Steward of the Seven, Graham Nearn, passes away at 76
Graham Nearn helped develop and sell the Lotus 7, creating Caterham Cars in 1959 as a retail outlet for the lightweight roadster. After having seen the car through its years of broadcasting fame on the BBC show The Prisoner (that's Nearn on the right with Prisoner star Patrick MacGoohan), he then saved the 7 from the death dealer's axe when Lotus wanted to bury the car in 1973.
Nearn took over the manufacturing rights and kept the car true to its origins -- the Caterhams we reported on from Tokyo last week are still Nearn's children. Nearn passed away last weekend. AB sends its condolences to the entire Caterham family worldwide.
[Source: Caterham]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Archy 8:11AM (10/28/2009)
This is my favourite road out of town and on google earth it has this on a corner :o) looks fun
View Larger Map
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Mike7 8:25AM (10/28/2009)
Is that really appropriate? How about a just a tiny shred of respect, is that too much to ask?
Archy 8:14AM (10/28/2009)
Sorry did not embed so I'll try again with this link
http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&layer=c&cbll=43.246745,5.456151&panoid=dgWsWkzt31asKigAt8rkDQ&cbp=13,359.46,,1,22.91&source=embed&ll=43.246703,5.585861&spn=0,359.12384&z=11
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Mike7 8:36AM (10/28/2009)
Given my user name is meant to reflect and pay tribute to the Lotus 7, I just wanted to say I am grateful for Graham Nearn for his contribution that is Caterham Cars. Caterham opens the door to the younger generation of car enthusiasts, such as my self, to such a great car from history. Thank you, Graham Nearn, you will be missed.
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Avinash machado 8:39AM (10/28/2009)
RIP Graham.
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big L 12:02PM (10/28/2009)
It is important to remember these pioneers. Think what genius it took for Graham to keep all these lug-nuts in the air.
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Redline 10:06AM (10/28/2009)
Great cars, RIP
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dukeisduke 10:10AM (10/28/2009)
RP Graham Nearn, and RIP Patrick MacGoohan. What a great picture.
I once knew a guy (an ex-pat from Britain) that owned a '64 Lotus 7 (right-hand-drive, no less), and he drove it to work every day in Dallas traffic. Mixing it up on the freeway with all the Suburbans and 18-wheelers, that guy had balls of steel. I got to ride in the thing a couple of times - what a rush!
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Guitar Hero 10:55AM (10/28/2009)
He better be buried in a very light, very simple coffin, becuase that's what the Seven was in essence: Light and simple.
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Scott 1:05PM (10/28/2009)
My love for the 7 in unequaled by any other car.
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YanLú 3:26PM (11/12/2009)
I was young, working as shop manager at 'VW interamericana' here in México (those sixties) and at night once a week, would watch 'the Prisoner' ONLY because of that car on the Intro: a Lotus 7...my dream even today; never saw one 'in the flesh'...yet!
I hope it won't instigate another BAD MOVIE at Hollywood (hollycrap!), like 'the Avengers', 'the Saint' and 'Mission Impossible' did...
Saluting West (yes: I fly), for Patrick, Graham & Colin!
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