RAF-Inspired Caterham Seven 360R Heads To Auction For Charity

The UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) and Caterham collaborated to join a vintage Caterham Seven and a retired RAF helicopter to create a unique Seven 360R. Collecting Cars will auction the unique vehicle, hoping to raise over £100,000 ($128,000).

The unique Caterham is painted in NATO Green to resemble the 1972-era Puma HC2 (XW232), which served as its inspiration. There is a chassis that is the color of Desert Sand under the skin. The 360R features an aluminum skin that draws inspiration from the Puma's doors and tail.

It also vibrates the chopper's door jettison handle. Quilted soundproofing material from the helicopter covers the carbon fiber seat cushioning, tunnel top, and door panels. Caterham has installed a dashboard that takes design cues from the Puma's cockpit, replacing the car's original switches. It has the same three-step igniting process as the helicopter, and it even includes a navigation clock.

The car's 2.0-liter, naturally-aspirated Ford Duratec engine generates 180 horsepower and 143 lb-ft of torque, making it a Seven 360R variant. This powertrain allows it to reach 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, with a peak speed of 130 mph.

With Caterham's Track Suspension Pack installed, the vehicle weighs in at just 565 kg (1,245 lbs). On top of that, it has Toyo R888R tires on 13-inch wheels. On August 15, Collecting Cars will host an auction for the unique Caterham, which will continue until September 12.