135bhp Seven is a throwback to the Seventies!
There can never be enough Caterhams and once you’ve tasted the purest form of road driving there is, you’ll never want them to stop coming out with new editions – so here’s the latest, which is actually a throwback Caterham Seven.
The retro-inspired Super Seven 1600 is the latest in a line of heritage-themed cars from the sportscar maker. This one features a 1.6-litre Ford Sigma, four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine putting out 135bhp and 165Nm of torque from 4100rpm.
That gives it a 0-60mph acceleration time of 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 122mph. At just 565kg the two-seater offers a 250bhp-per-tonne power-to-weight ratio.
Prices start at £33,495, or £325.99 a month for 48 months, for a car in component form – so you might to wield a spanner for a bit to get on the road. It fits into Caterham’s existing heritage line of products as a permanent addition, alongside the limited-edition Sprint and Super Sprint models launched in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Retro details and styling cues include the classic flared front wings, retro-inspired 14” alloy wheels, a spare wheel and carrier harking back to the touring Sevens of old, and a choice of Seven heritage paint finishes. Inside there’s a wooden-rimmed steering wheel and classically tailored leather upholstery.
Fortunately there’s a bit more space in one of these compared to an original 1970s version as the new-for-2020 car is the first Super Seven to be offered in the wider, more comfortable large chassis (SV), as well as the standard version (S3).
And it’s not just the car’s looks that hark back to the ‘70s – the Super Seven 1600 includes DCOE throttle body injection, found on any self-respecting rally car of the era and producing a distinctive growl, reminiscent of the twin ‘40s of the period.
Brown Car Guy 
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