THE SCHIZOID KAR Some background information on the Lotus

It's well documented that the vehicle which we see Patrick McGoohan drive during the series was a Lotus Seven, registration KAR120C. It appears in nearly every episode during the opening title sequence using footage shot for ARRIVAL plus appearances in MANY HAPPY RETURNS, DO NOT FORSAKE ME and FALLOUT. However, if KAR120C is a character - it's played by several different actors! The original KAR120C was provided by Caterham Car Sales, the main Lotus distributor, and was their demonstrator. After ARRIVAL it went back to it's day job and was eventually sold. The distinctive number plate was retained by Caterham because each hand-assembled car was re-worked and re-registered to the new owner. Subsequent demonstrator vehicles were therefore probably all KAR120C. The vehicle used in FALLOUT is significantly different to the one in ARRIVAL. As filming of THE PRISONER progressed, Caterham supplied a mock-up KAR120C each time it was required. For FALLOUT, Caterham's Managing Director Graham Nearn brought the car to London for it's final appearance himself. The actor who was going to play the mechanic delivering it to number 1, Buckingham Place in the episode was very uncomfortable with the car which is very fast and difficult to control without practice. He eventually decided not to risk crashing it and Nearn agreed to do the part instead, getting his few minutes of film fame.

"evidence points to it being Santa Pod raceway"

Steve Dix writes:- "The 'Fallout' Seven is not a Super Seven series II (as in "Arrival") - It's a Standard Seven series II with the smaller, less powerful engine from the Ford Anglia. Graham Nearn added most of the 'Super Seven' extras, but you can usually tell the difference by the numberplate being in a different position and the exhaust being a side-exit rather than being extended to exit at the rear. The Super Seven also had the special Lotus Elan wheels, whereas the standard one used bog-standard pressed steel, and the car came with aluminium headlight guards."

"It was commonly believed that the runway at the start of The Prisoner title sequence was either Elstree airfield or Lotus's Hethel test track. However, evidence points to it being Santa Pod raceway (formerly Poddington) because Lotus hadn't moved to Hethel when the titles were filmed (there are pictures of KAR 120 C - well, one of them - sitting outside the Cheshunt factory next to all the Elans - including the one Emma Peel drove in "The Avengers") And if you've ever been to Elstree you'll notice that everything is 'wrong' - it's very difficult to get a view of the runway without spotting all the hangars and portacabins."

"it's so fast that it's been banned from certain classes of racing!"

In 1971 Lotus sold the rights to Caterham Cars to produce and sell the Lotus Seven and by 1973 it had been renamed the Caterham Seven, available as either a kit of parts or as a finished vehicle. Production was, and is, located at Dartford just east of London although the sales operation remains in the town of Caterham. One of the company's major interests is car racing, a hang-over from the Lotus days, and the Seven has always had the unique quality of being both a road-going vehicle and a racer. With it's light aluminium body and minimalist engineering, it's so fast that it's been banned from certain classes of racing! Caterham have produced the Seven in many forms and formats over the years and are still doing very nicely with it. Each car is hand-built to order. In 1990 they decided to produce a limited edition "Super Seven Prisoner Special" version which would retain as much of the 1967 Lotus Seven styling as possible and still remain street-legal. Ever wondered why Patrick McGoohan makes that jerky hand signal as he turns right past the Houses Of Parliament during the opening titles? The Lotus had no electric indicators! Clearly there had to be a few updates for 1990!

"each owner gets a signed certificate of authenticity"

Besides the obvious Prisoner lookalike features, a badge bearing Patrick McGoohan's signature and the edition number is fixed to each dashboard and each owner gets a signed certificate of authenticity. The Super Seven Prisoner Special was exhibited at two motor shows in 1990, both at Birmingham. The second show was the internationally famous UK Motor Show and Patrick McGoohan was invited to launch it officially and be presented with the keys to the first vehicle. Only 500 Prisoner Specials will be made and you can buy one yourself if you so desire. Please contact Caterham Cars and be prepared to part with at least £16,000 (British pounds sterling). Don't expect to get the KAR120C numberplate though. Graham Nearn still owns it and he's hanging on to it!

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More Motor Show pictures plus the PRISONER SPECIAL autographed certificate of authenticity on the next page

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