2017 Caterham Seven 310S

The Caterham Seven 310S on the S3 chassis represents a well-judged position in the Seven lineup: enough performance to be genuinely thrilling without crossing into track-day-only territory, on the wider S3 platform that makes the car accessible to a broader range of drivers without diluting the essential formula. The 310 designation reflects a power-to-weight ratio of around 310 bhp per tonne, delivered by a 1.6-litre Ford Sigma unit producing 140 bhp pushing a car that barely registers on a set of scales — the result is a driving experience that few cars at any price point can replicate.

This 2017 example shows 13,400 miles, modest for a nine-year-old Caterham and consistent with the careful seasonal use most UK owners apply to cars of this type. The S3 chassis adds meaningful cockpit width over the original narrow S1 dimensions, making longer journeys and taller drivers a more realistic proposition while retaining the direct, unfiltered connection between driver and road that defines the Seven. At £30,900, it sits at a sensible point in the used Caterham market — cheaper than a new 310 and carrying the slight patina of a car that's been driven as intended.