Caterham doesn't make any of its parts

[Vovchandr]

So I've heard this somewhere over the years of reading up on Caterhams and it stuck with me.

 

Caterham doesn't make any of its parts, but it's more of a bucket of sourcing parts from different manufacturers* (*I'm sure they make a few small things don't read into this too much)

 

So for fun lets see if you can name some of the parts borrowed from other manufacturers that are on our cars.

 

I'll start with turn signals.

 

In UK the turn signals are sourced from a Land Rover Defender. In US they used a slightly smaller turn signal with a chrome ring (for whatever the reason. DOT?) Source unknown.

 

 

Also motors are obviously sourced from different cars throughout the years. Zetec is from 1 of 5 US models as I recall. (feel free to name them)

[Croc]

Much of custom suspension bits are either AP Racing or Titan.

 

Dry sump bits are Titan.

 

Regular front brakes are Triumph Spitfire. Vented Brakes are AP Racing.

 

Rear stop/indicator/reversing lights came off a 1950-60s era UK caravan/RV.

 

Engines:

- Ford Cortina UK was sold in the US in the mid to late 1960s as an import

- Lotus Twin Cam - sold in various Lotus cars in the US

- Ford Crossflow - used in the Mercury Capri

- Rover K Series - we were fortunate not to get Rover cars with this engine here as they were undisguised turds

- Vauxhall VX engine - sold here are a marine engine. Makes sense as it was as heavy as a boat anchor

- Ford Zetec - Installed in Ford Contour, Mercury Mystique, Ford Focus

- Ford Duratec 2L - Installed in Ford Focus

- Ford Duratec 2.3L - Installed in Ford Ranger

 

Gearbox

- Ford T-9 was in the Mercury Merkur XR4i

- Ford 4 speed box from Ford Cortina was used in Caterhams and Lotus S3/S2 cars prior to the T-9 becoming available.

Edited February 16, 2021 by Croc

[scannon]

Current 5 speed gear boxes use Miata gear sets and parts of the case.

[Pokey]

The current LSD rear end started life as a BMW.

[Croc]

The diff prior to the BMW sourced version was in the Mercury Merkur XR4i (Ford Sierra in the UK)

[11Budlite]

I'll start with turn signals.

 

In UK the turn signals are sourced from a Land Rover Defender. In US they used a slightly smaller turn signal with a chrome ring (for whatever the reason. DOT?) Source unknown.

 

The turn signals used on the earlier models in the US were Lucas L594 units. They were used in many British sports cars of the 50's and 60's and my first car (1961 Bugeye Sprite) used them on both the front and rear for turn signals. The chrome ring is used to retain the glass lens so they don't fall out!

 

Not sure if I missed it being mentioned but the lower powered Caterhams today are using the Ford Sigma 1.6L engines out of a Ford Fiesta and later Focus.

[escondidoron]

Not sure about the present situation but Arch Motors built chassis back in the Lotus S2 / S3 days and at least into early Caterham production.

[Nick OTeen]

Arch Motors, which is still in business, built pretty much every tube frame chassis for Lotus from the very beginning; including those for Lotus race cars up to and including the F1 chassis. For example, I'm currently restoring a 1962 Lotus 22 F-Jr. Its chassis was produced by Arch and still bears the stamped-in letters "AM" followed by a two digit number.

 

Like all Arch tube frames, including the chassis of my 2005 Caterham, is beautifully brazed together rather than welded. Arch continued to make tube frames for Caterham up until at least 2005 before Caterham brought the chassis production in-house where they are welded rather than brazed.

 

Arch Motors also produced all the aluminum body panels for Lotus 7s and, thereafter, Caterham 7s.

Edited February 12, 2021 by Nick O'Teen

[Croc]

Arch still makes the CSR chassis as Caterham cannot do that one in house. Arch can also make replacement chassis if you were unfortunate enough to write yours off as they have the original jigs.

[panamericano]

Poor image, but hence the name Arch Motors:

[Vovchandr]

The coolant reservoir cap on the square style reservoir is from a Mini/Land Rover (Defender too I think)

 

Source for the reservoir I'm not sure on.

 

 

Globe/Ball reservoir is from VW I believe.

 

Switches are from a lorry/bus of sorts.

 

Heater valve switch appears to be a universal generic part

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Heater-Valve-5-8-Hose-Manual-Cable-Control-FOR-universal-85698014/153177204100

 

[Speedsailor]

If you happen to venture to Arch Motors make sure to pop out the back. In the bushes and on top of old sheds you'll find a few discarded Caterhams too badly damaged to repair. On top of one shed is K7 JPE, the first JPE built and written off by an Italian journalist in 1993. He tried to overtake and had an unfortunate incident with a lorry resulting in a broken arm and destroyed JPE. Here's what's left.

[escondidoron]

Arch as it looked in 2018:

 

And on the inside, need a drop floor pan?

 

Maybe a replacement chassis?

 

 

The brothers Robinson, the owners of Arch and the sons of the founder, are still at it and very helpful blokes. When I was re-skinning my '62 I got a class in forming the rear panel over the chassis rails during my visit to the factory:

 

 

[Vovchandr]

Those are very cool pictures. Thanks for sharing! I thought Arch was responsible for just the frame but didn't realize that they make most body panels as well.

 

That JPE and the history behind it are cool as well.

[panamericano]

Thanks. Sounds like you had a fun visit with the bonus of hands on training.

[Kitcat]

I am impressed that it doesn’t have a dirt floor:).

[Vovchandr]

Certain generation of the keys are Land Rover key blanks. I presume the lock cylinder follows suit as well.

[Croc]

The fuel pump in my Caterham comes from a variety of Rover POS as per here:

Caterham CSR260 Fuel Pump (usa7s.net)

[CarlB]

I have a 1999 S-3 and the wiper motor is Lucas and was used in a lot of BMC and Triumphs. The gas gauged sending unit is from a classic Mini. I believe the spindles are Triumph Spitfire, but haven't confirmed. They are used on a lot of race cars. The rear brakes are the same as the larger of the Merkurs the Scorpio. The gas cap on my car was a Rover part.

[escondidoron]

I believe the spindles are Triumph Spitfire, but haven't confirmed.

 

 

You are correct for many of the cars. They are used on my '62. However somewhere along the line when double A-arms are used the spindles are no longer the standard Triumph component. Not sure if they are modified, from another source (likely) or bespoke (unlikely).