LONDON: Caterham and the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) have unveiled a special one-off car built using exterior and interior components from a Puma HC2 helicopter.
The Caterham Seven 360R has been created to raise money for injured servicemen and women and will be on display for the first time at this weekend’s Formula 1 British Grand Prix.
To be auctioned off through Collecting Cars, it’s hoped the joint project between the Royal Air Force, Caterham, Mission Motorsport and Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund will raise more than £100,000.
This project between Caterham and the RAF is in support of the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) division, allowing those part of the program external opportunities to grow their skills.
Operated by Joint Aviation Command (JAC) at RAF Benson, the donor helicopter XW232 entered service in 1972 and operated around the world. Upon reaching the end of its service life recently, teams at Benson and Caterham decided to create a tribute to the Puma and its servicemen and women.
Based on a Seven 360R, the external finish remains as it was when taken from the aircraft, while the remaining panels have been painted in matching "Nato Green". The chassis also mirrors the aircraft beneath the surface, finished in ‘Desert Sand’.
Aluminium skin from the aircraft’s tail boom and doors have been used as panels for the Seven’s exterior as well as the internal rear bulkhead, where the door jettison handle remains in place.
Details from the Puma are carried through to the interior. The aircraft’s quilted soundproofing lines the door panels, tunnel top, and forms padding for the carbon fibre seats. The helicopter’s evacuation instructions have been preserved, stitched into the lining.
A unique satin black dashboard features to match the Puma’s military grade switchgear, replacing the regular dash switches. The 360R also features a helicopter-style three-stage ignition sequence for added theatre to start-up, while the aircraft’s navigation clock forms the centrepiece of the dash.
Underneath the bonnet, the ammunition box now contains the car’s battery.
Assembly of the car was a joint effort between Caterham and serving personnel from RAF Benson. The names of all those involved in this project are featured on the bonnet.
Puma HC2 medium support helicopters are used for a variety of combat roles including tactical movement of troops and weapons, as well as the extraction of casualties on the frontline. They are also employed for humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
Bidding for the car opens Aug 15 and ends Sept 12 through Collecting Cars.
