7: What kind of car is KAR120C? (The Prisoner)
Description
This article is from the The Prisoner FAQ, by Patrick LoPresti patl@lcs.mit.edu with numerous contributions by others.
7: What kind of car is KAR120C? (The Prisoner)
The car used in the show was a Lotus Seven series II, which was
available as a kit or assembled (hence why the Prisoner claimed he
built it). In the U.K., a license plate number usually stays with
the car for life. However, this number is owned by Caterham Cars
Ltd. and is regularly transferred to a current demonstrator.
The original KAR120C Lotus (which was the demo model series II)
was used and eventually sold to an Australian. Its current
whereabouts are unknown. When "Fall Out" was filmed, a quick mock
up from a series III was used. Lotus, desiring to termininate
production of the car after their failed attempt at marketing a
series IV, sold all existing kits, molds, manufacturing rights,
and the name "Super Seven" to Caterham Cars, their biggest dealer
at the time. Caterham went back to the series III shape, and have
been developing and manufacturing the Super Seven ever since. The
car is still available and can be purchased as a kit for import
into the U.S.
If you are seriously considering purchasing a Super Seven, it is
important that you find a reputable source. There are at least
two such sources in the U.S. which will provide you with an
assembled vehicle that you can register in most states as a
composite or kit car.
Pontiac Sports Cars
467 Auburn Avenue
Pontiac, MI 48342-3213
(810) 335-1511
Sevens and Elans
Mr. Chris Tchornicki
248 Hampshire Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 497-7777
Caterham itself can provide you with additional information.
The address of their sales office is:
Caterham Cars
Seven House
Town End
Caterham Hill
Surrey
CR3 5UG
UK
Phone: +44 883 346666
Fax: +44 883 349086
The cost is around $20,000. There are three basic models and
numerous options. Delivery is about 6 months. The car looks very
much the same as it does in the show, but the top of the range now
has a 2 litre 185 BHP Vauxhall engine, 5 speed gearbox and De-dion
suspension. The car is extremely fast (0-60 in 4 seconds), and
can be painted any color you like.
An interesting side note is that the car DID have a problem
history of overheating in traffic, just like the Prisoner mentions
in "Many Happy Returns".
The Lotus Seven Club in the UK has 1400 members worldwide and
produces a monthly newsletter. Membership is UKP 30 within the UK
and UKP 42 elsewhere. The club's addess is Lotus Seven Club, PO
Box 7, Cranliegh, Surrey, UK.
Additional information on the Lotus Seven may be found at
<http://web.kaleida.com/u/sands/>.
---
While the Caterham Seven is clearly the most accurate replica of
the original Lotus 7, a number of UK Kit Car manufacturers produce
very close facsmiles. The only thing preventing them being more
accurate is the threat of being sued by Caterham Cars (or each
other?). Some of the replicas are:
Westfield SE/SEi/SEiW
Dax Rush
Robin Hood S6/S7
Tiger 6
Vindicator Sprint
We discuss the Westfield here, as they are the most accurate (and
reportedly highest quality) replica; to the untrained eye it looks
identical to the Caterham/Lotus car.
Westfield were, in fact, sued by Caterham in the mid-80's, but
settled out of court and changed the body design slightly to
satisfy Caterham's requirements. Naturally, they don't offer an
"official" Prisoner model.
Complete kits (including engine and transimission) are available
from UKP 4999.99 (for a basic 1600cc SE) and complete cars,
factory-built, start at around UKP 13000. (Factory built models
are the ZEi and the ZEiW.)
It is also possible to buy the car at various build stages.
It too, suffers from overheating in traffic. Build quality is
usually good, especially on factory built cars.
Information and sales :
Westfield Sports Cars Ltd.
Unit 1
Gibbons Industrial Park
Dudley Road
Kingswinford
West Midlands
DT6 8XF
UK
Phone: (+44) (0)384 400077
Fax: (+44) (0)384 288781
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