Caterham and sports car dealership HWM have launched a limited-edition model, the Seven HWM Edition, inspired by the legendary 1951 HWM-Alta grand prix car.
Caterham (Caterham Cars Ltd) has produced lightweight, two-seater sports cars since 1973 when Graham Nearn acquired the tooling, designs and exclusive rights to the Seven from Lotus founder Colin Chapman.
In homage to Chapman, Caterham’s philosophy today continues to put the driving experience and fun at the heart of everything it does. It is committed to delivering a personalised experience for every customer and offers a wide range of options to help buyers create a car that perfectly suits their tastes and driving preferences, both for the road and the track.
Caterham is now owned by Japanese retail group VT Holdings, which has served as a Caterham importer since 2009. VT Holdings is one of Japan’s largest retailer groups.
HWM (Hersham and Walton Motors) was founded in 1938 and also boasts a rich motorsport heritage that includes becoming the first British team to score a Grand Prix victory in the post war era. However, it was the 1951 HWM-Alta that cemented the outfit’s legacy, notching up seven wins, seven seconds and ten thirds in international events with a driver line-up that included racing legend Sir Stirling Moss.
Only 19 examples of the HWM Edition will be made available to customers in the UK, with prices starting from £57,990.
Each one of the 19 will be finished in HWM Green as standard, with the colour being scanned from the 1951 HWM-Alta racer. Additional similarities include HWM-Alta race car-inspired side panel louvres, bespoke nosecone grille, suspension wishbones, anti-roll bar, and headlight brackets finished in Retro Grey. There’s also a bespoke HWM Caterham nosecone badge and a centrally-mounted chrome fuel filler cap.
The historic homage continues throughout the interior, with the SuperSprint dashboard being a hand-turned aluminium design, complete with SMITHS chrome dials, solid metal master cut-off switch, and a polished wooden quick-release Moto-Lita steering wheel. The gear knob and handbrake are also finished in chrome and are set on a body-coloured transmission tunnel top. A choice of leather or composite race seats featuring the HWM logo complete the cabin.
Beyond the bespoke elements unique to the HWM Edition, this limited-edition Seven is based on the 420, which features the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre Duratec four-cylinder engine boasting 210 bhp at 7600 rpm, which delivers a power-to-weight ratio of 375 bhp-per-tonne. Mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, it accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 136 mph.
As a final touch, each car is finished with a ‘1 of 19’ plaque located on the passenger side of the dashboard, noting the exclusivity of this Seven.
For more information, visit the HWM website.
Seven HWM Edition Specifications
Pricing (UK): From £57,990
| Engine | 2.0 Duratec Naturally Aspirated |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Manual Gearbox |
| Chassis Size (Standard) | L: 3180mm, W: 1470mm, H: 1090mm |
| Max Power | 210 bhp @ 7,600 rpm |
| Max Torque | 203 nm @ 6,300 rpm |
| Weight | 560 kg |
| 0-60 MPH | 3.8 seconds |
| Top Speed | 136 mph |
| Brakes | Solid discs with twin piston calipersStandard brake master cylinder |