The Magnificent Seven: a birthday celebration

British sports car manufacturer Caterham has brought together a range of its classic models to mark the 60th anniversary of the original Lotus Seven Series 1.

Reaching a top speed of 78mph and featuring a Ford 100E engine and aluminium bodywork, the Series 1 was the ideal lightweight sports car when it was launched by Colin Chapman in 1957.

The Sevens taking part in the celebration at the Longcross test track just outside London included a replica of the iconic Seven ‘Prisoner Edition’ VVC that starred in cult 1960s TV show ‘The Prisoner’.

Other cars assembled included the Sprint and 620S, plus the blisteringly quick Superlight R500, which shot to fame after The Stig completed a lap of the Top Gear track in just 1m 17.9s. It went on to win Top Gear’s ‘Car of the Year’.

“Over the 60 years of the Seven, we’ve never lost Colin Chapman’s engineering essence – a lightweight, high-powered machine that is fit-for-purpose,” said Caterham Cars CEO, Graham Macdonald.

“Every Seven provides a raw, pure, fun driving experience like no other vehicle. Long may it continue for the next 60 years.”