Earlier this month, Caterham unveiled the Sprint, a limited-edition of the Seven paying tribute to the original car built by Colin Chapman in the 1950s. Only a week has passed since the Sprint revealed its retro-inspired look to the world, and all 60 units have been sold, making it one of the quickest-selling sports cars launched in recent years.

The achievement is that much more impressive given that Caterham sells around 500 cars per year, which means that the Sprint helped the company sell more than 10 percent of its annual sales figure in just a week. And all this while the Sprint, which is based on the entry-level Seven 160, was priced at £27,995, or as much as a more powerful, better equipped Seven 420.

"We have been overwhelmed with the response to the Sprint. We knew of course it was a great product but the reaction we got is unprecedented. It’s been the perfect scene-setter to our 60 Years of Seven celebrations," said David Ridley, Caterham's chief commercial officer.

Despite all 60 units being already accounted for, customers may still have a chance to purchase a Sprint. According to the brand, not all have been sold to customers, with a few examples set to be delivered to British and European dealers. While this may be great news for enthusiasts that didn't manage to place an order in time, the remaining Sprints are likely to be sold with a massive premium. It has happened in the past with rare, limited-edition models, and the Seven Sprint is likely to have a similar fate.

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Why it matters

Although 60 examples might not be that much compared to say 991 units of the Porsche 911 R, this is a great achievement for such a small company like Caterham. What's more, it proves that there still are plenty of enthusiasts who appreciate no-nonsense, bone-stock sports car and who view the classic Seven as the vehicle that fathered the modern lightweight car industry. It's also important to note that the Sprint sold like hot cakes while carrying quite an expensive price tag and a rather tiny engine under its hood. For that amount, there are plenty of options out there, but it seems that heritage still matters. And that's great news for small automakers that stay true to their roots.

Read our full review on the Caterham Seven Sprint here.