There is another "Caterham curve" too. The rears on Caterhams kick up at the bottom much more than a Locost. Also, there is a subtle downward curve as the top of the chassis goes from the cockpit to the rear panel.
Here's an example of a Caterham that shows both.
Attachment:
Detail-420R-Rear-3Qtr.jpg
This French one-off takes both to the extreme. I think it works and looks very "aggressive" if I can employ that over-used word.
Attachment:
Detail-Low-Slung-Locost-2.jpg
When I did my own Locost (based on the Haynes Roadster) I hadn't really noticed the upper curve on Caterhams yet, but did like the kick-up on Graham Earley's roadster that he built using a New Zealand company's 7-like chassis. It still uses the essentially flat top rail.
Attachment:
Graham Earley 2.jpg
Initially, I just designed in the 25° kick-up from Graham's 7. But after looking at several examples, I now prefer having both curves and will change my design on the build table when I get back on it soon. I believe these smaller details provide a lot of personality to a Locost and are worth thinking about when deciding how to build your own.
Cheers,
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