The real story of the Caterham Miami Edition (and Caterham at Monterey Car Week)

[Slonie]

So at Monterey Car Week, Caterham had a presence at the Bonhams Laguna Seca Auction. They had two representatives of the company (Christian and I think Ben), and I got to chat with them for a bit. They also brought two of the Miami Edition Sevens, which were in the tent and available for purchase (although not—as I had previously believe—on auction, I believe they are on consignment. Yours for $100-110k).

 

 

Anyhow, in addition to a good talk with Christian, I got to looking at the souvenir program for the races, which had a previously unreported story on how the Miami Editions came to be. They were actually built for the Driver's Parade, with one car per team (and one backup). However, storms forced the start time of the race up by a few hours and the driver's parade was cancelled. Thus, they never got their moment in the sun.

 

 

 

 

In any case, this explains why some of the hoods have team names on the bonnet!

 

 

 

Additionally, Caterham had their West Coast demonstrator car out and about, a Seven R (also SV, like the two Miami Editions)

 

 

Noting that it came from Hillbank, and that it has the new USA-specification "Seven R" [no number] designation. Plus the painted rollbar and headlamps, though no 620R-style nosecone.

 

 

I saw it three times over the week, first at the auction, then out on the road, and finally right in front of me as I pulled into the track on Saturday. I had a lot of explaining to do to the global head of sales as to why I didn't have my Seven with me 

 

 

 

[Reiver]

I didn't read the mag fine print...what level Duratec do those 7's have...the blue and that ' chromatic yellow green' car ...like that color btw.

[williamwashere]

They are 420Rs. It sounded like this was a last minute addition to the F1 race too, my 420R build got bumped so they could work on them last minute. They’re good looking cars!

[theDreamer]

Not sure when Caterham pulled the trigger on these but it did seem rather late in the day. I posted about the cars in April. The thread is here:

https://usa7s.net/ips/topic/16010-caterham-to-unveil-a-new-miami-special-edition-model-at-this-weekends-grand-prix/#comment-156219

I think it would have been a huge success for Caterham USA if they’d been able to showcase the cars had Mother Nature not thrown a monkey wrench into the works. The question is; where are these cars now?

[Slonie]

Oh wow you know what, the bulletin you received did mention that they were supposed to be used in the driver’s parade! Too bad it didn’t happen. 
 

I neglected to find out where the two cars in Monterey were going after the auction, although I guess we could ask Christian. 
 

FWIW the bulletin you posted said they’d be sold “by the US dealer network”, so presumably they’re around somewhere (perhaps some are at Walt Grace Vintage, being in Miami at all)

[Reiver]

Question...what is the difference between the 420r and the r400 then?  AI told me the answer..... in my case the suspension set for the road...otherwise about the same with the RTB's/dry sump.  

Edited Friday at 02:38 AM by Reiver

[Croc]

10 hours ago, Reiver said:

Question...what is the difference between the 420r and the r400 then?  AI told me the answer..... in my case the suspension set for the road...otherwise about the same with the RTB's/dry sump.  

 

Nothing really.  R400 was just the old name for a 420R.  Neither came standard with RBTBs - both were plenum intake as standard.  

 

You had a choice of suspension set up for R400 but it was never reflected in the name as in 420S or 420R.  For all we know your suspension is the "R" type.  Anyway, the differences in suspension for the S and R are so small I bet no one would ever tell apart from an expert.  You know when you are on the race set up though.  

[theDreamer]

13 hours ago, Reiver said:

Question...what is the difference between the 420r and the r400 then?  AI told me the answer..... in my case the suspension set for the road...otherwise about the same with the RTB's/dry sump.  

Are you asking about the North American versions only? My understanding is that the UK/Euro R400 used the MG XPower Rover 1.8 K-Series engine . Some state it is the better engine being it’s all aluminum with factory mods.

[Reiver]

3 hours ago, theDreamer said:

Are you asking about the North American versions only? My understanding is that the UK/Euro R400 used the MG XPower Rover 1.8 K-Series engine . Some state it is the better engine being it’s all aluminum with factory mods.

 

No, mine has the Duratec like the 420r...RTB's/Dry sump...regular 6 speed not sequential.

[JohnCh]

4 hours ago, theDreamer said:

Are you asking about the North American versions only? My understanding is that the UK/Euro R400 used the MG XPower Rover 1.8 K-Series engine . Some state it is the better engine being it’s all aluminum with factory mods.

 

 

Caterham switched from the K-series to the Duratec ~2004. The Duratec version is commonly referred to as the R400D, although I don't know if that was the official model name from Caterham. My understanding is that the cams are the same in both versions, but the 420 uses the later, better flowing high-port head, vs. the standard Duratec head in the 400D. Hopefully someone can confirm or correct those statements.

[Reiver]

3 hours ago, JohnCh said:

 

Caterham switched from the K-series to the Duratec ~2004. The Duratec version is commonly referred to as the R400D, although I don't know if that was the official model name from Caterham. My understanding is that the cams are the same in both versions, but the 420 uses the later, better flowing high-port head, vs. the standard Duratec head in the 400D. Hopefully someone can confirm or correct those statements.

 

 

I've no idea but honestly, on the road, more HP would be ridiculous than the 210 + RTB's/Dsump... much like my 500 HP C8 Corvette.... I could get more HP but what would be the point?  We are at the crossroads of diminishing returns...

[demoray]

Reminds me of a song...

 

It's like too much money, there's no such thing.  It's like a girl too pretty with too much class.   Being too lucky, a car too fast.  No matter what they say, I've done, but I ain't never had too much fun.