CATERHAM SEVEN (S3)2003 · 1.8L PETROL

The Caterham Seven passed its most recent MOT on 8 July 2026 at 13,906 miles with no defects recorded, confirming the vehicle is currently roadworthy. The maintenance trend appears stable, with every test from 2010 through 2026 resulting in a pass aside from a single isolated emissions failure, indicating no worsening mechanical pattern over the recorded period. The mileage record shows an unusual and inconsistent profile for a 23-year-old vehicle. In the 7 May 2010 test at 12,838 miles the car had covered only light annual use, yet by 26 May 2012 it recorded 135,002 miles, a surge of over 122,000 miles in two years that contradicts the low overall average of roughly 605 miles per year. Following the 9 March 2020 test at 138,702 miles, the recorded distance then dropped sharply to 13,906 miles by July 2026, strongly suggesting the odometer was reset or the recorded figures are unreliable; the sparse history with four passes and one failure offers little granular insight into component wear between tests. The only recorded failure occurred on 30 April 2010 at 12,798 miles, when the tester rejected the car for excessive carbon monoxide at the second fast idle, a fault resolved before the subsequent pass one week later. No advisories for suspension bushes, brake discs, coil springs, or structural corrosion appear in any entry, so the official record reveals no recurring mechanical or structural risks. A buyer should still verify the true mileage given the contradictory figures and commission an independent inspection of the chassis for rust, the brake calipers for binding, and the exhaust system for leaks, as a low-use Caterham stored for long periods is prone to perished rubber components and seized suspension joints not captured by clean MOT passes.