Is it possible to build a new Caterham for £10K?

[Stevie_P]

As I understand, the starter kit is around the £4.5 - £5K mark with further modules to add to this.
If you used some of your own sourced parts (Engine, Gearbox, Diff etc) would it be possible to build one for around £10K?
Over to the experts..

[Furyblade_Lee]

No.

[Purespeed]

Well I'm not so sure you couldn't do that.. Classic 1400 kit with a credit for the engine, gearbox, ECU, exhaust and diff then source your own. I reckon you would get over 3.5k for those off Caterham and if you took your time I think you buy it all used for 500 quid. But you then have a Q plate car and thats worth way less than one with a current plate.

Jason

[Dorchester]

Yes, I expect it can be done - if you stick to the classic and use a live axle (I would always prefer a Ford item).
My last build from a Caterham chassis kit in 1988 cost appx £3½k total when the kit was just over £2k.
Of course it depends on what you source yourself, whether they're new or used and the spec. that you're after.

[Yazza54]

I'm with Lee. No.

[Furyblade_Lee]

"new" is the key word. You could probobly build an r500 if you happened to have an old 250bhp K lying around your garage.

[Furyblade_Lee]

IVA and registration cost nearly a grand.

[Tango7]

Excepting the OTR charges, it might be possible with plenty of second hand bits bolted onto the new chassis. I don't think the Q plate would affect its value as much though as selling on a bitsa of bits unless you have been very lucky with the bits you have picked up - maybe if someone had converted an old car to something like a BEC and decided to upgrade a lot of the old running gear.

[S47]

Absolutely NO - we costed it - minimun would be £13K plus IVA, and that would be for minimum spec car with Zetec - you're better off buying a newish academy, we bought a used academy 10months old 2K miles for £15K, BUT it had plenty of expensive extras [ which you can sell to recoup some of your money] Buying ready built is also much less hassle, and you get to drive it immediately

[Stevie_P]

Well the concensus seems to be that you can't.
I was just wondering as it seems the engine assembly is £3,500 from Caterham whereas you can get a new Zetec for around £600 - £700. Granted, you need Carbs / throttle bodies.
Gearbox is nearly a £1000 from Caterham. Type 9 boxes can be had pretty cheap.
etc etc.
I thought it may have been possible but maybe not.

[Noger]

What about a BEC (IVA issues aside) ?

R1 engine with all bits : £750.

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/34/viewthrea...

[Furyblade_Lee]

I have an R1 car. Whilst possible to get an engine cheaply, you really want one with a COMPLETE wiring loom and clocks / keys. Meaning not even 1 relay missing, as curiously many loons have little bit missing which are a FORTUNE from Yamaha. You then need quite an intricate engine sub-frame tailored to mate to your car. Not cheap unless off the shelf. An injected one will need a power commander. And the sump needs baffling. And you need to get the exhaust manifold modified ( no longer curves under the engine). And you need sone sort of reverse mechanism now for IVA. So no longer a cheap option, BUT worth every penny if you can hack the revs!!!

[Noger]

The STM engine cradles fit the S3 chassis almost perfectly, if you hack off the upper LHS diagonal. Older engine / Dynojet / Sausage ?

Good point about the loom. Haven't got my bill from DC autos yet, but will be a fair whack.

Didn't realise reverse was part of IVA.