Caterham turns 50

British sportscar specialist Caterham Cars turns 50 in 2023, which is a major achievement for any automotive manufacturer, let alone one so niche. To celebrate the occasion, a series of events are planned this year, culminating in a Golden Anniversary track day at the UK’s Donington Park circuit in September.

Before it was a manufacturer, Caterham Cars was an agent for Lotus, based in Caterham, Surrey. Their success with selling Lotuses, particularly the Seven sports roadster, saw the firm become the UK’s sole distributor, When Lotus looked to discontinue Seven production in the early 1970s, Caterham’s Graham Nearn struck a deal to buy the rights to the Seven name and all the related manufacturing equipment.

That deal, completed in June, 1973, saw Seven production continue under the Caterham name from 1974, starting with the ‘Super Seven’. Based heavily on the Lotus Seven S3, the original Caterham Seven was only available in kit form initially, but complete, turn-key cars would follow.

In the five decades since it started as a manufacturer, Caterham Cars has produced innumerable offshoots and variations of the sports roadster, powered by an equally broad range of engines, but all remain instantly recognisable as a ‘Seven’.

In 1987, production moved to Dartford, Kent, while an attempt to broaden the model range with the ‘Caterham 21’ came in 1994. Caterham branding also appeared on a short-lived Formula 1 team.

These forays aside, Sevens have been the bread and butter for Caterham Cars and continue to find favour with enthusiasts, especially those of a competition mindset (circuit racing, sprints, hillclimbs, etc.), ensuring production has continued to this day, with multiple model variants offered.

Australian celebrations for Caterham’s Golden Anniversary are yet to be confirmed, but expect an acknowledgement at various car shows and motorsport events, including Historic Winton in May and possibly Motorclassica in October.

Anniversary celebrations in the UK will culminate on 1-3 September at Donington Park with an all-Caterham race meeting, consisting of Academy, Roadsport, 270, 310, and 420s (CSCUK) from the Caterham Motorsport paddock, plus additional race series from Magnificent Sevens (CSCC) and Caterham Graduates Racing Club (BARC).

Caterham orders for Australia are currently on hold while ADR compliance is being updated. Once complete (in Q2, 2023), local order books will re-open for the Seven 485 S and 485 CSR, while a lower cost model may be added later this year. For details, go to: caterhamcars.com.au