What kind of car is KAR120C?
The car used in the show was a Lotus Seven series II, which was
available as a kit or assembled (hence why the Prisoner claimed he
built it). In the U.K., a license plate number stays with the car
for life. The real KAR120C Lotus (which was the demo model series
II) was used and eventually sold to an Australian. When "Fall
Out" was filmed, a quick mock up from a series III was used.
Lotus, desiring to termininate production of the car after their
failed attempt at marketing a series IV, sold all existing kits,
molds, and manufacturing rights to Caterham Cars, their biggest
dealer at the time. Caterham went back to the series III, made
some internal structural improvements, and renamed the car the
"Super Seven". The car is still available and can be purchased as
a kit for import into the U.S.
If you are seriously considering purchasing a Super Seven, it is important that you find a reputable source. There are at least two such sources in the U.S. which will provide you with an assembled vehicle that you can register in most states as a composite or kit car.
Pontiac Sports Cars
467 Auburn Avenue
Pontiac, MI 48342-3213
(810) 335-1511
Sevens and Elans
Mr. Chris Tchornicki
248 Hampshire Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 497-7777
Caterham itself can provide you with additional information. The address of their sales office is:
Caterham Cars
Seven House
Town End
Caterham Hill
Surrey
CR3 5UG
UK
Phone: +44 883 346666
Fax: +44 883 349086
The cost is around $20,000. Delivery is about 6 months. The car looks very much the same as it does in the show, but now comes with a 5-speed. The car is extremely fast (0-50 in 4 to 4.5 seconds), and can be painted any color you like.
An interesting side note is that the car DID have a problem history of overheating in traffic, just like the Prisoner mentions in "Many Happy Returns".
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While the Caterham Seven is clearly the most accurate replica of the original Lotus 7, a number of UK Kit Car manufacturers produce very close facsmiles. The only thing preventing them being more accurate is the threat of being sued by Caterham Cars (or each other?). Some of the replicas are:
Westfield SE/SEi/SEiW
Dax Rush
Robin Hood S6/S7
Tiger 6
Vindicator Sprint
We discuss the Westfield here, as they are the most accurate (and reportedly highest quality) replica; to the untrained eye it looks identical to the Caterham/Lotus car.
Westfield were, in fact, sued by Caterham in the mid-80's, but settled out of court and changed the body design slightly to satisfy Caterham's requirements. Naturally, they don't offer an "official" Prisoner model.
Complete kits (including engine and transimission) are available from UKP 4999.99 (for a basic 1600cc SE) and complete cars, factory-built, start at around UKP 13000. (Factory built models are the ZEi and the ZEiW.)
It is also possible to buy the car at various build stages.
It too, suffers from overheating in traffic. Build quality is usually good, especially on factory built cars.
Information and sales :
Westfield Sports Cars Ltd.
Unit 1
Gibbons Industrial Park
Dudley Road
Kingswinford
West Midlands
DT6 8XF
UK
Phone: (+44) (0)384 400077
Fax: (+44) (0)384 288781