This Locust Caterham Copy Looks Like Bargain Summer Fun
Caterhams and their copies are wonderful things. Elsewhere in the motoring media it’s been said that you either get them or you don’t, and if you do, there’s nothing that can compare.
The problem, at least from one perspective, is that Caterhams are ridiculously expensive on the used market. So expensive that you’d be forgiven for thinking you might as well buy something just as fast but more rounded on a PCP for much lower monthly payments. A Caterham gives you bonkers residual values, but even so, the prices are off-putting.
That’s why we’ve looked sideways at this, the only Locust Seven kit car for sale in the country at the moment. A 2007 car on a Q-plate, it’s built with a Ford Crossflow engine with twin Weber carburettors, and for just over half what a 1995 Caterham Super Sprint will ask of you. Next to £11,000-£12,000 for the genuine article, £6500 looks like a bargain for something that is undoubtedly quite similar.
It’s recently had new wheels and tyres, and the suspension has been set up “for a near-50/50 weight distribution.” Worthy of a facepalm, we think. Obviously no one has told the seller it doesn’t work like that.
Mileage is anyone’s guess, which is obviously a negative. The seller doesn’t seem to know (or want to say) how much distance the 1.6-litre engine and chassis have each done, but they call it a ‘foster’ engine. They might mean ‘donor.’ Nor do we know how much power this one puts out; the 1.6 ranged from ‘not a lot’ to ‘plenty,’ at least in the Locust Seven’s lightweight frame.
The seller does at least say that they’ve spent a lot of time tidying it up, inside the engine bay, and they’ve raised the steering column for more comfort. The suspension has been powder-coated (well or badly, we don’t know), but it still needs a couple of jobs doing: the steering column cover needs to be replaced; as does the speedometer cable.
But still, for such a lot of fun in a Caterham-that-isn’t, it’s about as much fun per pound as you’re ever likely to find. Weekend country road blasts would never be the same again. Worth a punt, maybe? Or would you prefer to stick to paying more for a pure-blood Caterham?
Comments
Must be a BUG to maintain it. well im just saying it MITE be.
ps. why call it locust?
Locust = low cost, if I recall. There’s a book about how to make these from old RWD Fords, think I have a copy in the shed somewhere… https://www.amazon.co.uk/Build-Your-Sports-Little-Pounds/dp/1859606369
This is the Locost alternative then?
You know the name is based on “Low Cost”, as it was actually originally named Locost, right?
But can we say the roll-cage looks like it’s made from a stolen folding chair?
That’s what Caterham’s always been so good at, perfecting the Seven’s design to a point where it works so flawlessly that whatever you do to it, you ruin it
Also I’m offended no one tagged me
A locust is a type of lotus 7 clone, and is a different design to a locost. There are loads of seven style kit cars out there and £6.5k will buy something a damn site better than a cross flow powered locust.
I know it’s like 60k more expensive but…
You guys do realize Caterham didn’t invent the 7, right?
Yeah, true. I know this comment is a million years old, but I agree with you on that. I had a 2 day long debate with a guy who believed that caterham copies exist.
£6500 seems often to be a ceiling price for non-Caterham, Lotus 7 copies. But I’m with Stu - For this money you could get a Westfield, a Tiger…all manner of better-built Sevens are out there in circulation for that price.
I’d love to see Car Throttle cover these cars more, considering just how pure and raw they are - surely right at the heart of the CT ethos…
You know I have had both, Caterhams do hold their money granted but when selling have to wait for the guy that wants your car, currently have a supersport on a 10 plate it’s great but wasn’t cheap. Upon reflection the most fun I had was with a westie with a Vulcan 155hp through a Mexico 4 speed transmission onto the same ford diff!!!! Live axle. Awesome car nothing came near it to 80 or so then out off go!!!! Locking the reads coming down the box too fast etc. I have the Caterham because I loved them from childhood with a fathers friend having a 1600gt. We aren’t all snobs it’s about fun after all!!!!! And from a guy who’s had most things always come back for another