Walt Grace Vintage

[williamwashere]

I was in Miami for work, and I recalled seeing that a new dealer for Caterham was launched in Miami along with Caterham’s new push into the US market. Meetings ended early, I had an afternoon free, so I took a trip to Walt Grace Vintage. They had a built car on the show floor along with a bunch of other gorgeous vintage cars, mostly for sale. They walked me through what the new ordering process would be for a US-purchased car. A rolling chassis plus an engine from California over doing it as a parts kit seemed like the more natural sales motion for them at this point.

 

It sounds like they have a lot of ambition around making Sevens more common around the US, and Jonathan, who was there from Walt Grace, really was passionate about the project. I mentioned I was already working with Rocky Mountain Caterham but he still wanted to keep talking and showing me around the car. They seem like a great addition to the dealer network here in the US, and this 420R is going to go around the country for track meets and press events for Caterham. He told me some really fun events are about to be announced this one is participating in and he gets to drive them. All around the US. Sounds like they want to get a Cup series started in the US as fast as they can too. Hopefully they’ll get into the USA7s forum and make themselves known.

 

I happened to get lucky. Lee from Caterham UK, who is one of the folks on the other end of the line when you email Caterham for tech support, had flown in to check out this 420R and get it ready for some press stuff. They really want to make it easier to buy a Caterham in the US, and they think they can make it happen.

 

It seems like if they think you’re a serious buyer, and considering this is a demo car, they’ll take it out and give you an actual test drive. Something you just couldn’t do unless you had a friend that already had one before now in the US. He let me drive for about 15 minutes (through Miami traffic), doing a loop around the area. It was a great experience, and both showed me I was absolutely right for wanting one, and that it’s been a while since I didn’t have power steering!

 

If you’re in the market, and near Miami, go check it out. It’s the only place I was able to see one in person.

[BruceBe]

There are two factory demonstrators - one on the East coast and one on the West coast.  Having said that, Beachman Racing has never been unable to accommodate a test drive for a serious buyer, and I'm sure this is the case for the other dealers as well. Certainly, the demonstrators add even more flexibility, as they will be migrating around the country to all of the dealers.

 

We have a Caterham Cup race series up here in the Pacific Northwest, and going into our fourth season, look forward to 10+ car grids every weekend. You can check out the rules HERE. We participate under the sanctioning of the International Conference of Sports Car Clubs (ICSCC) in the CC4 class. This season, the 15-race championship is spread across 7 race weekends.

 

To repeat what was posted in my earlier thread - under the new model, one can acquire either a rolling chassis, or kit via the new R/S Pack model from your Caterham dealer. Many folks do enjoy assembling their car from kit form.

 

Cheers,

-Bruce

 

[williamwashere]

Thanks Bruce! I’m in Texas so every dealer is fairly far for me, I’m glad to hear the Pacific Northwest has so much going on!

[hahuang65]

@williamwashere I think @IamScotticus knows a place in Houston that might be able to help with regard to being a dealership of sorts?

He's told me once, but I've forgotten the name.

 

Are you in Pinehurst, Montgomery County?

 

For what it's worth, I used to live in CA, so I worked with Rich Kamp over at Kampena Motors.

He had it shipped to me in Texas (I moved before my order arrived) and I had absolutely no issue with building in Texas with my dealer support remote.

 

If you're considering a dealer build, I know that @240 is in Texas but had Rocky Mountain build for him. I'm sure he'd be happy to share some experience too.

Edited March 16 by hahuang65

[williamwashere]

Thanks @hahuang65, I’d love for the next stage of my career to be a Caterham dealer, seems like a lot of fun. Just seems like there is an untapped market for Houston/Austin/Dallas. Maybe once they do some more marketing in the US that will be possible.

 

Yes, I’m in Pinehurst just off of US249. My kit is still in the factory, but I hope to have it in May. I’m looking forward to using your registration in Texas guide!

[hahuang65]

@williamwashere oh didn't realize you'd ordered one! May is coming up right quick.... but more importantly what did you spec!!!

 

I'm in Spring off 99 and 45, so I'm close enough that I'd be happy to help if needed during the build. Just give me a shout ahead of time as scheduling with kids can be difficult.

Obviously, will try to help remotely as possible if requested as well.

 

We'll have to get the TX (at least Houston) fellas together for a drive perhaps.

[williamwashere]

420R! Carbon seats, 620 nose cone and dash. Trackday cage.

 

I undoubtedly will take you up on the offer for help, I’m mechanically inclined and helped my Dad restore a TR6 when I was a kid, but this will be the biggest project I’ve undertaken.

 

I'm trying to get Josh from Rocky Mountain Caterham to get some of his TX customers together for a track day like he does with the CO customers, would be a great chance to get the whole group together.

[hahuang65]

She's gonna be a beaut. If you're mechanically inclined, it'll go quite smooth for you. Just don't make my mistake and not double check the throwout bearing for the clutch before mating it to the engine. Long story short, I finished the car, fired it up and then had to pull the entire drivetrain to replace the throwout bearing. Added an extra month (diagnosing, sourcing parts, re-installing) to the build time before I could drive it.

 

Basically double check EVERYTHING.

 

I see you opted for the 13" wheels... EVERYONE says they're superior to the 15s. I went 15s cuz of the look. Very curious.

 

You're not gonna regret the nose and the dash. I'm VERY glad I opted for those.

 

Did you go S3 or SV?

Edited March 16 by hahuang65

[williamwashere]

SV. I know 90% of my driving will be touring with my wife, so I did that for comfort.

 

Good tip on the bearing. If it’s like every other project I’ve ever done it will be well built, but only after I’ve done it three times and for twice the cost and time I planned because I keep catching mistakes. You will have to give it a try on the wheels! The 15s do look amazing.

 

I didn’t upgrade the suspension either, Josh didn’t think it was really necessary. At least that’s an easy upgrade later on if I want. I’ve got a bad case of, “maybe I should have done X” while I wait and it’s all locked in.

[hahuang65]

Yeah suspension is relatively easy, especially if its just dampers. If you gotta swap out the wishbones and everything else, I can see that being a pain.

 

My optioning logic was

 

1) will I regret if I don't do it more or if I do it more? 

2) what will be more than 5 hours of work to upgrade in the future?

[IamScotticus]

On 3/16/2026 at 3:56 PM, hahuang65 said:

pull the entire drivetrain to replace the throwout bearing

Howard,

Was the TOB defect or out-of place? What's up?

@williamwashere PM Me if interested.  Unless I see someone on the Cat website dealer located, I wouldn't say they are a dealer.

Edited March 23 by IamScotticus

[hahuang65]

@IamScotticus both. It wasn't bolted down fully and it was leaking. It's possible I caused the leaking when I attempted to bleed the clutch because it wasn't dripping when I filled the slave.

[IamScotticus]

On 3/16/2026 at 8:18 PM, hahuang65 said:

Yeah suspension is relatively easy, especially if its just dampers.

Suspension is the dampers and the bushes.  Loosen all suspension, load with half tank and passenger weight, adjust dampers to desired height, then tighten suspension.  The bushes should be at rest at the nominal ride height 90% of the time because every bush acts on the suspension like a torsion spring.

That's the theory anyway. 

Edited March 23 by IamScotticus

[williamwashere]

3 hours ago, IamScotticus said:

Howard,

Was the TOB defect or out-of place? What's up?

@williamwashere PM Me if interested.  Unless I see someone on the Cat website dealer located, I wouldn't say they are a dealer.

Thanks, I will PM you if I get to that point. I’m sure between all of us we can get anything I run into in Houston taken care of. Was just musing on if it would be fun to start a Caterham dealership in Houston as a new career! Market feels underserved here.

 

To @hahuang65’s point, I did at least upgrade to the aero wishbones, so if I wanted to swap out the suspension for a more track focused setup that’s an afternoon project not a weeks project. There aren’t a lot of other pieces in that setup that I’d really ever want to swap out I think.