Used 1990 Lotus Caterham Super Seven

1990 Caterham Super Seven Lotus is a company that is well known for its commitment to building lightweight sports cars. There is probably no car that better embodies Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s famous quote “simplify, then add lightness” than the Lotus 7. Built from 1957 through 1973, the Lotus 7 is pretty much the epitome of a car simplified, with little more than a lightweight body with cycle fenders, being powered by a small-displacement four-cylinder engine. These cars were tremendous fun to drive and great in competition – so much so that once Lotus ceased production of the 7, the rights were sold to a company called Caterham who would build and distribute replicas and kits of the sports car. This 1990 Caterham Super Seven is one of those cars, built new in 1990, this car is a faithful recreation of the Lotus Seven, but with numerous desirable updates that make it a better driver today. The exterior of this car is finished in bare aluminum, with dark blue painted fiberglass fenders and nose cone. The bare aluminum look was actually quite common on original Sevens and makes for a striking looking vehicle - especially when paired with a nice set of 14-inch Panasport wheels wrapped in Dunlop Direzza performance tires. A spare tire is fitted to the rear of the car, and a roll bar is fixed behind the passenger compartment while a side exit exhaust on the driver’s side makes a great noise and looks very purposeful. All weather equipment is also included which features a fitted convertible top, side curtains and a fabric tonneau cover for the cabin area. On the interior, the simplicity continues. A pair of black cloth bucket seats are separated by a high transmission tunnel with the shifter perfectly placed for easy access from the steering wheel. In front of the driver is a small-diameter steering wheel that frames a white-on-black VDO speedometer and tachometer, and Smiths oil pressure, water temp and ammeter are spread across the dash towards the passenger. Four-point safety belts help keep you and your passenger in place under hard cornering, and a fire extinguisher is mounted in the passenger footwell - just in case. Sitting under the hood is a 1.6-liter Lotus twin-cam inline 4 that has been bored .040 over and was rebuilt before installation. This potent cross-flow engine was assembled with S/E cams, hardened exhaust valve seats, a 4-bolt crank and Crane electronic ignition system. Breathing through a set of twin Weber side draft carburetors, this car has a great induction bark, and makes quite a pleasing noise out of the exhaust too. Power is sent through a 5-speed gearbox to the rear wheels via Ford Sierra pieces. The Caterham Super Seven might not be the fastest car in the world, but if you are looking for the purest form of driving enjoyment, with almost nothing between you and the road, it just doesn’t get much better. This is a very nicely built example with the right engine, gearbox and the classic good looks that will always put a smile on your face when you are behind the wheel. Key Features * 1.6-Liter DOHC Lotus Inline-4 * Rebuilt * Upgraded Cams, Rods, Valve Seats * Dual Weber Sidedraft Carburetors * Crane Electronic Ignition * 5-Speed Manual Transmission * Side Exit Exhaust * VDO and Smiths Gauges * 14-Inch Panasport Wheels * Soft Top With Side Curtains * Full Cabin Tonneau Cover Additional Information * Caterham Assembly Guide * Mike Wilkins Lotus Twin Cam Rebuild Guide * Half-Shaft Repair Manual * All Build and Maintenance Receipts * Engine Rebuild History For more information on this 1990 Caterham Super Seven or any of our 100+ High-Performance, Exotic and Special Interest cars always in stock, contact one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales consultants or always feel free to drop by our 40,000+ sq ft of Indoor Showrooms in Bellevue, WA - Home of an Exciting Inventory of Luxury, Exotic, High Performance and Collectible Automobiles. With 200+ Always On Site, Nobody Has What We Have!