- A unique Caterham Seven 360R has been built with parts from a retired Air Force helicopter.
- The one-off sports car will be auctioned off by Collecting Cars in September.
- Power comes from a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated Ford Duratec with 180 hp.
A classic Caterham Seven and a helicopter used by the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) don’t share much in common. Indeed, they couldn’t be more different. Whereas one is a lightweight, stripped-back sports car designed for maximum enjoyment, the Puma HC2 helicopter was first developed for the French Army in the mid-1960s and has served in wars around the world.
While the two forms of transport are very different, they have been brought together by a joint project between the RAF and Caterham, resulting in a unique Seven 360R that uses parts from a decommissioned helicopter. The one-off will be auctioned off through Collecting Cars, and it’s hoped it will raise more than £100,000 ($128,000).
Read: Caterham Seven 485 Final Editions Say Goodbye To Europe
The special Caterham is finished in NATO Green to match the Puma HC2 that inspired it, XW232, which entered service in 1972. Beneath the skin is a Desert Sand-colored chassis. A particularly cool feature of the car is that the aluminum skin from the Puma’s tail boom and doors has been used for the 360R. It even rocks the helicopter’s door jettison handle.
The special touches continue in the cabin. For example, quilted soundproofing from the helicopter has been used on the door panels, tunnel top, and padding for the carbon fiber seats. Caterham has ditched the car’s original switches in favor of a dashboard that mimics some of the Puma’s cockpit. It even features the navigation clock from the helicopter and has the same three-stage ignition sequence.
As a Seven 360R model, the car is powered by a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated Ford Duratec engine producing 180 hp and 143 lb-ft (194 Nm) of torque. This is enough to send it to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.8 seconds and on to a 130 mph (209 km/h) top speed. The car tips the scales at just 565 kg (1,245 lbs) and has also been equipped with Caterham’s Track Suspension Pack. It also features 13-inch wheels wrapped in Toyo R888R tires.
The special Caterham will be listed for auction on Collecting Cars on August 15, and the sale will run until September 12.
