1999 Caterham Seven Roadsport 1.8 VVC
c.10,000 miles, factory built and exceptionally well-specified

Registration No: B9 SVN
Chassis No: SDKRDSARCX0030646
MOT: March 2027

• Full leather upholstery, sidescreens with integral armrests, 'Prisoner'-style 15-inch alloys, heated windscreen, wide track wishbones, De Dion rear etc etc
• Rover K-Series 1.8 litre VVC engine allied to six-speed manual transmission
• Owners have included an airline pilot, amphibious vehicle builder and race engineer
• Recent belt service and fresh tyres etc

Introduced in 1996, the Roadsport range was marketed by Caterham as ‘The 7 for All Seasons’. Featuring a heater, full-size windscreen and full weather equipment not to mention the more accommodating ‘long cockpit’, the newcomer was powered by 1.4, 1.6 or 1.8 litre K-Series engines allied to Ford T9 five-speed or Caterham’s own six-speed manual transmission. Weighing a mere 555kg or so, every Roadsport was a strong performer with the most potent early derivative – the 1.8 litre VVC (Variable Valve Control 150bhp/128lbft) model – reputedly being capable of 0-60mph in 5 seconds and 126mph. Described by EVO magazine as representing ‘perhaps the best compromise between thrills and usability’, the Roadsport in its various guises remained a staple part of the Caterham 7 range for many years.

A salesman’s dream, chassis 0030646 was factory built with a heated windscreen, leather upholstery, wide track front wishbones, de dion rear suspension, 1.8 litre VVC engine, six-speed manual gearbox and 15-inch ‘Prisoner’ alloy wheels etc. Initially road registered as ‘S10 VVC’, the extravagantly specified Roadsport has twice been sold by Caterham; first when it was new and then again in January 2011 at 3,775 miles. Purchased on the latter occasion by an airline pilot (the two forms of transport making quite the contrast), the two-seater was issued with a new owners handbook showing that it was treated to a cambelt service and sump foam renewal when retailed and a speedometer change shortly thereafter. Averaging a modest 320 miles or per annum over the next fourteen years and garaged when not in use, the Caterham then passed to an engineer who had built various amphibious vehicles for the Top Gear television series. He uprated the Seven, by now appropriately re-registered as ‘B9 SVN’, with a QED Motorsport remote thermostat, Gemzoe Motorsport modified sump gasket (due to the foam having been removed), replacement water pump (with metal impeller) and cambelt plus tensioner service. Unfortunately, spinal stenosis limited his enjoyment hence the Roadsport’s sale to the vendor (a former Lotus employee). Further benefiting from a new alternator, third speedometer (the second accompanies the car) and four fresh Michelin tyres within the past year, the Caterham started readily and ran well during our recent photography session. Understood to have covered a mere 10,000 or so miles from new and resplendent in Fire Cracker Yellow paintwork, ‘B9 SVN’ pleasingly retains its original toolkit, various ‘SoftBitsForSevens’ goodies, hood, tonneau cover, sidescreens with integral armrests and two sets of keys. A low mileage, pampered and unusually well-equipped Seven.

For more information, please contact:
Damian Jones
damian.jones@handh.co.uk
07855 493737