One-off Caterham Seven 360R ‘RAF Puma HC2’ raises fortune

Puma HC2 helicopter

The remarkable Caterham Seven 360R ‘RAF Puma HC2’ concerns a one-off made in collaboration between Caterham and the Royal Air Force, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the acclaimed Puma HC2 helicopter.
The car was offered in a special charity auction to benefit wounded military personnel.
All proceeds from the auction will go to Mission Motorsport and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

Caterham Seven 360R

Caterham began building this unique Seven using a 360R as a base.
The car was then given a military makeover using original components from the XW232.
Aluminum parts from the aircraft’s tail boom and doors were used for part of the car’s bodywork; retaining the rivets, RAF insignia and helicopter serial number.

The internal rear bulkhead is even behind the seats and includes the Puma’s emergency door drop-off handle.
Other panels were repainted in NATO green, while the chassis was re-finished in Desert Sand.

Powerful powertrain

The Caterham Seven 360R is powered by an atmospheric 2.0-liter four-in-line with an output of 132 kW (180 hp).
As the Seven weighs less than 600 kilograms, the lightweight hero can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds.

Winning bid

The special Seven received 46 bids.
The winning bid is 66,000 pounds.
For imaging purposes, a Caterham 360R starts at about 39,000 pounds in the United Kingdom.
Someone evidently wanted the car very badly.

Transfer

The winning bidder of this auction will have the opportunity to attend a formal transfer of the vehicle on Oct. 10, 2024, at the Thruxton Circuit.
The buyer will also have the opportunity that day to meet members of the project team and beneficiary organizations, including those from Caterham, the RAF Benson construction team and the RAF Benevolent Fund.