also and have one car with them and one without. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Taber, I ordered the Wide track front suspension on my S3 with the clams and was apparently the first to do so. No issues and some of the BlatChat guys like Angus have followed suit. James, I believe that Caterham still stock replacement Clams, so if you are thinking of ordering a car, just ask them. Again, I believe that it has just been a lack of orders for Clams that has caused them to stop listing them. I'm sure they still remember how to attach them. :rofl: Go for it. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 For the record I will just note that I have not noticed any twitchiness up to 135mph in my Caterham which has wings.... :driving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Hill Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 You wouldn't notice Croc, you and Dundee have too much of the outback adventure streak in your blood! Nerves of steel and all that... BTW... SWMBO that is accompanying me to Jersey usually responds to Rosemarie...no garantee though. She's into tea, diet Pepsi and water as opposed to my coffee a day root beer. Just so ya know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBH Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 I don't know what 125 mph feels like. :driving: "I'm giving it all she's got Captain" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevenseeker Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 I'm actually in the process of acquiring the bits to do the clam to cycle swap. I don't have wide track so the swap won't be quite so simple. I do like my clams but I'd like to be able to switch back and forth from season to season if the mood strikes. Anyone have experience in doing the same? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 You don't need wide track to have either clams or cycle wings. Wide track is a relatively new (like 15 years) option to improve the stance of the car and supposedly handling. While it was used primarily for cycle wings, Yellowss7 found out that it will also work for clams. However, switching from clams to cycle wings brings the visual disadvantage that you have a prominent angled row of holes along the sides of your car where clams used to be. And there is no easy way to hide them that I have seen. Having seen the end result of such a change I would stick to clams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevenseeker Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 That's a good point. I have seen some conversions that are better then others in terms of the side skin holes. Some folks just put in bolts or rivets to mask. Some of the examples looked pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 http://static.mjdtopsites.com/user_files/105/uploads/P1000648.JPG Try cutting some of the clams away. I also have wide track with no lift at any speed including top end over 125. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaNostra Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 "Try cutting some of the clams away. I also have wide track with no lift at any speed including top end over 125." Well, I have 3 clams from Westfield....very close to Caterham if you want to modify them. One brand new...two used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevenseeker Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 I think if I end up doing the conversion, it would likely be for aesthetic reasons primarily. Still on the fence... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 I have wanted clams on my 2007 S3 with wide track, but I want carbon fiber clams to match the decor of the rest of my car. The late lamented RIF in UK had molds to build them in c/f, but he unfortunately passed away before he could get around to it. Bob Simon and I were exploring a source in USA willing to make c/f clams if he had the fiberglass originals to start with, but we didn't get beyond the speculation stage. Years ago in Washington, DC, my first ride in a Seven was in one that had clams, but the owner had moved them outboard about 1 inch with a square-tube spacer than fit between the body and the wings. With a wide-track, designing clams that sat a bit further outboard might be a capital idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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