Can Anyone Justify a Caterham?

[Old Major]

DG300, rated to 450 lb.ft

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RACE-...Q5fCarQ5fParts

[GTV]

wonder if that lotus 23 clone could accomodate a v8?

like an early can-am?

isn't there a spec series for those ERA's in the UK - seem to be reasonable gear (probably silly money by the time you get them out here though)

maybe a 50's front engine GP car might be an easier thing to replicate - there's a 250F rep getting around that looks pretty legit (even though it has an rb-something nissan in it)

warming to the topic now, how about Lancia Ferrari d50 with an alfa 3.0 v6 and transaxle - 600Kg, 250hp narrow tyres, LSD, see where I'm going here hehehehehe

[Mr Purple]

This thread has headed in an interesting direction...

I think for my bank account's health I should stop reading it.

[Old Major]

There was an ERA in Unique Cars a few issue back. Given that they are only replicas and I doubt that you can register them in Australia, this kind of kit might make more sense:
http://www.my105.com/classified.asp?id=13123

[CussCuss]

if you have enough room you can use the arse end out of a vette, shitloads cheaper than a real transaxle, similar to what the ultimas do.

[Old Major]

if you have enough room you can use the arse end out of a vette, shitloads cheaper than a real transaxle, similar to what the ultimas do.

Which end of the car is the clutch on the Corvettes? Attached to the engine or the gearbox?

[Gammaboy]

Now we are getting somewhere:
buy a cheap formula ford chassis,
fit alloy chev LSx (you don't want small capacity - you want torque baby),
some sort of big torque hewland transaxle (OK that bit won't be cheap)
retro style body,
big wings,
big arse F5000 wheels and
the hardest old treaded historic tyres you can get
have fun hanging 4th gear powerslides all over the place
WIN

For 1/2 the price of the LSX plus a real (hewland) transaxle, you can have a F360 motor and transaxle (12k landed). Throw a brace of webers on top and an edis system on it, use the BRM copies and uprights from the GT40 mob (DRB? or was it Roaring 40s?) and play.

maybe a 50's front engine GP car might be an easier thing to replicate - there's a 250F rep getting around that looks pretty legit (even though it has an rb-something nissan in it)

warming to the topic now, how about Lancia Ferrari d50 with an alfa 3.0 v6 and transaxle - 600Kg, 250hp narrow tyres, LSD, see where I'm going here hehehehehe

I always wanted to do a 250SWB lookalike with 3l 116 underpinnings... skiny crossplies etc etc.

Which end of the car is the clutch on the Corvettes? Attached to the engine or the gearbox?

It's a T56, I think the clutch is at the engine end? Been a bit of talk on GTV6.com about stuffing one into the 116 platform with it's torque tube to sort the grenading of the transaxle that the turbo guys seem to be encountering.

[CussCuss]

its at the engine end. In a rear/mid engine car i would imagine you would just have a tiny/non existant torque tube?

getting the rear end out of a 360 or a 355 (aural sex ) would be way cool

[Nero]

'Malcom Oastler' - F1 designer for BAR Honda?

Correct

[Gammaboy]

its at the engine end. In a rear/mid engine car i would imagine you would just have a tiny/non existant torque tube?

Bolt on a standard (Camaro/Commodore) T56 Bell housing and input shaft. There's a Kit manufacturer in the states that does a replica of the Corvette GTP this way - It's super long between the back of the passenger compartment and the rear wheels:

[Old Major]

Bolt on a standard (Camaro/Commodore) T56 Bell housing and input shaft. There's a Kit manufacturer in the states that does a replica of the Corvette GTP this way - It's super long between the back of the passenger compartment and the rear wheels:

You could go for the F1 driver forward look. How about a Brabham BT55 replica?

[Mr Purple]

Can't believe I started this thread a year ago.

Am hiring a 125 Roadsport for a day on our trip to UK this year. Am hoping this will convince me to finally spend the money on one. Equivalent Australian model is $55k.



Alternatively, my sister is thinking of moving to the UK for a year. Might buy her a car.

[Bren]

Do it I say! I really regret not hiring one for the day when I was England!! In about a year or so I plan on getting a Clubman, well maybe a year and a half, and would love a Caterham. I won't be able to afford one though. Locost/Arrow etc will do, whatever is available at the time that I like.

EDIT: And to answer original question, yes I can justify one. Simply because I will enjoy it.

[Mr Purple]

My thoughts exactly.

My plans are to enclose my undercover parking space when I finish renovating my house, and aim for a Caterham in 2013.

I've checked out the Elise, and it's just not stupid enough for me.

I've already booked, we're hiring in York. Decent roads around there apparently.

[Bren]

Make sure you let us know how it goes then!! I am quite jealous :p To be honest, I only thought of hiring one a couple of days before we left England, so didn't give myself time.

I have looked on the Caterham Australia website a number of times now, and the prices are definately quite reasonable.