Super Caterham celebrates 1970s and ’80s

Caterham has reintroduced its heritage range with the launch of two new models: Super Seven 600 and Super Seven 2000.

With the UK sports car maker set to celebrate its 50^th anniversary next year, the latest editions take inspiration from the Caterham’s early ‘Super Sevens’ introduced in the 1970s and popularised through the 1980s.

It’s a classic, British, lightweight, two-seater sports car with the perfect blend of style and performance — yet re-imagined for the 21^st century.

While these models may look similar, they offer two very different driving experiences.

Super Seven 600 is an accessible, pure, simple, driving experience but at a lower speed.

It is a car for those who want to enjoy a leisurely Sunday drive with the wind in their hair, but are less focused on power and 0-100km/h times.

For performance fans looking for more brutish power, faster speeds and a car that wants to be driven more enthusiastically, the Super Seven 2000 may be more appealing.

Super Seven 600 is powered by a 660cc Suzuki turbocharged engine that produces 63kW and achieves 0-60km/h in 7.1 seconds, as found in the Seven 170 model and shares its live axle chassis design.

In comparison, Super Seven 2000, following popular demand, features a 2.0-litre Duratec engine which generates 134kW and registers 0-60km/h in 5.0 seconds.

This model is closely related to Seven 360 and as such uses the ever-popular de-Dion chassis found in the majority of Caterham models.

Subsequently the Super Seven 2000 can also be purchased in the larger chassis variant.

Customers looking to enhance the handling of both cars can add a limited slip differential.

Drivers of Super Seven 2000 can up the performance dial even further by adding a sport suspension package featuring a rear anti-roll bar and adjustable platforms as well as front ventilated discs with quad piston callipers.

Caterham Super Seven 600 and 2000 — Caterham Super Seven 600 and Super Seven 2000.

Both models will be initially available in the UK with Super Seven 2000 on offer to the US market.

Super Seven 600 comes in a standard chassis only while Super Seven 2000 is offered in standard and large chassis sizes.

All versions are available in kit and fully built forms.

Militem a Ram with a touch of Italian

Both models will be available for self-assembly in the UK market as a component kit for those who crave the enjoyment of assembling their own car.

Prices for Super Seven 600 and Super Seven 2000 will start from £29,990 ($51,000) and £39,990 ($68,000) respectively.

Caterham’s Bob Laishley said with Caterham Cars celebrating its 50^th anniversary next year, it now feels right to be adding cars to the range that take inspiration from our past.

“We’ve taken what was great about Sevens of yesteryear, the design, look and feel, and reimagined them for today,” he said.

“Super Seven 600 and Super Seven 2000 will offer two very distinct driving experiences, appealing to a wide range of driving enthusiasts who want a taste of a modern Seven but with the charm and retro-styling of our vehicles from the 70s and 80s.”