The company behind the impressive Caterham sports car says it puts the driver experience firmly at the heart of what it does. The lively specialist two-seater was originally launched in 1973, from the bloodline of the Series 3 Lotus originally designed by Colin Chapman with the mantra, ‘simplify, then add lightness’.

A vintage car together with Reservoir’s classically-inspired motoring watch, the Kanister Silver, made for stylish driving companions on a recent road trip through Wales

Brummell sent photographer Adam Whitehead to strap himself into a Caterham Seven 360S to put this very British car through its paces on one of the best routes in the British countryside: from South Wales to North Wales, starting at the Severn Bridge and finishing at the Great Orme in Llandudno, taking in the dramatic landscape of Brecon, Mid Wales and Snowdonia for some scenic photo opportunities. Whitehead relished what Caterham describes as the Seven’s ‘raw mechanical power’ from its Ford-derived 2.0-litre engine. ‘You’re so low down, it’s like sitting on the road,’ he says. ‘This car is direct, and responds to every input immediately, with no driver aids or frills at all. Mix that with all its dials, counters and mono steering wheel, and the Caterham 360S delivers a real analogue and tactile driving experience.’

The Welsh landscape

To complement the Caterham Seven’s rugged vintage sophistication, Whitehead accessorised his wrist with a Reservoir watch that has a similar feel, inspired by gauges, measuring instruments and mechanical counters. In fact, the Kanister Silver watch references the RPM counter of the iconic Porsche 356 Speedster, with vintage ’50s looks. Its 41.5mm case is made from titanium – reflecting the Caterham’s lightness – with a polished finish and features a silver-coloured dial. Both car and timepiece rock bold designs that major on the elegantly functional, each powerful and suave.

Caterham Seven 360S, from £32,000 (in a kit); caterhamcars.com; Reservoir Kanister Silver, £4,200; reservoir-watch.com