Caterham Seven

SUPERLIGHT

Lightweight. Focused. Developed.

C7 DFH
The Car

Built to evolve.

Purchased on 1 February 2001, C7 DFH is a Caterham Superlight developed over more than two decades around the qualities that define a Seven: minimal weight, immediate response and an unfiltered driving experience.

At its heart is a Dave Andrews-built 1.8-litre Rover K-Series VVC engine, paired with Caterham roller-barrel throttle bodies, a six-speed gearbox, limited-slip differential and dry-sump lubrication.

Its Lamborghini Verde Ithaca finish and exposed carbon fibre give the car its present identity. Earlier photographs in the archive preserve its life in yellow, alongside its road trips, track days and development work.

RegistrationC7 DFH
Purchased1 February 2001
Engine1.8 VVC K-Series
TransmissionCaterham 6-speed
Measured weight563.5 kg
Emerald M3D · 17 March 2017

Rolling-road figures.

The recorded Emerald session documents the performance of this particular car rather than relying on a generic published figure.

214.8Corrected bhp
216.6Engine bhp
173.6Wheel bhp
196.7Torque Nm
7,820Power rpm

The original Emerald rolling-road printout is retained in the photographic archive.

Current Specification

Light weight. Serious detail.

ENGINE & INDUCTION

  • Dave Andrews-built Rover K-Series 1.8 VVC
  • Flowed head with larger inlet and exhaust valves
  • Forged pistons and steel connecting rods
  • Piper 1144 camshafts and vernier pulleys
  • Caterham roller-barrel throttle bodies
  • Caterham carbon-fibre airbox
  • R500 lightweight flywheel
  • Magnecor 8.5 mm ignition leads

LUBRICATION & COOLING

  • Caterham dry-sump lubrication system
  • Titan Gold dry-sump pump
  • Flowed water pump
  • Radtec aluminium radiator
  • SPAL electric cooling fan

DRIVETRAIN & EXHAUST

  • Caterham six-speed gearbox
  • 3.62:1 Ford Sierra-type final drive
  • Limited-slip differential
  • Powerspeed exhaust system
  • 4-into-2 manifold
  • Seven-inch stainless-steel repackable silencer
  • Large-bore 4-into-1 configuration

CHASSIS, SUSPENSION & BRAKES

  • Wide-track front suspension
  • R500 upper and lower aero-section wishbones
  • Nitron dampers specially valved by A.R.O.K.
  • De Dion rear suspension
  • Adjustable rear anti-roll bar
  • Uprated race brake master cylinder
  • Four-pot front calipers and vented discs

WHEELS & BODY

  • Staggered Rial wheels with Avon ZZS tyres
  • Lamborghini Verde Ithaca paintwork
  • Carbon-fibre nosecone with exposed band
  • Unpainted carbon front and rear wings
  • Carbon wing protectors and indicator shrouds
  • Black Pack heated windscreen
  • Trackday roll-over bar

COCKPIT & DETAILS

  • Tillet carbon/Kevlar seats
  • Carbon-fibre dashboard and push-button start
  • Caterham/ACES shift-light display
  • Four-point Caterham/Luke harnesses
  • Quick-release Momo steering wheel
  • Carbon-effect transmission tunnel trim
  • Heater and interchangeable aeroscreen fittings
History · 2010–2012

Documented development.

Period invoices, parts records and retained fitting instructions trace the detail behind C7 DFH’s development. The dates below record purchases and orders; they do not establish installation dates or confirm that every item remains fitted today.

2010 · CARBON & DETAIL

  • — Caterham Cars: carbon-fibre nosecone, stock code F76100CF.
  • — Brise: 892910PGR Caterham K-Series starter motor, rated at 1.4 kW, supplied with a 0.7 mm offset mounting bracket.
  • — Merlin Motorsport: STACK ST3101 mechanical oil-pressure gauge, with a 0–7 bar range.
  • — Car Builder Solutions: slimline LED third brake light.
  • — Premier Paint Guard: Caterham-specific paint-protection film pieces for the sides, hood/door-stop areas and nosecone.

2011–2012 · INDUCTION & WHEELS

  • — Seven Speed: Pipercross C603D air filter.
  • — Demon Tweeks: dual-tone sport horn.
  • — Westermann Motorsport: RIAL Challenge Race three-piece wheels, specified as 8 × 13-inch, ET9, in black. The invoice also lists 16 alloy wheel nuts and eight RIAL wheel badges.

STEERING · RETAINED DOCUMENTATION

  • “Batch 3” fitting sheets describe an adjustable rose-jointed steering arrangement.
  • The instructions document steering-pin height adjustment using shims in 2 mm increments, up to +6 mm.
  • These records preserve the adjustment method; the car’s current shim setting is not established by the paperwork.

COOLING & LIGHTING · FITTING RECORDS

  • Think Automotive laminar-flow oil cooler instructions are retained with the car’s technical records.
  • Hella slimline lamp instructions describe screw or adhesive mounting. They may relate to the documented LED third brake light, although that connection is not confirmed.
  • Retained instructions document the equipment and fitting guidance, rather than proving a particular installation date or current configuration.

The history file brings together original invoices, parts records and technical instructions, complementing the current specification and the later Emerald rolling-road record above.

On Film

C7 DFH in motion.