Correspondence with Caterham to discuss details of US import

[charlesshoults]

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

[BHRmotorsport]

Currently placed orders will enter production in 2020.

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

[turbo_bird]

It's cool you can still get a kit from them. I wonder how many cars they make in a year?
Kristian

[Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F]

They would not be allowed to sell us any if they were completed overseas due to our regs for new cars.

[Lonnie-S]

@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.

Cheers,

[charlesshoults]

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.

[Vovchandr]

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.

[FastG]

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

[geek49203]

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.