Seven
We arrange finance on the Caterham Seven, built 1973 onwards, for limited companies and LLPs, for business borrowing over £25,000, and for individuals borrowing over £60,260 under the high net worth exemption.
- BUILT
- 1973 onwards
- ERA
- 1970s
- BODY
- Open two seat
- ENGINE
- 0.7 L Suzuki K6A I3 (Seven 160/165) ; 0.7 L Suzuki R06A turbo I3 (Seven 170) ; 1.4–1.8 L Rover K-Series I4 ; 1.6 L Lotus-Ford Twin Cam Cosworth BDR I4 (Seven DBR 1600) ; *1.6 L Ford-Kent I4 ; 1.6 L Ford Sigma TI-VCT I4 (Seven 270) ; 2.0 L Vauxhall twin-cam I4 (JPE) ; 2.0 L Vauxhall twin-cam turbo I4
- LAYOUT
- Longitudinal front-engine, rear-wheel drive
- ASSEMBLY
- United Kingdom: Dartford
- BUILT IN
- United Kingdom
Financing a Seven
Values in this period vary sharply by model and by condition. Corrosion and unrecorded restoration are the usual reasons a valuation comes back lower than the asking price.
The Seven was built 1973 onwards in United Kingdom and is recorded with a 0.7 l suzuki k6a i3 (seven 160/165) ; 0.7 l suzuki r06a turbo i3 (seven 170) ; 1.4–1.8 l rover k-series i4 ; 1.6 l lotus-ford twin cam cosworth bdr i4 (seven dbr 1600) ; *1.6 l ford-kent i4 ; 1.6 l ford sigma ti-vct i4 (seven 270) ; 2.0 l vauxhall twin-cam i4 (jpe) ; 2.0 l vauxhall twin-cam turbo i4. Those details matter to a lender only insofar as they support a valuation: what is being funded is a specific car with a specific history, not a model line.
A company usually takes hire purchase or lease purchase on a car like this. A certified high net worth buyer borrows under the exemption. An owner who already has the Seven in the garage can raise money against it instead. In each case the lender wants an independent valuation, evidence of condition and a clear view of how the borrowing is repaid.
Before you buy
- 01Corrosion history, including any previous repair sections
- 02Completeness of trim and brightwork, which is often scarce
- 03Service record and the date of the last major mechanical work
- 04An independent valuation the lender will accept
- 05Agreed value insurance quoted before completion
Model reference: Wikipedia. Specifications vary by year and market, so check the individual car.
Questions
Can my company buy a Caterham Seven on finance?
Yes. A limited company or LLP can buy on hire purchase or lease purchase, with the agreement in the company name. It is not regulated consumer credit, whatever the amount. How the car is treated for tax depends on how the business uses it, so speak to your accountant.
Is a Seven too old to finance?
Age on its own is rarely the obstacle. Specialist lenders assess the car, its provenance and an independent valuation rather than applying a cut-off year, so a 1973 onwards car can often be financed, subject to status and lender criteria.
Can I raise money against a Seven I already own?
Often, yes, and the car normally stays with you. The lender takes security over it, and how much can be raised depends on the valuation and on how readily that model sells. We arrange this for companies and for certified high net worth owners.
I want a Seven for personal use. Can you help?
That would be regulated consumer credit, which requires FCA authorisation we do not hold. Send the enquiry anyway: it is handled through one of our regulated partners, and we tell you which firm before anyone contacts you.
Finance on this page is arranged for limited companies and LLPs, for sole traders and partnerships borrowing over £25,000 wholly or predominantly for business purposes, and for individuals borrowing over £60,260 who have signed a high net worth statement. Send us the details either way: cases outside that are handled through one of our regulated partners, and we tell you who before anyone contacts you.
Start the entry formModel details compiled from marque records, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Specifications vary by year and market, so check the individual car. Market values are added to this page as the price data for Caterham is published. Questions about a specific car are best sent to enquiries@classiccarfinance.uk.