Thoughts on a car please?

[dirty boy]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1730088.htm

I keep looking at this thinking it looks like reasonable value (ex-racer) but i'm not a Caterham expert, and not entirely sure at the moment what I should be looking for.

Any comments appreciated.

The other one that's got me interested is this

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2184998.htm

I'd then be tempted to have a respray in a colour I fancy, and update the alloys, refresh a few bits

?

Not sure what to do really?

If I like Caterham ownership and need more power I may upgrade to an R3/400 at a later date.

[EFA]

Capestone Classics seem to get lots of ex race cars. These will have had a hard life.

The red car for £8250 looks like a bargain.

[Sam_68]

EFA said:

Capestone Classics seem to get lots of ex race cars. These will have had a hard life.

'Recent rebuild at Minister would start ringing all sorts of alarm bells for me, on a car that has (allegedly) done 8K miles in its life.

[BertBert]

Red car ex race too? Not saying it's not a bargain.
Bert

[Incorrigible]

I doubt it will have 8,000 miles of hard use, but it's difficult to tell without looking underneath. And why a recent massive receipt from the Caterham recommended engine builder is cause for concern is beyond me, care to elaborate EFA ?

I'd have thought they could have put the wheels on the right sides for the photos though

Not sure about the price, it's the end of the season now. I've got an '05 (54 plate) you could have (any colour you want) for the same price

[dirty boy]

Incorrigible said:

Not sure about the price, it's the end of the season now. I've got an '05 (54 plate) you could have (any colour you want) for the same price

Mind emailing me details? If it's comparable I may be interested, cheers

[Z3MCJez]

That first car looks like a downgraded Mega Grad. I say that as the first thumbnail picture shows it with an aeroscreen, even if the click-through image doesn't.

I don't necessarily agree that a race car will have had a hard life. The engine will have been run to within an inch of its life, I'll grant you, but the rebuild a Minister will sort that. It has a new skin, so has obviously had some crash damage, but if the chassis is straight, that's no big issue. And suspension doesn't get hammered on a track - the roads around me are much less smooth than a track.

Check hubs, disks etc for excessive wear, but if the spec fits, I wouldn't be put off by a race car.

Jez

[V7SLR]

The red car is older than it appears - lower front wishbone pickup points and chrome poppers on the boot suggest a pre-'96 chassis.

[Nicodema]

Incorrigible said:

I'd have thought they could have put the wheels on the right sides for the photos though

Could just be set up for dry track use - Avon recommended config they say.

[CanAm]

V7SLR said:

The red car is older than it appears - lower front wishbone pickup points and chrome poppers on the boot suggest a pre-'96 chassis.

This car has been discussed recently either here or on Blatchat. I remember commenting on the Supersport (?) R badge on the bonnet. Blowed if I can find the thread now.

[sam919]

Z3MCJez said:

That first car looks like a downgraded Mega Grad. I say that as the first thumbnail picture shows it with an aeroscreen, even if the click-through image doesn't.

I don't necessarily agree that a race car will have had a hard life. The engine will have been run to within an inch of its life, I'll grant you, but the rebuild a Minister will sort that. It has a new skin, so has obviously had some crash damage, but if the chassis is straight, that's no big issue. And suspension doesn't get hammered on a track - the roads around me are much less smooth than a track.

Check hubs, disks etc for excessive wear, but if the spec fits, I wouldn't be put off by a race car.

Jez

Extreme ditto

[CanAm]

The Blatchat thread on the red car is here.

[Incorrigible]

Nicodema said:

Incorrigible said:

I'd have thought they could have put the wheels on the right sides for the photos though

Could just be set up for dry track use - Avon recommended config they say.

Indeed, but illegal for the road. It was a tongue in cheek comment I did put a at the end

[dirty boy]

Incorrigible said:

Nicodema said:

Incorrigible said:

I'd have thought they could have put the wheels on the right sides for the photos though

Could just be set up for dry track use - Avon recommended config they say.

Indeed, but illegal for the road. It was a tongue in cheek comment I did put a at the end

Ben,

Did you get my mail?

[coyoteracer11]

Z3MCJez said:

That first car looks like a downgraded Mega Grad. I say that as the first thumbnail picture shows it with an aeroscreen, even if the click-through image doesn't.

It's an ex-RSA, seems to be racing in CSCC Mag Sevens according to some of the other ads on PH for it. It has been offered for sale in various specs at various prices on PH in the last few months. Same car seems to be available with a trailer, suit, helmet etc at £10k - see http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1758749.htm, which would be a bargain IMO.

[Incorrigible]

dirty boy said:

Incorrigible said:

Nicodema said:

Incorrigible said:

I'd have thought they could have put the wheels on the right sides for the photos though

Could just be set up for dry track use - Avon recommended config they say.

Indeed, but illegal for the road. It was a tongue in cheek comment I did put a at the end

Ben,

Did you get my mail?

Yes, I replied. Although it was from my hotmail account, check your spam

[James.S]

I know both these cars and although require converting back for road use, (a simple job) they are in excellent condition.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2216098.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2199760.htm

Bets of luck

j

[dirty boy]

This one is now up for £7,500.

At that price it does give me quite a bit of scope to customise, am I missing something quite obvious as to why it's so cheap?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2184998.htm

[V7SLR]

As stated, the car is older than it appears. Probably a '95(ish) 1400K, run by Caterham as a track demonstrator - I say that because I know of another similar car, also road registered in 1997 - also fitted with black grp. Probably then suffered a knackered/blown engine and it was swapped to 1600 sometime, maybe Caterham, maybe a subsequent owner. THERE WERE NO 1600K SERIES CARS MADE PRIOR TO THE CHANGE TO THE LATER CHASSIS TYPE. This car is not the later chassis type.

At the new price it does appear good value and if you know Caterhams (or have a possy of aquaintances that do!) and there's no reason it can't be turned into a very respectable car. It has plenty of the right bits to be a good starting point - FIA bar, leather seats etc. Buy it, take a load of it apart and tidy it over the winter, have a lot of fun in the spring!

My first car was of a similar era and you'd be amazed how up to date it would look with a few changes:

Make it one colour (red or whatever),
Fit carbon rear arch protectors,
Get the screen surround & lights powder coated (cost - £25)
Fit all new black poppers
Fit a better set of wheels - at the price drop there's potential for a new set of Caterham anthracite alloys!

Then just drive it and enjoy!

As a comparison, this is my old car. Same exhaust and much of the other bits. But a little TLC and updating!

Stu.

Edited by V7SLR on Thursday 11th November 07:38

[coyoteracer11]

V7SLR is spot on.

I see the car is in Berkshire - I am in Newbury and if the car is nearish to me I'd be happy to come along with you to view as I have a vague idea what I'm looking at. The usual disclaimers like "if it turns out to be a hound" apply of course . Feel free to PM