1979 Caterham S3 Super 7 – consignment

tl;dr Equipped with the Kent 1600cc crossflow with single Weber and full windscreen and weather equipment. Super Sevens are a lot of fun to drive. With a spartan build and snappy motor, you’re likely to find a new sense of accomplishment on your favorite roads… With just 7800 original miles, it’s in lovely condition – ready to enjoy today.

Built by CC Motorsports to performance road-going specification, including the following:

• Ford Crossflow Kent motor rebuilt (for performance upgrade purposes) by noted Formula Ford builder Dave Dixon in Detroit at just over 4000 miles
  • Lightened flywheel and clutch assembly,
  • Bosch distributor and coil,
  • new valve springs and retainers,
  • new pistons,
  • cam,
  • lifters,
  • timing chain assembly
• Solid rear axle with 3.9 final drive and Salisbury type LSD and semi-close ratio 4 speed transmission
• Estimated 130 to 135 bhp, powering approximately 1100 lbs of weight
• Full length (i.e., exits out the back) stainless exhaust system with header wrap under the hood to keep heat down to a minimum
• Oversize radiator with thermostatically controlled electric fan
• New master cylinders
• All new braided stainless brake lines
• 13″ x 6″ PanaSport alloy wheels with 205 x 60 x 13 Sumitomo HTR 200 tires with less than 1000 miles on them.

General information:

• Titled as a 1964 Lotus with matching Lotus data plate with Lotus serial number so regardless of where a potential buyer may be located there should be no emissions issues
• The only features to distinguish this car from an original S3 Lotus 7 are the Caterham taillights and front clamshell turn signal lights
• Arch Motors chassis number AM50
• 7800 original miles
• Less than 3000 miles on engine rebuild
• Original unpainted aluminum skin with very few blemishes
• Original fiberglass, and original running gear throughout
• Full weather equipment (side curtains, top), and stock Caterham roll bar.
• The interior has the original “bench” vinyl seat and original Smiths guages that work fine.

Since purchasing the car, I have had the following upgrades:

• Addition of auxiliary muffler (in deference to my good next-door neighbors) which can be removed in less than 15 minutes
• Modification to alternator mounting to improve alignment
• Installation of belt-and-suspenders manual override switch for electric fan, in case of thermostat control failure
• New front brake calipers and pads from Dave Bean Engineering of California to correct periodic sticking
• New valve cover gasket
• Professional fitting of new tonneau cover
• Installation of side mirrors and brackets that do not interfere with side curtains
• New wiper arms and blades modified from Austin Healey Sprite
• Fabrication of clear plexiglass wind wings for use when you don’t want to fit the side curtains (doors)
• Installation of new racing style quick-release fuel filler cap

Over the past six years of ownership I have driven the car only in the summer (usually on road trips down old Highway 101 along the shore of Hood Canal in Washington near my home), never in the rain, and always kept it garaged.
This is a reliable, fun, very fast car that accelerates and handles like a race car but without the reliability problems and finicky nature of most high performance sports cars.

As Craig Chima, writing from Ohio, noted at the time I bought the car: “the best endorsement I can give this car is that I wouldn’t hesitate to jump in it and drive to California (if my back could stand it!). It truly needs nothing and is ready to go.”

more info: http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?7295-1979-Caterham-1964-Lotus-7