Caterham For Sale in Newport Beach

[TheBeefBaron]

I was just driving along PCH near my house and one of the classic car dealers had a 7 just sitting in the lot, so naturally I pulled a U-turn and took a look. The person working there didn't know a lot about it, but here is what he knew and what I saw:

- $23000
- Bright yellow
- Very low mileage
- Labelled a "Lotus" make and "Caterham Super 7" model
- Had a DOHC Miata engine I think
- Doors were still in the trunk, still had their protective covers, never installed, along with other components
- Essentially ditched there the previous day when his wife thought it was unsafe for the kids, said he could bring it home under no circumstances
- Negotiable on price
- Deflector installed but full wind shield comes with the car
- Other random stuff, like the tonneau cover comes with the car, not sure of everything
- Chrome is pitting a bit
- Leather seats, I'd replace the non-removable larger diameter steering wheel

Like an idiot I didn't take any pictures, but here's the contact information of the person most knowledgeable about the car, but who wasn't there on the day I stopped by:

Todd Wertman
949-548-7900 (office)
949-500-0945 (cell)
[email protected]

https://www.EConPCH.com

[Doug Liedblad]

The Miata engine is rare, if so it's a custom install.

Not that it's bad, just that Caterham and others have the Zetec, Duratec, Crossflow, and Vauxhall installation kits readily available.

If it has the Miata transmission check to be sure they did not have to modify the transmission tunnel to make it fit.

There was one guy in Colorado doing a Miata installation into a Caterham. I don't know how it came out.

If it is a Caterham the price seems reasonable depending on age and condition of the car.

Doug

[magnusfeuer]

I may swing by this weekend and have a look at it.

[Doug Liedblad]

Dealer got back to me and will send photos.

He confirmed it's solid axle with Miata engine.

1997.

He's not sure if it's a Caterham so I told him where to look for numbers.

I'll post photos as soon as I can.

[rzempel]

It's a 1990-ish Birkin. I'll post more details and pbotos in a bit.

[uk marine carpentry]

thats the one I was talking about yesterday.

[slomove]

Maybe total speculation...in 2002 before I bought my Seven I met a Japanese guy (I believe Toshi) with an early 90's yellow Miata powered Birkin in Newport Beach. Back then there was no official US importer. The car did not impress me then but maybe it is another one, anyway.

[rzempel]

Maybe total speculation...in 2002 before I bought my Seven I met a Japanese guy (I believe Toshi) with an early 90's yellow Miata powered Birkin in Newport Beach. Back then there was no official US importer. The car did not impress me then but maybe it is another one, anyway.

That is exactly the car. As I was told, a local businessman imported 4 or 5 Birkin rolling chassis in about 1990-1992. This was one of those cars. A gentleman in Newport Beach finished it with a Miata drivetrain and almost immediately sold it. Hitoshi Sakai bought it, but rarely drove it--it now has about 5,000 miles.

The car looks to be in pretty good shape. Todd at European Collectibles told me that he will ask $22,000 once he has done a bit of work to the car; but if anyone wants to buy it before he does anything he will take $19,000.

[TheBeefBaron]

I'd absolutely jump on this if it was a year from now when I have more of my student loans paid off. Being responsible sucks. Hope somebody can give it a good home.

[uk marine carpentry]

interesting

The car is now on e bay, whats interesting is when I asked the guy about the car, if it was a caterham or whatever, he had no idea what it was. but now he has posted it on e bay, he knows everything about it including its history!

[rzempel]

The car is now on e bay, whats interesting is when I asked the guy about the car, if it was a caterham or whatever, he had no idea what it was. but now he has posted it on e bay, he knows everything about it including its history!

He should...when I stopped by and identified it positively as an early Birkin, we went through all the stuff he had with the car and found the original builder/owner's phone number. He called, and the guy visited the dealer a few days later. :-)

[TheBeefBaron]

So as of yesterday the car is still available (although there was some kid looking at it, maybe a future convert).