Clam shell front wings

[James A]

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?

[yellowss7]

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

[xcarguy]

Try these guys:

 

http://www.kineticvehicles.com/Curtis.html

[xcarguy]

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:

[coffee break]

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.

[AndyB]

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:

[Kitcat]

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?

[Taber10]

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!

[James A]

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.

[yellowss7]

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

[Croc]

For the record I will just note that I have not noticed any twitchiness up to 135mph in my Caterham which has wings.... :driving:

[Paul Hill]

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!

[JBH]

I don't know what 125 mph feels like. :driving: "I'm giving it all she's got Captain"

[sevenseeker]

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?

[Croc]

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.

[sevenseeker]

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.

[MichaelD]

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.

[BusaNostra]

"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.

[sevenseeker]

I think if I end up doing the conversion, it would likely be for aesthetic reasons primarily. Still on the fence...

[Alaskossie]

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.