{"id":126,"date":"2017-03-09T12:00:21","date_gmt":"2017-03-09T12:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.purplemeanie.co.uk\/?p=126"},"modified":"2025-01-31T13:16:36","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T13:16:36","slug":"introduction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/2017\/03\/09\/introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"Introduction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I’ve always wanted to build a Caterham, for as long as I can remember. It was one of those bucket list things but I just never had the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently we had a couple of those life events that everyone goes through. They focused my mind on the fact that I’m not getting any younger and if I wanted to enjoy some of my bucket list then I’d better get on with them before the bucket sprang a leak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can probably blame my wife and a friend Darrell for the final push. We were just chatting on the touchline of one of the kids football games when I thought, bugger it, I’m going to stop just talking about it and get on with it. Darrell was relaying a story where a bunch of dads had had one of those beery evenings where they’d all signed up to build a car together. However, over the following few days they had all bailed and nothing had come of it. I knew I was going to build something at some time and bailing was not going to be an option for much longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time to investigate more seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having done some research it was clear that delivery times were going to be a problem. Estimates were in the 8+ month range and that was going to put a build into the winter of 2017\/18. Disappointing, but not a deal breaker. If it was going to take that long then no time like the present to start the discussion. Some more Googling and I realised that Williams Automotives<\/a> were not too far away and I might as well have a chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That week I called Williams and set up a couple of test drives and a informal chat with Lindon. See First Test Drives<\/a> for more detail on that experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the test drives were over there was no doubt about it, I needed to scratch the itch and get on with it. Lindon checked the online Caterham build system and looked just as shocked as I was when he told me that above all expectations they had a build slot available for a kit car in June of 2017. He double checked with Caterham on the phone and told me that the slot was mine until someone else ponied up a deposit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That weekend I got the finance committee together, discussed it with the rest of the team and I called Lindon to get the ball rolling and to put the deposit down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rest, as they say, is history… or at least it will be if you’re following along as we embark on this adventure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’ve always wanted to build a Caterham, for as long as I can remember. It was one of those bucket list things but I just never had the time. Recently we had a couple of those life events that everyone goes through. They focused my mind on the fact that I’m not getting any younger […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,51],"tags":[11],"class_list":["post-126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-caterham-420r-build","category-caterham-blog","tag-prebulid"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8yl38-22","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":374,"url":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/2017\/08\/22\/telephone-call-2-williams-track-roll-over-bar\/","url_meta":{"origin":126,"position":0},"title":"Telephone Call 2 – Williams, Track Roll Over Bar","author":"John Martin","date":"August 22, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The first task today was a simple one - a call to Nick the parts guy at Williams Automobiles. I'd decided, for better or worse, that I wanted to go with the track roll bar and not the standard one that I had ordered and had delivered with the car.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Caterham 420R Build"","block_context":{"text":"Caterham 420R Build","link":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/caterham-blog\/caterham-420r-build\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FIA-Rollover-Bar.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FIA-Rollover-Bar.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FIA-Rollover-Bar.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1046,"url":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/2017\/10\/11\/build-session-24-two-steps-back-and-two-steps-forwards-iva-front-brakes-headlamps-and-a-trip-to-caterham\/","url_meta":{"origin":126,"position":1},"title":"Build Session 24 : Two steps back and two steps forwards – IVA, Front Brakes, Headlamps and a trip to Caterham","author":"John Martin","date":"October 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"After feeling quite pleased with my progress to date I'd got to the point of thinking about applying for an IVA test. From what I can tell the process goes like this: Fill out forms 1c and 4Collect photos of buildGet a copy of your invoiceSubmit two forms, photos and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Caterham 420R Build"","block_context":{"text":"Caterham 420R Build","link":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/caterham-blog\/caterham-420r-build\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_2940.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_2940.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_2940.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_2940.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_2940.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_2940.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":322,"url":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/2017\/07\/10\/pre-build-update-6-delays-but-now-in-build\/","url_meta":{"origin":126,"position":2},"title":"Pre-build Update #6 \u2013 Delays but now “in build”","author":"John Martin","date":"July 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Breaking news: The Purplemeanie 420R is now \"in build\". Caterham have updated their online systems to show that the car is now being built. Delivery is still likely to be end of July or early August. For those of you that have been asking... the Caterham 420R kit car delivery\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Caterham 420R Build"","block_context":{"text":"Caterham 420R Build","link":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/caterham-blog\/caterham-420r-build\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_0686.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_0686.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_0686.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_0686.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_0686.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_0686.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":296,"url":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/2017\/05\/07\/pre-build-update-5-a-project-planned\/","url_meta":{"origin":126,"position":3},"title":"Pre-build Update #5 \u2013 A Project Planned","author":"John Martin","date":"May 7, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"This week has seen me in the US again, Dallas this time for a couple of days. While there was lots of work to do on the flights, and in Dallas, I did get some time to finish the project plan and review the line drawings I'd previously started. Project\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Caterham 420R Build"","block_context":{"text":"Caterham 420R Build","link":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/caterham-blog\/caterham-420r-build\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Caterham-420R-Project-Plan-001.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Caterham-420R-Project-Plan-001.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Caterham-420R-Project-Plan-001.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Caterham-420R-Project-Plan-001.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10838,"url":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/03\/20\/simple-engine-cooling-low-flying\/","url_meta":{"origin":126,"position":4},"title":"SimplE Engine Cooling – Low Flying","author":"John Martin","date":"March 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"On the back of the YouTube video I also wrote up a short engine cooling explainer for the Caterham & Lotus Seven Club's monthly magazine, Low Flying. More info here...\u00a0Simple Engine Cooling Explained","rel":"","context":"In "Caterham & Lotus 7 Club"","block_context":{"text":"Caterham & Lotus 7 Club","link":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/caterham-blog\/caterham-lotus-7-club\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Simple-Engine-Cooling-Fanfold-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Simple-Engine-Cooling-Fanfold-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Simple-Engine-Cooling-Fanfold-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Simple-Engine-Cooling-Fanfold-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Simple-Engine-Cooling-Fanfold-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Simple-Engine-Cooling-Fanfold-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":448,"url":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/2017\/08\/17\/build-session-3-tapping-a-poorly-threaded-harness-mount\/","url_meta":{"origin":126,"position":5},"title":"Build Session 3 : Tapping a Poorly Threaded Harness Mount","author":"John Martin","date":"August 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A simple job today... when the car arrived there was an obvious problem with the inboard off side harness bolt. The car is set up for 4-point harnesses and it now seems that Caterham, not only pre-attach the hood and the boot cover, they also pre-drill and set up the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Caterham 420R Build"","block_context":{"text":"Caterham 420R Build","link":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/caterham-blog\/caterham-420r-build\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Harness-Bolt-Sticking-Out.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Harness-Bolt-Sticking-Out.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Harness-Bolt-Sticking-Out.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Harness-Bolt-Sticking-Out.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Harness-Bolt-Sticking-Out.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Harness-Bolt-Sticking-Out.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7847,"href":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126\/revisions\/7847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}