1999 Caterham Super Seven ART K1.8

Although it was manufactured by Caterham, this Super Seven is a well-known car in the industry and was assembled in Japan by Art International, led by Akihiko Musashino, in 1999 when it was new. In 2019, the car left the hands of its first owner and underwent an overhaul under the guidance of Yoshio Tashiro, a legend in the Japanese racing industry and founder of Genesis Project, who has close ties with Art International. At that time, everything from the ECU to the injectors was upgraded to the latest state-of-the-art technology. This is not just any Super Seven, but an haute couture car that stands out from the rest. The car’s “running” capabilities, which are essential to the Super Seven, have been perfected to an exquisite degree, resulting in “something that is clearly different.” We are pleased to introduce this rare Super Seven. The owner of the car enjoys driving a wide variety of European cars, each with its own unique characteristics. We visited a winding road in the mountains where few people and cars ever go to take photos and videos of the car. The owner kindly offered me the chance to experience the Super Seven with a 185PS Rover K1.8 engine, which was assembled by Art International in a custom style as a new car and recently tuned by Yoshio Tashiro of Genesis Project. This was my first time driving a Seven in years since I sold my Kent-engine powered Seven after modifying it to the limit. Though brief, it was an incredibly rich and memorable experience that left a vivid image of the engine in my mind. The Rover K1.8 engine, which was assembled with exceptional precision by Yoshio Tashiro, a highly renowned figure in the Japanese racing industry and engine tuning, is truly special and has “something that is clearly different.” The sensation of power emanating from the depths of the ground and the incredibly responsive handling are second to none. The car weighs only 540kg with 185PS, which is equivalent to 342PS when converted to one ton. The sensation of the Seven’s “lightness” adds to this already overwhelming experience. It’s an incredible and profound thing that defies explanation and all other opinions, such as those that claim to “understand” carburetors or fuel injection. This rare specimen, with its unique “master’s experience” value added, exudes an aura that is “clearly different,” and I consider myself fortunate to have been able to ride it, as only a few enthusiasts have had the chance to do so.

he high-compression engine has none of the typical temperamental nature, and the engine starts easily with a twist of the key. From the 4-Weber Alpha-made quad throttle, one can feel the breath of air as if from a carburetor. The clutch is also not at all heavy. After blipping the throttle 2-3 times, the throttle response is superb! Now, when you start driving…from here on, it’s just sensual memories. By this time, the author had already forgotten about the interview and was in full enjoyment mode in the cockpit (laughs).

When you step on the accelerator…the metallic, solid high-frequency metallic sound unique to the tuned engine increases in tune with the needle of the Smith rev counter, like a barometer of the heartbeat. The high-revving engine, precisely assembled with a boost in mid-range and output from a position almost within reach, produces a uniform exhaust note unique to the high-revving engine, perfectly blended with the high-frequency metallic noise from the engine, and mercilessly plunges into the brain from all directions, gently dissolving the hardened “something” in the brain with a lovely secretion…

Controlling the crossed transmission and stepping on the accelerator and brakes! The balanced chassis and incredibly lightweight body, which is hard to believe at a dry weight of 540kg, provide information on how much the front and rear tires are in contact with the road, which directly enters the brain through the hips and spine, allowing you to confidently say, “I can still do it,” and accelerate through the corner with more force! It was truly a touching and enjoyable time!

The winding road in the suburbs where there were hardly any people or cars was truly a paradise for enjoying the Seven. The Super Seven is a car that makes every driver genuinely happy and smiling. However, while the BDR has a higher output, the 185PS output from this Rover K1.8 is the maximum limit that can be enjoyed without stress even on normal winding roads… Furthermore, there is no wasteful stress of owners often seen with high-spec engines that require an overhaul after racing three times that comes with the Seven family…

The K-series engine is designed to operate trouble-free for 10 years, and the lightweight and compact aluminum block semi-dry liner produces high performance. In “Art International,” a company run by the famous industry figure, Akihiko Musashino in Saitama prefecture, well-known in the Super 7 industry, capital investment was made to explore the appropriate areas for power-up and its characteristics in Rover engines, and various bench tests were conducted…