Caterham DIY

If you had a chance to visit the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this past January, you may have seen the Local Motors stand, where they were 3D printing a full-size car. Such technology is in keeping with the remarkable advances being made in the Motor City, where the whole notion of Rust Belt is being overshadowed by Automation Alley.

If you have a chance to be in London this Saturday, the 31^st, you might want to check out the Regent Street Motor Show.

Where things are much more, ah, reserved than they are in Detroit.

Case in point: the Caterham Cars display.

Like the Local Motors stand in Detroit, a car will be built there, too.

However, this will be a Caterham Seven being built from boxes full of parts.

Four technicians will be building the car in an estimated six hours.

It’s worth noting that the existence of Caterham Cars is predicated on the DIY approach. It was established in 1973, with the design of a Lotus Seven from the 1950s, to produce two-seat sports cars—or provide the pieces that someone could put together to end up with one.

“The idea behind building a car at the Show is to demonstrate how uncomplicated it is to build a Caterham—although we don’t expect every customer to complete the job in a mere six hours,” said Ian Rea, Marketing and Communications Manager, Caterham Cars.

Indeed, not.