► RAF Caterham Seven 360R revealed
► One-off build with Puma helicopter parts
► Supporting Mission Motorsport, RAF charity
One-of-a-kind supercars have become so common now they’re almost passe – but a one-of-a-kind Caterham Seven built using bits from an RAF helicopter? That we can get behind. Especially as the result is being auctioned to raise money for injured servicemen and women.
Based on a Caterham Seven 360R, this unique project is equipped with components from – and very much inspired by – a Puma HC2 helicopter. Jointly created by Caterham and the Royal Air Force Force, it means the now retired XW232, which entered service in 1972, is heading for a second life as a fundraising initiative for Mission Motorsport and the RAF Benevolent Fund.
This is just a trick paint job, isn’t it?
Not entirely. The aluminium skin from the Puma’s tail boom and doors has been repurposed to form several of this Caterham’s panels – with the finish remaining exactly as it was when it was removed from the aircraft.
In fact, if you look at the internal rear bulkhead, you’ll find the door jettison handle has also been left in place.
The rest of the 360R was then painted to match, including the underlying chassis – which is finished in ‘Desert Sand’ just as the aircraft is beneath the surface.
What about the interior?
On the inside, the Caterham’s doors are lined with quilted soundproofing taken from the Puma, as are the centre tunnel and the carbon fibre seats. The evacuation instructions stitched into the lining have also been preserved.
The dashboard has received a unique satin black finish to match the repurposed military switchgear that replaces the usual interior controls. The chopper’s navigation clock is the centrepiece, while a special three-stage start-up sequence has been added to give this 360R an even greater sense of occasion.
Not content with all that, the joint team of Caterham staff and serving personnel at RAF Benson (where XW232 was stationed) have even managed to use the Puma’s ammunition box as a battery holder under the bonnet.
What’s going to happen to the RAF Caterham Seven now?
First of all it’s going on display in the Military Village at the 2024 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Then it’s going to be auctioned by Collecting Cars – with the aim of raising more than £100,000 for charity.
Bidding opens on 15 August 2024 – and ends on 15 September. The car is scheduled to appear at several more events over the summer.
