Caterham in U.S.?
 

A couple days ago, in West Hartford (wealthy town), I spotted a yellow Lotus Seven replica ripping down a main road. I figured it must be either a Caterham or a Westfield or the like.

I thought these cars were not street-legal in the U.S. due to emissions and crash restrictions? Anyone know something I don't?

Here's an example of what I saw:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1164818512.jpg

I believe they are legal because they get in as "kit cars". Same as the Radical and the Ariel Atom.

It may have actually been a Lotus. I followed a guy to a Starbucks one day. He was driving a '73 Lotus 7, not a replica.

I wish I had the disposable income to have a "7" of some sort. I think that would be a blast. I'd drive it to work when the weather was good.

I think that cars registered as a "kit" get huge leeway with crash testing and emissions. I also think you can buy Caterhams in different stages of build.

These are more fun than a room full of teats! Make the 911 feel like bus.

+1 but you can combine titties and a car like this and have a lot more fun... :)

Yeah...But its still UGLY!

quick cars, aldermans in delaware sell them so legal

Ugly...perhaps, but purposeful, mean, and has "attitude" that few cars can ever touch.

I saw one here in Bloomington at a car club get-together. It wasn't a Caterham. It was some builder from Australia or New Zealand...

could be real, could be a kit (there are a few), even grassroots had a buildup of the "locost" car.

+1 but as Money says...

Ugly...perhaps, but purposeful, mean, and has "attitude" that few cars can ever touch.

That car is nothing but a road scorcher.

I wouldn't drive it on the 405 at rush hour, though.

I would love to put one of those in the garage with the 951. Anyone have any idea how what kind of money it takes to get one over here?

http://www.caterham.co.uk/downloads/Tech_pricesheet.pdf

Looks like, at the cheapest, a full kit would cost 13K pounds (almost $20K), unassembled. You can buy whatever parts you need, however, if you already have a drivetrain.

who cares about ugly... fast is beautiful. (a bit like rich is goodlooking to some men/women. tori spelling?- c'mon, gimmie a break :rolleyes: )

I actually think there's something attractive about them. I guess the whole, "so ugly it's cute" thing or maybe more of the form follows function beautiful thing. I don't know, but I like 'em a bunch.

It's a form-follows-function thing. I think it's gorgeous, because it's so purposeful and simple. I dunno, I have wanted one for a few years now.

+1

This car was built, not styled.

I know this sounds crazy, but i would consider selling the 951 if I was convinced i could get one for a good price. That's how badly I want one...

I'd rather have both, though.

My friend built his Caterham 2 years ago. These are registered as kit cars but do not need emmissions inspections because they use pre 1974 pinto 4 cyl engines. They run fantastic because of the great weight to horsepower ratio. Think of the seven as a motorcycle with 4 wheels.