The hugely retro Caterham Sprint was limited to just 60 units and sold out in the space of just one week only.

The latest incarnation of the Caterham Seven – the retro-heavy Sprint – has sold out in the space of a week.

All 60 of the £27,995 special edition built for the UK and Europe were snapped up within seven days of the car’s unveiling at the Goodwood Revival on Friday, Sept 9.

The car, which features the same three-cylinder, 80hp Suzuki engine as the entry-level Seven 160 and features bespoke styling harking back to the mid-1960s, heralds the start of celebrations for Caterham Cars’ 60 Years of Seven celebrations, which will culminate next year.

Caterham’s Chief Commercial Officer, David Ridley, said: “We have been overwhelmed with the response to the Sprint. We knew of course it was a great product but the reaction we got is unprecedented.

“In a typical year, we’ll sell around 500 cars meaning that, with the Sprint, we’ve sold more than 10% of our annual sales figure in a week. It’s been the perfect scene-setter to our 60 Years of Seven celebrations.”

The 60^th car was sold by Caterham at 11am on Friday September 16 but there is still a chance to scoop one of the immensely desirable cars via Caterham’s UK and European dealer network.

Caterham launches a factory built model that comes straight out of the 1960's, it's pure history on four wheels.

Caterham Cars has built a variant of its iconic Seven that was seemingly planned in the mid-1960s but never launched – the Caterham Seven Sprint.

As though dug up in a time capsule, the retro detailing of the Caterham Seven Sprint will delight Seven purists and provides the perfect scene-setter to the brand’s ‘60 Years of the Seven’ anniversary, which will be celebrated next year.

The Sprint, priced from £27,995, will finally be available to order from September 9, when the car will be launched at the Goodwood Revival, a fittingly retro setting for a car with one wheel firmly planted in the ‘60s.

Powered by the same 80hp, three-cylinder Suzuki engine installed in Caterham’s entry-level Seven 160 model, the Sprint features a host of nostalgia-soaked features, including a choice of six paint colours that were original British manufacturer colours available in 1966/67.

Caterham Cars CEO, Graham Macdonald, said: “We have always prided ourselves on continually developing the Seven during the 44 years we have been custodian of the model.”

“But we never wished to dismiss our heritage either and I know there are plenty of Seven purists and aficionados out there who will really appreciate the level of detail we’ve gone to with the Sprint to resurrect the spirit of those early cars.”

“It’s a car that has been built today, with all the benefits that modern engineering brings with it, but the essence of the swinging ‘60s and is the perfect precursor to our 60^th-anniversary celebration in 2017.”

The launch of the Sprint heralds the start of Caterham’s ‘60 years of the Seven’ celebrations, which will culminate with a spectacular Caterham festival at Donington Park next summer. To reflect the anniversary further, only 60 Sprints will be destined for the UK and European markets.

The Sprint chassis is powder-coated grey, making it period-accurate for a Series 2 Lotus 7, while the suspension and rollover bar are also reminiscent of Colin Chapman’s original.

With flared front wings, polished exhaust silencer and uniquely retro-styled, individual rear lights, the Sprint harks back to the early days of the Seven and the choice of paint colours completes the exterior effect.

Wheels will be painted cream and finished with polished hubcaps, while the main bodywork, emblazoned with retro Caterham branding and Sprint logo, is available in original British colours, named by Caterham to reflect their heritage – Cream, Mellow Yellow, Regency Red, Camberwick Green, British Racing Green and Misty Blue.

Inside the cockpit, the sepia-toned impression continues, with a wooden-rimmed sports steering wheel and dashboard in wood effect, complete with a classic oOOo instrument layout. The tacho even features red and yellow sectors, in true ‘60s style.

Meanwhile, the interior panels and Muirhead Scottish seat upholstery is hand-stitched in the period style and finished in striking scarlet red.

The interior and luggage space are fully carpeted, as befits a ‘60s connoisseur and there are very few concessions to modern life, the main one being the three-pot Suzuki engine, which generates performance good enough to be considered beyond mundane but perfectly capable of a more leisurely application.

The Caterham Seven Sprint will be available as a factory-built car only.

Even Caterham produces a fuel efficient car by taking part in the 2015 MPG Marathon,

• Caterham proves the 160 is the most economical two-seater sportscar on the market*
• Seven 160 finishes eco-driving event with an overall MPG of 59.03, a 2.48% improvement on the car’s official MPG
• Pistonheads’ John Mahoney piloted 160 in the 370-mile competition 

British sportscar maker, Caterham Cars, has taken part in the annual MPG Marathon for the first time with its most economical Seven model; the 160.

The UK’s leading lean driving challenge took place between Tuesday 29^th and Wednesday 30^th September, with the 370-mile route starting and finishing at Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire.

This year saw the 15^th edition of the MPG Marathon take place, with production cars and LCVs, competing in a test of eco driving skills. Prizes were awarded on the basis of the percentage improvement obtained in relation to the official MPG for the combined cycle of the car and outright net fuel consumption in MPG.

Caterham competed with its most frugal Seven ever built and, driven by Pistonheads’ John Mahoney, the 160 competed in the class for passenger cars powered by petrol with CO2 emissions of 101g/km – 190g/km. The Seven 160 achieved an overall MPG of 59.03 during the course of the event - a 2.48% improvement on the 160’s official 57.60mpg.

The MPG Marathon saw the iconic Seven, a car which brings unrivalled levels of efficiency, fun and value for money to the sportscar segment, standing out from the crowd as the only two-seater sportscar, participating.

Powered by a super-compact, turbocharged three-cylinder Suzuki engine, the 160 emits just 114g/km CO2. The 160 produces 80hp from its 660cc engine and generates a top speed of 100mph, reaching 0–62mph in only 6.5 seconds. Priced from £15,995 in component form and £18,995 fully built, the Seven 160 can be taxed for just £30 per year and is the most cost-effective two-seater sportscar on the market*.

Caterham Cars’ Chief Commercial Officer, David Ridley, said: “The 160’s impressive performance in this event proves that the Seven really does deliver everything, proving that fuel economy doesn’t have to come at the expense of a fun drive.”

Fun, Fast and fully built for £18k, the new Caterham Seven 160

• Priced from £14,995 or 17,995 fully built
• Suzuki-powered 660cc Seven with new live-axle will be ultimate in ‘accessible fun’
• UK variant named Seven 160; EU gets 165

Caterham Cars has opened the order book for the Seven 160 – its new entry-level variant of the iconic sportscar, powered by a super-compact, turbocharged Suzuki engine.

Priced from £14,995 in component form, the car’s live-axle rear suspension, compact engine and low weight embody the pioneering spirit of early Sevens and represent a new entry-point to the Seven range.

The Seven 160 – EU customers will get an altered version, called 165 – produces 80hp from its 660cc, three-cylinder, turbocharged engine, enabling it to accelerate to 60mph in a brisk 6.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 100mph.

With fleet-of-foot charm and handling finesse, rather than outright performance dictating the driving experience, the new car redefines the budget sportscar segment while introducing new levels of efficiency and value for money to the Caterham range.

Caterham Cars CEO, Graham Macdonald, said: “As the Caterham Group as a whole grows and expands into new sectors and industries, our commitment to keep evolving the Seven is very much alive.

“The 160 offers something truly different to the entry-level market. It’s more economical, more accessible and every bit as fun on the road as other Sevens but has its own unique personality.”

The new rear axle, a throwback to early Sevens in terms of simplicity and purity of design, complements the Suzuki Motor Corporation engine and lower overall body weight, while delivering Caterham’s acclaimed, intuitive handling experience and a balanced yet playful chassis.

To meet the desired performance criteria, the Caterham Group’s engineering consultancy, Caterham Technology & Innovation (CTI), fine-tuned engine performance from its standard output of 64hp to 80hp, while boosting fuel economy and reducing vehicle emissions. The vehicle conforms to EU5, EU6 and JC08 emissions regulations.

Macdonald continued: “The engineering challenges we faced when developing the new vehicle were significant. The engine, suspension and the overall dynamics all needed to work in harmony and the various arms of the Group have been successful in pooling facilities and expertise to achieve that.”

The number five at the end of the EU spec car’s moniker signifies that the vehicle complies with the EU5 emissions standards, allowing it to be sold across mainland Europe and beyond.

Production of the Caterham Seven 160 and 165 is expected to begin in January 2014, with first deliveries later that Spring.