The more things change in the motoring world, the more Caterham stays the same. It has stuck with the same basic design for the past 60 years, honing the formula into a range of road racers for keen drivers. To celebrate this heritage, the company is building a batch of Seven SuperSprints, with a retro livery and interior.
This isn't the first time Caterham has turned to its past in a lovingly-crafted special edition. The company's big birthday bash kicked off with the Seven Sprint last year, a green and red throwback to the swinging sixties with a modern three-cylinder engine. The SuperSprint follows to a similar formula, with classic looks and up-to-date power.
There will be two different versions available: a single or double seater. The single seater is designed to evoke memories of classic racers, with a tonneau cover to hide the spot where the passenger would usually sit. The rollcage is also uniquely shaped to reflect the fact the car is for selfish, weight-conscious drivers.
Regardless of how many seats are on board, the car comes with a special Brooklands-style windscreen up front, and all six paint finishes are named after old racetracks. We love the silver-and-red Hockenheim option, but wouldn't be disappointed with any of the options. The seats are trimmed in tan-colored Scottish Muirhead leather inside, and the standard steering wheel has been traded for a wooden-rimmed unit for a properly retro experience.
Power comes from a three-cylinder engine, breathed on by Caterham Works for an eye-popping 95 hp (71 kW) of power. By way of comparison, the Seven Sprint from last year had just 80 hp (60 kW) from the same three-cylinder engine. It's put to the skinny (155-section) rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox, and there's a limited-slip differential to keep thing neat and tidy.
The SuperSprint will be priced from £29,995 in the UK and US$29,300 in the US. That sounds like a lot of money for a three-cylinder sports car, but just 60 examples will be built. Last year's Sprint sold out within a week, so get in quickly – the SuperSprint is likely to sell just as fast. It was unveiled at the Goodwood Revival, but you can check it out in the video below.
Source: Caterham
