LocostUSA.com

Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
It is currently March 29, 2024, 4:29 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: October 30, 2018, 4:38 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: December 21, 2010, 11:01 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Sidney, NE
Much of this information is sort of pointless to a typical Locost-interested builder, but perhaps someone will find this interesting. Yesterday morning, I emailed Caterham UK to see if they could tell me anything about policy for importing cars to the US. It seems that there are very few dealerships in the US that sell them, and inventory is very small, so I was interested in finding out if self-build kits were possible. They didn't answer me directly, but forwarded my inquiry to a US dealer. Below, is there response.

Hello Charles,
Your contact details were forwarded to us by the Caterham Cars factory. We are an authorized, full-service Caterham Cars dealer, and would be glad to work with you on the specification and delivery of a new Caterham Seven.

The notes in your enquiry were also forwarded to us - a few top-line answers:

* Sevens are brought into the USA as incomplete vehicle kits or rolling chassis. We offer professional assembly services, or you may opt to complete the assembly of the car yourself.
* Each dealer sets their own pricing. I'm confident that we will provide the best value of any dealership in the USA on a new order.
* Ignore UK pricing, as it does not include the overhead of crating, shipping, duty, taxes, and fees associated with getting a car across an ocean and a continent.
* For an in-stock vehicle, the 'current' exchange rate is irrelevant. The true cost of the vehicle is embodied in the exchange rate that was paid when the kit was ordered/paid-for. Exchange rates you typically see on the internet (EX.com, etc) are "bank rates". These are inter-bank rates, and always more favorable than the actual exchange rate one gets during a transaction. In either case, Beachman Racing dynamically prices our custom-ordered Sevens at the point funds are transferred to the UK, based on the exchange rate we are given by our foreign exchange broker. In other words, we do not "hedge", or protect our currency risk. This approach "always" results in the best value to the customer.
* Caterham no longer offers the "classic" sub-model. Ten years ago, one could purchase little more than a skinned chassis, and take it from there (e.g custom powertrain, etc). All Seven models are now inclusive on a specific powertrain, and the chassis/running-gear anticipate that powertrain.

Caterham has recently enjoyed strong international demand for the Seven. Currently placed orders will enter production in 2020.

Best Regards,
-Bruce Beachman

Beachman Racing - Authorized Caterham Cars Dealer and Motorsports Specialist
http://www.beachmanracing.com

_________________
Cost to date: $---.--
Projected cost:$--,---.--
Expected completion: ------ ----


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: October 30, 2018, 6:56 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: December 4, 2011, 6:19 pm
Posts: 829
charlesshoults wrote:
Currently placed orders will enter production in 2020.


Wow! Not too many auto manufacturers are that booked up!

_________________
Bill H
Winnipeg, MB, Canada


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: October 31, 2018, 12:43 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: August 27, 2005, 1:04 am
Posts: 1414
Location: Kamloops, BC, Canada
It's cool you can still get a kit from them. I wonder how many cars they make in a year?
Kristian

_________________
V6 in a book frame build. Now registered.
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=7587
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=18172


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: October 31, 2018, 7:04 am 
Offline
Automotive Encyclopedia
User avatar

Joined: December 22, 2006, 2:05 pm
Posts: 8037
They would not be allowed to sell us any if they were completed overseas due to our regs for new cars.

_________________
Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: October 31, 2018, 11:58 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 24, 2008, 2:13 pm
Posts: 5326
Location: Carlsbad, California, USA
@charlesshoults

If you look at the expense of getting any Caterham, even a 20-year old one in rough shape, you'll likely soon join us here building your own Locost version. :wink:

Cheers,

_________________
Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: October 31, 2018, 12:27 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: December 21, 2010, 11:01 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Sidney, NE
I started a Locost project once upon a time, but it never really got anywhere. Life happens. I'm going to build my own chassis, but I want to size it as close as possible to an actual Caterham. The engine is questionable, as new 4-cylinder crate engines seem to be getting hard to come by. For Ford, only the 1.8L EcoBoost seems to remain. From Caterham, I'll end up buying a nose, hood, scuttle and fenders, then work toward fabricating the chassis and remaining sheet metal.

_________________
Cost to date: $---.--
Projected cost:$--,---.--
Expected completion: ------ ----


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: October 31, 2018, 6:24 pm 
Offline

Joined: June 26, 2012, 7:12 pm
Posts: 26
turbo_bird wrote:
It's cool you can still get a kit from them. I wonder how many cars they make in a year?
Kristian


Right around ~500. ~50 get imported to USA. Give or take a few.

_________________
01 Caterham SLR


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: November 1, 2018, 8:18 am 
Offline

Joined: April 1, 2010, 10:26 am
Posts: 564
You can get new cars if you want without waiting until 2020. Most of the distributors place unfulfilled orders, they fill the order book. So you can get one if you want one, plus orders fall thru making cars available.

Graham


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: November 1, 2018, 3:57 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: January 31, 2012, 12:49 pm
Posts: 1713
Location: Louisville KY
There are also alternatives like Brunton (which is built in the USA) and Westfield (UK thing with an American dealer) that might be good alternatives. Unless you've got your heart set on a Caterham.

_________________
***************
Geek49203 aka
Tim Wohlford
Louisville, KY
Hayes front, S10 +2 rear, Lalo body.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
cron
POWERED_BY