Superlight?

[anthonym]

OK so I have one, an old R500K and it's very light, love it. I also have a non Superlight even older BDR and it weighs a ton (imperial) by comparison. 

I've seen it said that Superlight just means lighter bits one can bolt on, like seats and whatever (not sure what else). Indeed I have added CKR500 seats to the BDR but it makes no difference aside form my comfort.

Without ever having known it seems to me that the added lightness comes from carbon fibre replacing glass fibre everywhere, or is that just wishful thinking on my part? Granted the K engine is weigh lighter than the 711M BDR.

Anthony

 

[Golf Juliet Tango]

Anthony: Superlights also discarded the windscreen, associated wipers & motor, washer bottle, didn't they also substitute Tillets for S type seats? All marginal gains.

[anthonym]

Stephen: I was wondering about the bodywork as opposed to the bolt on - or offs.

The Tilletts are Carbon Kevlar - indeed don't you have one?

[SLR No.77]

From memory I seem to recall the R500K had some reduction in weight in the chassis itself, but only the R500K and not other Superlight variants.

Stu.

[rgrigsby]

Didn't the R500K have some magnesium bits, maybe the bell housing or something? I'm sure I remember reading that as well.

I'm not sure the chassis is any different to another car of that era, but could be wrong. It did seem to be a collection of a lot of small gains across a number of areas.

[SLR No.77]

Magnesium belltank and sump pan.

[Nick Chan]

The superlight cars were deliberately a basic but known specification and definitely supported the "Add Lightness" mantra.  However, depending on the original owner, the spec could be modified from new so we see Superlight cars coming out with wipers, heaters, windscreens, spare wheels (or at least their carriers) and, heaven forbid, paint.  

Some cars came out with GRP panels to save money over their more costly carbon fibre equivalents.  The R500 chassis did have a weight saving with the strengthening bracket for the spare wheel deleted and I expect the aeroscreen only variants (there were two) have the bracket for the wiper motor excluded plus the wiper washer/buttons deleted from the dash layout for obvious reasons.

On the whole though as Anthony says, the desirable items are add ons.  I was going to say cosmetic but that wouldn't be correct for the LSD and dry sump systems

[David aka Blue7]

I'm not sure what the spec sheet is now but back in 2012 for Superlight R300 R400 R500 you could add lots of weight including full weather kit, according to how you spec'd the car.  The only excluded items were spare wheel & carrier, cloth seats, c/f seats with alcantara trim, Motolita steering wheel, Supersport pack and academy race pack.  I remember meeting one guy who had just bought a Superlight CSR and he arrived with windscreen, leather seats and a heater .  I would say that the main weight saving items are spare wheel, seats and windscreen ... and the one that is always overlooked ... diet

I attach a 2012 spec sheet but unless Jonathan can work some magic, the website usually reduces any uploaded images

David

 

[Jonathan Kay]

[Geoff Brown]

My R400D 'Superlight' was offered as standard with rear carbon wings, carbon dash, carbon 'door' sill protectors, carbon aero screen & Tillets. No carpets.

BUT due to SWMBOS protestations for touring I had to opt for a windscreen, full weather kit & Type S leather seats. I also opted for a carpet kit which I lined the tunnel with due to anecdotal stories of people leaving skin behind on the bare metal. 

This increased the dry weight to approximately 466Kgs.  With full tank, driver & oils approximately 560Kgs. So much for being a 'Superlight' !

[John Vine]

Interesting thread!

The order spec for my 2008 R400D ran like this:

A "1" in Col4 indicates "selected".  Like Geoff, I added lots of weight for general comfort when touring, although this was my choice rather than Mrs V's, who very rarely rides as passenger anyway.

CC (via Jon Vicker at Millwood) agreed to swap carbon front wings and q/d Momo wheel for silver instruments on a cost-neutral basis. 

JV

[Nick Chan]

Very interesting to see some of these upgrade prices from 15 years ago.  The carbon kevlar seat options look excellent value as does the carbon rear arches/nosecone one

[anthonym]

Mine looks like this, the CKD invoice:

edit: not sure those are readable, here link to the doc yes pair of CK Seats for £500 .

 

 

R500 Original invoice 27-09-2000-highlighted_Redacted copy 2 2.pdfR500 Original invoice 27-09-2000-highlighted_Redacted copy 2 2.pdf

R500 Original invoice 27-09-2000-highlighted_Redacted copy 2 2.pdf

R500 Original invoice 27-09-2000-highlighted_Redacted copy 2 2.pdf

[Jonathan Kay]

I can't read those. I suggest uploading them using the original method that doesn't limit the resolution:

https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forum/chitchat/forum-user-guide

Jonathan

[Nigel Blandin]

Blimey, choices were easy in 1990!

[Nigel Blandin]

By the way Anthony, mine is now 496kg dry of all fluids. That did take an alloy block, alloy gearbox casings, Barnby wheels, no screen, wipers,weather gear or spare wheel & bracket and Tillets- but no cf. Oh, and I still have tunnel carpet...you have to have some luxury!

[Nigel Blandin]

I have just noticed, my paint was £675 and yours £676! Did they have inflation in the nineties?

[anthonym]

@Jonathan - done, must work on resolution, and clicking the image to see the file better is much better.

@Nigel I dread to think what mine is with me plus several tons of tour baggage.

[nic.day]

This has been an interesting subject for me as well.

I have a R500k n umber 19 - I asked Martin about the history of mine and the rumors that the chassis of the R500 had bits taken off etc.

The reason was I wanted to add side impact protection but I discovered the boss at the top rail (3 point seat belt boss) was missing.

Martin checked and the answer came back that certain things were removed for the R500s. but it was not documented as was the way back then.

 

[anthonym]

check against another? What do I look for?