Sean Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 One here as well: http://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_product=4930 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Thanks for the pictures. I'll keep my old style round Caterham badge and maybe see if I can pick up a few extras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdog Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 That new badge is hideous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I'll cast my vote for the "kit" version of the Caterham, to honor the heritage and tradition of the original Lotus 7. The Seven, Elite and Elan were offered for sale by Lotus in kit form (buyer's option) in UK to avoid purchase taxes applicable to fully-assembled cars. I assume the Seven was offered to US customers in disassembled form to lower assembly costs, and packing and shipping expenses. My primary motivation to finally realize my long-held dream, by ordering my 2007 S3 through Caterham USA in late 2006, was to get this car just as it was initially offered by Lotus to US buyers back in the late 1950's, i. e., as an unassembled car with all necessary components, including the iconic Arch Motors chassis, arriving in 2 or 3 large crates. Unfortunately, it took me 46 years, from 1961 to 2007, to realize my dream. But the magic thing about my dream is that while the Lotus and Caterham 7 had kept pace (and how!) with other sports cars' increasing performance standards over five decades, the enjoyable details of buying a Seven and getting it on the road had -- literally -- stood still. I can't think of another instance where a youthful automotive dream can be delayed 45 years or more, yet still be fulfilled in just the way it was initially imagined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 The option is always there for anyone who wants to take a "roller" apart and reassemble it at their liesure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 The option is always there for anyone who wants to take a "roller" apart and reassemble it at their liesure. That's true but you are paying a $3 - 4K premium to do it that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 That's true but you are paying a $3 - 4K premium to do it that way. I don't think the new prices have been announced yet. It's my impression that assembling the cars into rollers may not be much more costly than fitting parts perfectly into crates and later FedExing the missing pieces. Does anyone know the kit vs. assembled price difference in UK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBe Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 With the new pricing, there is a $4K *reduction* in component chassis cost, if one opts for the unassembled kit, versus a roller. The thinking is to migrate future buyers toward a "roller" approach, as it makes the product generally more accessible with standardized build quality from the factory. -Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBe Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 Thanks for the pictures. I'll keep my old style round Caterham badge and maybe see if I can pick up a few extras. We have at least one new style badge in-stock, for anyone who is interested. You can send a PM, to avoid any public ridicule here :jester: -Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rikker Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) I'll cast my vote for the "kit" version of the Caterham, to honor the heritage and tradition of the original Lotus 7. The Seven, Elite and Elan were offered for sale by Lotus in kit form (buyer's option) in UK to avoid purchase taxes applicable to fully-assembled cars. I assume the Seven was offered to US customers in disassembled form to lower assembly costs, and packing and shipping expenses. My primary motivation to finally realize my long-held dream, by ordering my 2007 S3 through Caterham USA in late 2006, was to get this car just as it was initially offered by Lotus to US buyers back in the late 1950's, i. e., as an unassembled car with all necessary components, including the iconic Arch Motors chassis, arriving in 2 or 3 large crates. Unfortunately, it took me 46 years, from 1961 to 2007, to realize my dream. But the magic thing about my dream is that while the Lotus and Caterham 7 had kept pace (and how!) with other sports cars' increasing performance standards over five decades, the enjoyable details of buying a Seven and getting it on the road had -- literally -- stood still. I can't think of another instance where a youthful automotive dream can be delayed 45 years or more, yet still be fulfilled in just the way it was initially imagined. Coss, I do not understand ?, did you not have your car delivered to Caterham USA in Denver CO and then have them build it for you, I assume not for free? So how would that be different from buying and paying to have it done in the factory, seems a whole lot simpler an option .Then there are people that do not have the room, or the skills, or the time to DIY. I get the whole build the car yourself idea, and appreciate that if you do indeed assemble it yourself it could be a really great and satisfying experience( maybe there is a market for this jigsaw car too,), but if you do not then why involve and pay a third party when it could be done at the source? Oh, and from what I have read, the original Esprit was not that great and the Elan was only offered in kit form for a short time, and ACBC could not wait to dump the 7 as he steered Lotus upmarket. He may well have been a genius in car design but he was no saint when it came to grabbing the $$ and the hell with any sentiment. Edited January 22, 2014 by rikker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboWood Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Superformance will be assembling the kit (not Caterham UK)? If I'm right then it's really no different than Caterham USA building it. It would seam to me that this would really be the only economical way to get the cars in the country. It's much easier to package parts in boxes than on an assembled car. Bruce, Can you clarify? Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 PH's take on Caterham rebranding: http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=29251&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=html&utm_campaign=2014-1-22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Superformance will be assembling the kit (not Caterham UK)? If I'm right then it's really no different than Caterham USA building it. It would seam to me that this would really be the only economical way to get the cars in the country. It's much easier to package parts in boxes than on an assembled car. Bruce, Can you clarify? Daniel The last line from the original press release regarding Superformance: Sevens will be shipped to the USA in part-built form and sold as rolling chassis via Superformance’s nationwide dealer network for customers to then complete the build personally. This would seem to imply that they will be assembled to roller level of assembly in the UK before shipping to the US, but I suppose the phrase "part-built form" could have any number of meanings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I get the impression that Superformance is just the US distributor. They are the link between Caterham and thie US dealers. They will (hopefully) market and maintain the brand in the US, arrange shipping/delivery of rollers, and generally be the Caterham representative here. Superformance is not an assembler of cars at any stage of the process, though the dealers will still do that for customers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboWood Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I'm still not totally convinced. You could apply the same sentence to kits now (the chassis comes painted with brake lines and wiring complete). This could be interpreted as "part-built". Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1Steve Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I get the impression that Superformance is just the US distributor. They are the link between Caterham and thie US dealers. They will (hopefully) market and maintain the brand in the US, arrange shipping/delivery of rollers, and generally be the Caterham representative here. Superformance is not an assembler of cars at any stage of the process, though the dealers will still do that for customers. Hi Lucky, Your mixing up the facts about Superformance. They build all their cars up to roller state in South Africa, Less drivetrain which a dealer or customer can install. With Caterham, as you know, one can buy in true kit form.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 S1 - Sorry for the confusion, my comments were meant to reflect Superformance's role as it relates to Caterham. All info and releases indicate they are the US distributor. Not the designer, not the manufacturer, not the builder, and not the assembler. The rest of the Superformance line are thier own products, not at all like the Caterhams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBe Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Superformance will be assembling the kit (not Caterham UK)? If I'm right then it's really no different than Caterham USA building it. It would seam to me that this would really be the only economical way to get the cars in the country. It's much easier to package parts in boxes than on an assembled car. Bruce, Can you clarify? Daniel The rollers will be assembled in the UK, and shipped to the US, without a power-train. Superformance, or any dealer for that matter, will not install the power-train for the roller or kit they sell. However, Caterham now also sells a power-train package for each model, intended to drop-in and work. For example, the power-train package for a Seven 480, will come complete with a fully dressed engine (harness, ecu, accessory drive, etc.), ready to drop-in to a Seven 480. This model, while new to Caterham here in the US, is exactly how Superformance products are currently offered. Cheers, -Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Bruce - And just to clarify all the speculation here, the UK assembly will be by Caterham? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1Steve Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Bruce - And just to clarify all the speculation here, the UK assembly will be by Caterham? There is no speculation on my part, Thank You. I went thru the process 12 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now