Wanted: Caterham

[EviLRome0]

Im in the philadelphia area but am willing to travel to or ship the right car.

im looking for something with 110+ hp, di dion, rear and all the rest is give or take. i also dont mind a car with higher miles or older age. im a young guy so my funding is limited :( otherwise i would be out buying a new one. i would like to keep the cost under $25k. ive watches quite a few of these cars sell in the past year and i think i can find a good example in my price range.

thanks in advance for everyones help.

Roman

[xflow7]

Your price sounds reasonable for what you're after. You're probably familiar with most of usual places to look, but here are a few suggestions for places where there are usually some advertised:

Rocky Mountain Sportscars in CO (www.rmsci.com)
Sevens and Elans in MA (www.sevenselans.com)
ebay (www.ebay.com)
Hemmings (www.hemmings.com)
www.race-cars.com

My only advice is to not necessarily limit yourself to a de Dion, at least not before driving a live axle and possibly a de Dion for comparison. Live Axle's get an un-necessarily bad rap for on-road driving IMO. I have a live-axle and to me neither the ride quality, nor the behavior over bumps is near bad enough to warrant writing one off completely. This is of course a personal thing, so the best is to drive both and make your own assessment. And at the kind of power level you're talking about, the strength benefit of the de Dion is not going to be relevant unless you're planning to upgrade power considerably in the future (>160HP). And if I'm not mistaken, the live axle cars are typically a bit lighter.

Dave

[Ecotec07]

I have been lurking here for awhile and signed up today just to post this. There is a place in Michigan in the Detroit area that has one for sale. My neighbor across the street is the mechanic there and he says it is very nice.( I have no affiliation as I have only lived in this house for 2 months and just this weekend he told me they had one if I wanted to check it out.) It can be found here. http://auto-europe-sales.ebizautos.com/webdetail.aspx?iid=1999931

[yellowss7]

Roman, mines, not for sale, but if you haven't seen or sat in a Caterham, I'm in Media and would be glad to share my experience. Tom

[Boxologist]

Mid atlantic Caterham is close by for u to see what they have in stock. ur budget puts u in the ballpark for a mid 90s de dion. probably will be one of the larger crossflow engines.

that same money also buys u a new se7en from the other manufacturers. they are excellent cars as well where for the most part ur $$$s may go further. If u have ur heart set up an actual Caterham, then the more u put away for ur purchase, the more car u get. or the more mods u can updrade to.

feel free to lurk around. a few of u may be getting together for a drive next month in the poconos if case u wish to tag along.

[SuperStalker44]

Roman,

Don't know if your set on an actual Caterham but I am finishing up my Super Stalker build and looking at a relocation from sunny Florida to always wet Seattle. The car is going out to paint next week (BRG) and then will be put up for sale. FYI, this is the supercharged model with 240HP, 5-speed, zexel torsion rear diff, overall nice build level. The car is titled in FL as a 1968 Lotus with no "kit car" or "replica" disclaimers and registered with an antique tag.

I've done about 200 shake down miles in 90+ deg temps with no issues. I'm out of town for a funeral until Monday evening. If you care to talk about the car, email me at d@beearo.com

The Brunton's Stalker website is www.bruntonauto.com if you want to read up on the car.

I planned to list the car for $27K when done, so your not far off.

Darrin Wilson
Super Stalker
Chassis #44

[slngsht]

Roman,

Don't know if your set on an actual Caterham but I am finishing up my Super Stalker build and looking at a relocation from sunny Florida to always wet Seattle. The car is going out to paint next week (BRG) and then will be put up for sale. FYI, this is the supercharged model with 240HP, 5-speed, zexel torsion rear diff, overall nice build level. The car is titled in FL as a 1968 Lotus with no "kit car" or "replica" disclaimers and registered with an antique tag.

I've done about 200 shake down miles in 90+ deg temps with no issues. I'm out of town for a funeral until Monday evening. If you care to talk about the car, email me at d@beearo.com

The Brunton's Stalker website is www.bruntonauto.com if you want to read up on the car.

I planned to list the car for $27K when done, so your not far off.

Darrin Wilson
Super Stalker
Chassis #44

the classic / antique tag is such a relief... I have historic tags in maryland, and don't have to deal with any inspection BS.

BTW, EVERYTHING i've heard about the Stalkers has been positive :thumbs:

[EviLRome0]

hay guys, thanks for all the great replys.

xflow7, i have watched most of these sites carefully.

Ecotec07, i dont know how i missed this one!!! im going to call them asap.

yellowss7, i have driven the $50k caterham at midatlantic in DE and was sold on the car (after drolling for 2 years online). i would still love to go for a ride with you to see another example of the car. i actually live in west norrinton which is only 20 min from you down the blue route.

Boxologist, please let me know when your heading to the mountains i would love to join and watch.

SuperStalker44, i have been shying away from a stalker because they are all seem very unfinished. the interior in everyone ive seen is an afterthought leading me to view the caterham as more refined. also there is one on ebay that has gone 4 times now and remains unsold for 16k starting bid.

[Kitcat]

See the Stalker's photo first. I was stunned at how refined the Stalkers were at the Dragon Sevens gathering.

Also check out the Westfields. After driving a nice cross section of makes at the Dragon, one reviewer said, if it were his money, he'd take home the $28K Miata-powered Westfield that was there. If I were still in the market, I might too (tho I love my '97 Caterham wh/I bought for $22.5K, 3 months ago).

[JohnCh]

Don’t let the interior design of any Se7en hold you back. Part of the fun of owning these cars is that you can always modify things to suit your taste. For example, I didn’t like my Westfield’s interior, so when I rebuilt the car, I did a total redesign (before and after photos are in this post (http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=989)). It still isn’t quite what I want, so this winter I will give it another shot, but it is pretty easy to do. My advice is to make the effort to see, drive/ride in as many different se7ens as possible before pulling the trigger. You certainly won't go wrong with a Caterham, but you may find that you actually prefer something else.

-John

[Al Navarro]

FWIW, I saw a Stalker for sale up at Lime Rock whose interior would have shamed the Caterham demo car I test drove at a dealership that shall go unnamed.

I think the guy wanted like $19k all in. Having tried to keep up with Paul W's Stalker in my Superlight down at the Dragon...that's a hell of a buy. Of course, Paul was running DOT slicks while the rest of us were making do with mostly treaded tires....:d

[DB's seven]

Thankyou Kitcat ! The 2007 Autopro Motorsport demonstrator is still for sale and as a few more miles are on it (600 ish)we will take $28,500 for it now.We could also sell you the kit to build your own for about $17000,00 , you would need a miata donor car but nothing else apart from fluids or we can build one to your specs starting at about $26000.00. Westfield are Caterhams direct competition in the Uk and ours has the ultra reliable Miata powertrain. If you would like to drive down and see it let me know or I could pick you up at Raleigh Durham airport if you would rather fly , we are about 5 mins away. See our details and reviews of this actual car at - http://www.autopro-motorsport.com/usa/forsale.htm I can also help with financing if you choose.

Doug
919 219 9470

[Crazy_Canuck]

Mine is for sale, look in member rides for my car picture. Can call me at 215.431.4902 for info. Reasonable and good car. X-Flow 40th Anniversary Model. #47 of 65. email me at clm56@comcast.net.

[EviLRome0]

i just sent away money wcm ultralite yesterday.

[yellowss7]

So when do you expect to take delivery? 3 philly region autox's left this year. Oct 13 at Ripken staduim, Oct 28 in Warminster, and Nov. 11 at Ripken. Hope you can make a couple of them. Tom

[Al Navarro]

I'm going to try and make Oct 28th...maybe some of the MD/VA posse will come up. D-Mod runs in the AM group...hopefullly the weather will not be so rainy this time.

[yellowss7]

Yeah a day like today would be PERFECT!

Tom

[Boxologist]

I'm going to try and make Oct 28th...maybe some of the MD/VA posse will come up. D-Mod runs in the AM group...hopefullly the weather will not be so rainy this time.

why is there always an event locally. theres a NNJ SCCA at Etown in the next month or so that I may be able to make if people are interested. possibly saturday oct 20th. other dates is sat 10/13 that i could be free on. i have no clue is extra dates into november or december will be added into NYR's new site.

anyways, congrays on teh westfield. hope to C U on the blat in a few weeks.

[EviLRome0]

i actually got a wcm ultralite, but i do look forward to meeting you guys in person.

[Boxologist]

oohhh, aerodynamics!:hurray:

[xflow7]

oohhh, aerodynamics!:hurray:

aerodywhatnow? :confused:

:d