Anyone have experience trying to fit a tall (6'6") driver in one of these? A seven is in line as a fun toy sometime in the future, but I'd hate to get my hopes up and then not fit in the damn thing. #caterham
@Al Navarro: I tend to think that it'll depend on your body proportions. I'm almost exactly the same size as Clarkson, and I've seen him just slip into a Caterham SV. I think you'd have to have the lowered floor AND a removable wheel for me to fit. #caterham
@ArtForge:
My old normally aspirated Superlight would turn 3.9 0-60 times while sounding like ripping silk. Got a problem with that?
I have driven a turbo-Miata'd SV (thanks, Skip!) and it is very fast as well, but I found the turbo spool and wastegate noise to be distracting compared to the above.
The new old Seven will have Webers, original to the car. #caterham
@Al Navarro: Yes, I do. No offence, I love a se7en and it sounds like you have a meanie, I would love to hear it. Original designs are great, don't get me wrong. I feel that superlights should be able to outclass nearly everything on the road without having to play in the big toy motor range. I like the idea of even or sub 3.0 second times. I also like the sound of a wound-up supercharger and wastegate pops make me giddy (Honda excluded). #caterham
@skaycog:
google Caterham vs. [INSERT ANY FAST CAR YOU WANT HERE], and there are plenty of good videos. Vs 911 Turbo or GT3 or something on 'Ring is pretty good. #caterham
@Al Navarro: I did a search for Caterham vs. Ford GT 40 and came up with this. These are supercars leaving Super Sunday at Gaydon in June of this year (wherever Gaydon is). #caterham
@pauljones: I don't know why they don't sell more of them. It's really the ultimate in pure driving machinery. Anyone who calls themselves an enthusiast should own one or aspire to own one or have owned one. While it has its limitations, performance really isn't one of them. #caterham
@pauljones: "In my ideal world, I would love nothing more than a final-year 1953 Indian Chief, a 57 GMC 1/2 ton, and a Caterham."
Excellent choices sir, I tip my driving cap to you. #caterham
Sharks stopped evolving millions and millions of years ago, because evolution was done. They are efficient, well-equipped for their niche and very highly adapted to their environment.
The Bristol 603 is NOT still being made--production on this model ceased in 1982 (although knowing Bristol, they would undoubtedly make you one if you asked nicely enough). Bristol now make only the Blenheim (series 3, 3S & 3G), the Figher (incl. Fighter T) and a special order Speedster. That's it.
@crankyshaft: The Blenheim is known internally as the 603 S4, though it was originally coded an S3 like the '82-'94 Brigand and Britannia. Significant changes included slightly revised body panels, new mirrors and a Bristol badge
I'm not counting the Cadillac. A total body redesign is enough to keep other cars off the list, so it should be in this case as well. Besides, everyone knows D-Body production stopped in 1996, not 1997, making it 19 years. I should know, anyway, since I own one of the 12,000 Fleetwoods built that year.
Also, the Morgan 4/4 actually dates to 1936, 1955 was simply the year the car re-started production after a brief interruption in the early 50s.
Awesome list, as usual Mr Martin.
I was in Shenyang last (in the north-eastern Chinese Rust Belt) and we drove by a factory that's still making the Audi 100 C3. All the mid level civil servants had one, in black (while their bosses roll in Audis and their minions in Santanas). I never knew the name (can't read Chinese) but my memory's good with numbers and there was 8170 in the name.
Any Sino-Jalops have an idea?
Here's another one for the list - the Russian ZIL 4104/41047 which was produced from 1981 to 2002 with only a minor facelift around 1985. This was the type of car in which Gorbachev rode in around New York City in 1988.
@tonyola: It might even extend beyond that, as Putin started using ZILs after he came to power, and I recall the factory putting the 41047 back into limited production.
@Black_Watch_Plaid: Interesting. I have heard that even though the ZIL stopped production in 2002 because of lack of sales, the company (still a major truck maker) kept all of the tooling and has been willing to them to build them to order if anyone asked. The website for AMO-ZIL ([www.amo-zil.ru]) still lists the car.
@tonyola: Sweet, I didn't know that they finally had a proper website. I'll be bookmarking that, thanks. (And anyone who likes ZILs gets a heart-clicky from me.)
I'm starting to have a recurrence of a VW Ghia "bug" -- ha! See what I did there? Seeing one in person a couple of weeks ago was a surprise, what a nice design! And even with these racy little things, VW kept its sense of humor. The caption for this ad was, "You'd Lose."
@Novaload: Funny thing is, Dacon and the Fittipaldi brothers turned Karmann Ghia's into fire-breathing track monsters....of course, their Ghia's had Porsche power
10/21/09
10/21/09
Both Caterham and Westfield offer a lowered floor option. #caterham
10/21/09
10/21/09
Most cars I've seen have the removeable hub option. #caterham
10/21/09
10/21/09
My old normally aspirated Superlight would turn 3.9 0-60 times while sounding like ripping silk. Got a problem with that?
I have driven a turbo-Miata'd SV (thanks, Skip!) and it is very fast as well, but I found the turbo spool and wastegate noise to be distracting compared to the above.
The new old Seven will have Webers, original to the car. #caterham
10/21/09
10/22/09
10/21/09
[jalopnik.com] #caterham
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
google Caterham vs. [INSERT ANY FAST CAR YOU WANT HERE], and there are plenty of good videos. Vs 911 Turbo or GT3 or something on 'Ring is pretty good. #caterham
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
I know that it's partially staged for TV, but a good David vs. Goliath illustration. #caterham
10/21/09
10/21/09
The CSR is based on the SV (widebody) model of the Seven, and has an inboard front suspension.
I guess they make this 2.0 liter version for the folks that don't want to get the 2.3 liter Duratec.
I personally would just get the R300. #caterham
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
In my ideal world, I would love nothing more than a final-year 1953 Indian Chief, a 57 GMC 1/2 ton, and a Caterham.
The realities of age, family, work, and finances, however have left me with a Saturn.
If you'll excuse me, I think I'm undergoing a pre-mid-life crisis crisis. #caterham
10/22/09
Excellent choices sir, I tip my driving cap to you. #caterham
10/21/09
10/21/09
Behold the shark of the highway. #caterham
10/21/09
helo #caterham
10/21/09
10/21/09
Taking the backroads, however...oh my. One might look forward to workdays. #caterham
10/09/09
Good work, but you missed a couple:
the 1967 Opel Rekord was built in Brazil between 1969 and 1992 as the Chevrolet Opala/Comodoro/Diplomata.
The 1st gen Mitsubishi Debonair was produced between 1964 and 1986 with a minimum of changes:
10/09/09
@Mr.choppers - Delenda Carthago Est:
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
39 years!!!!!!!
10/09/09
09/28/09
09/27/09
Also, the Morgan 4/4 actually dates to 1936, 1955 was simply the year the car re-started production after a brief interruption in the early 50s.
09/27/09
09/27/09
09/27/09
09/27/09
I was in Shenyang last (in the north-eastern Chinese Rust Belt) and we drove by a factory that's still making the Audi 100 C3. All the mid level civil servants had one, in black (while their bosses roll in Audis and their minions in Santanas). I never knew the name (can't read Chinese) but my memory's good with numbers and there was 8170 in the name.
Any Sino-Jalops have an idea?
09/27/09
09/27/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/27/09
I'm starting to have a recurrence of a VW Ghia "bug" -- ha! See what I did there? Seeing one in person a couple of weeks ago was a surprise, what a nice design! And even with these racy little things, VW kept its sense of humor. The caption for this ad was, "You'd Lose."
09/27/09
09/27/09