Caterham celebrate 50 Years of affordable performance
2023 is officially the golden jubilee of Caterham. The brand has kicked off celebrations with the reveal of 50 facts that look back at how the company has evolved over the past five decades.
In 1973 after a handshake between Graham Nearn and Lotus founder Colin Chapman in Pub Lotus in Primrose Hill, London, the company was born. In June that year, manufacturing began in Town End, Caterham after the acquisition of the tooling, designs and exclusive rights to the Seven by Caterham Car Sales & Coachworks.
There have been over 100 different variants of the Seven, including many special editions.
Many world records have been broken over the years too, including;
-The fastest-accelerating production car from 0-60mph with the 1992 JPE model at 3.4 seconds.
-The fastest speed in reverse (102.52mph) in a modified Honda Fireblade-engined car.
-The greatest number of non -stop donuts (566) in 2011.
-The greatest number of donuts in 60 seconds (19), set by Sir Chris Hoy in 2017.
Caterham has sold more than 22,000 cars in it’s 50 year history. Celebrity owners have included Sir Chris Hoy, Rowan Atkinson, Simon Cowell, Eddie Irvine, Chris Rea, Nigel Mansell, Guy Berryman, Jonathan Palmer, Theo Paphitis and Lee Dixon.
Caterham has a detailed history in motorsport also. The sixth car ever built went on to compete in 1973 Grande Prémio Café de Angola – a two- hour race held at Autódromo Internacional de Luanda. In 1992, Caterham won the ‘Longest Day of nelson’ 24-hour endurance race at Nelson Ledges Road Course, Ohio, covering 990 laps and 1,980 miles, and finishing with a race lead of seven laps. In 2002, an R400 driven by Chris Harris, Clive Richards, Chris Cooper and Peter Haynes came 11th overall out of around 200 starters at the Nürburgring 24-hour race, winning its class by 10 laps.
They also have the Caterham Academy, formerly known as the Caterham Scholarship, which was launched helping make motorsport more accessible to novice drivers. More than 1,300 people have become racing drivers since then, largely thanks to the academy.
Caterham will be hosting a 50th Anniversary Festival at Donnington Park on 2nd and 3rd September.
Events include crowning the Academy, Roadsport, 270R and 310R champions, pop-up event space and store, owners parade, paddock party with live music, a track day and much more.
Words: Mike Booth
Pictures: Caterham