Pre-purchase inspection.

[Gunscrossed]

OK, I've seen a couple of cars for sale privately and although I'm fairly confident usually when buying cars this will be my first Caterham and I'm slightly concerned about possible chassis issues rust/damage etc.

Is there anyone in the south east who does pre-purchase inspections?

[SM25T]

Lots of L7C members !

[paul richards]

Look for bubbling of the side skin at the bottom level with the wlndscreen triangle or a little forward. Caused by corrosion in the grot traps i.e. The gap between the pedal boxes and the side skin. 

[Gunscrossed]

The cars I'm interested in are generally not that old but a few have been ex-academy.

I guess I'm slightly worried that they may have been crashed and repaired.

Is the absence of a chassis number on the offside front edge generally a sign that the car has had some work? (see pictures)

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1479/13685019/24550865/412956865.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1479/13685019/24550865/412956864.jpg

Or am I way off?

[TomB]

Way off. Older cars had a rivet on chassis plate. 

[Gunscrossed]

As I say, I'm looking at cars from about 2007 on?

[TomB]

Ahh. I didn't spot that. Mines 20 years old so not much help! If it's been repaired by Arch/ Caged it should have been repaired on the the chassis jigs, so should be as good as new. 

[nickh7]

One of the very best 7s I know has had several trips back to Arch and is as good as new. Mine has never had a bump yet the side skins are shot and chassis could do with stripping down and reloaded coating.  So don't be scared of ex racers

 

[Gunscrossed]

Certainly not afraid of buying an ex race car just want to know exactly what I'm getting. It's strange that it's only when cars are recorded as cat D or C that it affects the value whereas some have had extensive unrecorded crash repairs and make good money. 

Anyone have an answer to the chassis number question?

[Ian Mackenzie]

Metric chassis will have the chassis number on the side (look for the 2 short diagonals each side in the engine bay), imperial car (look for one long diagonal each side ) will have the chassis number on the pedal box.

Cross over year 2007/8 when they went metric, but there are still some later reg cars with an imperial chassis.

Cheers

Ian

[John Vine]

My 2008 car (metric) has its chassis number stamped on the O/S top chassis rail:

Even if the car has had extensive chassis repairs, such as a new long front, the chassis number should be carried over and recorded in the same place (provided the repair has been done by the correct people -- CC Westbury for metric cars).

JV