“It’s a go-kart for the street,” according to Peter Mayerhofer, owner of a 1984 Caterham Super 7 to be shown at the Tryon Rolling Art exhibit on Saturday, Oct. 31.

The founder of Lotus, former RAF pilot Colin Chapman, studied structural engineering and went on to become one of the great innovators in motorsports design. He was so successful from the 1950s through the 1970s that Team Lotus won seven Formula One Constructors’ titles, six drivers’ championships and the Indianapolis 500. The reputations of world champions Jim Clark and Mario Andretti were made driving Lotus racecars.

The Lotus 7 (rights later sold to Caterham) was conceived by Chapman as an affordable car to be raced. His basic design philosophy was, “Simplify, then add lightness.” He developed very light, powerful cars with suspension that made them quick and agile. The Super 7 is a car that, after nearly 60 years, continues to produce one of the most fun, raw driving experiences on the planet—faster on road-racing courses than cars costing thousands more.

The Caterham could be purchased new from the factory as a complete car or in kit form.  It has an extremely light space-frame with stressed aluminum body panels. Several engine options were available. This one has a performance-built 1700 cc Ford engine with a cross-flow head and dual Weber carburetors, four-speed close-ratio transmission, and a Cortina rear end.

Mayerhofer’s example was purchased new in 1984, in kit form, by James Wilson of Asheville (whose original 1958 Lotus 7 Series One won the 2014 Rolling Art Award). Other priorities in Wilson’s life eclipsed the Caterham build project, so he sold it. The buyer could not get started on the project either, so the accumulated component parts languished unassembled in boxes for nearly 30 years until Mayhofer purchased them—still brand new— in May, 2014.

Because the project lay dormant for so long, completion of the Caterham to original specifications presented Mayerhofer with a daunting challenge produced by missing, misplaced and mismatched components. But, under the able tutelage of Ned Gallaher of Gallaher’s Restoration in Landrum and G & S Motors in Asheville, Mayerhofer was able to get the Caterham running and licensed in just 10 ½ months. It has taken 3,000 miles to “sort out the kinks” but, according to Mayerhofer, this authentic sports car is “a pure joy to drive.”

It will be among over 125 very special cars, motorcycles and trucks to be displayed on Palmer Street in downtown Tryon on Oct. 31, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Preceeding the annual Tryon Halloween Stroll, the show is free to exhibitors and the public. If you have a collector car, motorcycle or truck you would like to show, call 828-859-3185 or email rollingarttryon@gmail.com and provide the year, make and model of your vehicle along with your contact information. Also, plan to bring a bag of food for the pantry at The Thermal Belt Outreach Ministries—the beneficiary of this year’s exhibitor contributions. Everyone is invited to attend this free public event that has become a Tryon autumn tradition.

– Submitted by Warren Board