Form 10-Q


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

               |X|      Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                        the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
                        For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2002

               |_|      Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                        the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
                        For the transition period from _______ to _______

                         Commission File Number 0-24175

                      ATEL Capital Equipment Fund VII, L.P.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

California                                                           94-3248318
- ----------                                                           ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I. R. S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)

           235 Pine Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, California 94104
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (415) 989-8800



Indicate  by a check  mark  whether  the  registrant  (1) has filed all  reports
required to be filed by section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                     Yes |X|
                                     No  |_|

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

                                      None



                                       1


                          Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements.




                                       2


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                                 BALANCE SHEETS

                    SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 AND DECEMBER 31, 2001
                                   (Unaudited)


                                     ASSETS


                                                  2002              2001
                                                  ----              ----

Cash and cash equivalents                      $   1,919,683     $      936,189

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
   doubtful accounts of $618,067 in 2002
   and $118,067 in 2001                            2,951,284          5,759,540

Other assets                                          20,018            108,015

Investments in leases                            117,054,315        129,049,875
                                            ----------------- ------------------
Total assets                                    $121,945,300       $135,853,619
                                            ================= ==================


                       LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL


Long-term debt                                  $ 36,837,000       $ 38,540,000

Line of credit                                    10,300,000          4,100,000

Non-recourse debt                                  5,183,252          9,971,225

Accounts payable:
   General Partner                                         -            580,916
   Other                                             660,102            510,598

Accrued interest payable                             129,937            355,458
Interest rate swap contracts                         737,092          1,323,006
Unearned operating lease income                    1,085,399            976,565
                                            ----------------- ------------------
Total liabilities                                 54,932,782         56,357,768

Partners' capital                                 67,012,518         79,495,851
                                            ----------------- ------------------
Total liabilities and partners' capital         $121,945,300       $135,853,619
                                            ================= ==================



                             See accompanying notes.


                                       3


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                                INCOME STATEMENTS

                       NINE AND THREE MONTH PERIODS ENDED
                           SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 AND 2001
                                   (Unaudited)




                                                                Nine Months                          Three Months
                                                            Ended September 30,                   Ended September 30,
                                                            -------------------                   -------------------
                                                          2002               2001               2002              2001
                                                          ----               ----               ----              ----
Revenues:
Leasing activities:
                                                                                                      
   Operating leases                                      $ 19,066,158        $24,013,337       $ 6,522,507        $ 7,679,508
   Direct financing                                         1,115,790            808,507           347,458            264,830
Loss on sales of assets                                    (1,283,977)          (444,808)         (225,989)           (93,768)
Interest                                                       11,284             47,234             2,742             10,464
Other                                                         156,438              9,614            66,379              4,447
                                                    ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
                                                           19,065,693         24,433,884         6,713,097          7,865,481
Expenses:
Depreciation                                               13,967,963         15,399,088         4,872,131          4,627,209
Interest expense                                            2,486,353          3,128,713           748,945            969,202
Equipment and incentive management fees to
   General Partner                                            730,798            943,372           239,336            254,201
Provision for doubtful accounts                               500,000                  -           130,000                  -
Provision for losses on lease assets                          300,000                  -           300,000                  -
Other                                                         531,084            462,489           213,176            122,274
Cost reimbursements to General Partner                        755,205            895,938            82,796            403,395
Professional fees                                             153,614            141,573             5,134             37,664
Railcar maintenance                                           560,297            563,293           212,835            138,102
                                                    ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
                                                           19,985,314         21,534,466         6,804,353          6,552,047
                                                    ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
Net (loss) income                                          $ (919,621)       $ 2,899,418         $ (91,256)       $ 1,313,434
                                                    ================== ================== ================= ==================

Net (loss) income:
   General Partner                                          $ 899,824          $ 822,985         $ 303,240          $ 304,021
   Limited Partners                                        (1,819,445)         2,076,433          (394,496)         1,009,413
                                                    ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
                                                           $ (919,621)       $ 2,899,418         $ (91,256)       $ 1,313,434
                                                    ================== ================== ================= ==================

Net (loss) income per limited partnership unit                $ (0.12)            $ 0.14           $ (0.03)            $ 0.07
Weighted average number of Units outstanding               14,996,050         14,996,050        14,996,050         14,996,050




                             See accompanying notes.


                                       4


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                    STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS' CAPITAL

                             NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
                                   (Unaudited)



                                                                                              Accumulated
                                                                                                 Other
                                                      Limited Partners        General        Comprehensive
                                                      ----------------
                                        Units              Amount             Partner            Income             Total
                                        -----              ------             -------            ------             -----

                                                                                                    
Balance December 31, 2001                 14,996,050       $ 80,818,857                $ -       $(1,323,006)      $ 79,495,851
Unrealized decrease in value of                                                                      585,914            585,914
   interest rate swap contracts                                       -                  -                                    -
Distributions to partners                                   (11,249,802)          (899,824)                -        (12,149,626)
Net (loss) income                                            (1,819,445)           899,824                 -           (919,621)
                                 -------------------- ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
Balance September 30, 2002                14,996,050       $ 67,749,610                $ -        $ (737,092)      $ 67,012,518
                                 ==================== ================== ================== ================= ==================


                             See accompanying notes.




                                       5


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                       NINE AND THREE MONTH PERIODS ENDED
                           SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 AND 2001




                                                                      Nine Months                          Three Months
                                                                  Ended September 30,                   Ended September 30,
                                                                  -------------------                   -------------------
                                                                2002               2001               2002              2001
                                                                ----               ----               ----              ----
Operating activities:
                                                                                                          
Net (loss) income                                            $     (919,621)     $   2,899,418      $    (91,256)     $   1,313,434
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
   cash provided by operating activities:
   Depreciation                                                  13,967,963         15,399,088         4,872,131          4,627,209
   Loss on sales of assets                                        1,283,977            444,808           225,989             93,768
   Provision for doubtful accounts                                  500,000                  -           130,000                  -
   Provision for losses on lease assets                             300,000                  -           300,000                  -
   Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
      Accounts receivable                                         2,308,256            778,771           389,813           (685,685)
      Other assets                                                   87,997             29,997             9,999              9,999
      Accounts payable, General Partner                            (580,916)          (293,287)                -           (471,314)
      Accounts payable, other                                       149,504            946,084          (411,171)         1,088,625
      Accrued interest expense                                     (225,521)          (300,656)          (48,971)           (90,529)
      Unearned lease income                                         108,834            (67,385)          268,964            269,599
                                                          ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
Net cash provided by operations                                  16,980,473         19,836,838         5,645,498          6,155,106
                                                          ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------

Investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of assets                                     2,703,781          1,483,557         1,778,351            661,693
Reduction in net investment in direct financing leases              859,894          1,574,719          (737,462)           219,377
Purchases of equipment on operating leases                       (3,959,522)        (1,950,111)                -                  -
Payment of initial direct costs to General Partner                 (107,961)           (16,726)                -                  -
Purchases of equipment on direct financing leases                (3,052,572)          (492,988)                -                  -
                                                          ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
Net cash (used in) provided by investing
   activities                                                    (3,556,380)           598,451         1,040,889            881,070
                                                          ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------





                                       6


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Continued)

                           SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 AND 2001
                                   (Unaudited)



                                                                      Nine Months                          Three Months
                                                                  Ended September 30,                   Ended September 30,
                                                                  -------------------                   -------------------
                                                                2002               2001               2002              2001
                                                                ----               ----               ----              ----
Financing activities:
                                                                                                          
Distributions to partners                                       (12,149,626)       (12,072,725)       (4,053,188)        (4,053,615)
Borrowings under line of credit                                  16,500,000          8,500,000         3,300,000          3,000,000
Repayments of borrowings under line of credit                   (10,300,000)        (8,500,000)                -         (6,500,000)
Proceeds of long-term debt                                       10,100,000          8,000,000                 -          6,000,000
Repayments of long-term debt                                    (11,803,000)       (11,222,000)       (3,692,000)        (3,108,000)
Repayments of non-recourse debt                                  (4,787,973)        (4,718,790)       (1,844,670)        (1,511,753)
                                                          ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
Net cash used in financing activities                           (12,440,599)       (20,013,515)       (6,289,858)        (6,173,368)
                                                          ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                           983,494            421,774           396,529            862,808
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
   period                                                           936,189          1,321,417         1,523,154            880,383
                                                          ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                      $ 1,919,683        $ 1,743,191       $ 1,919,683        $ 1,743,191
                                                          ================== ================== ================= ==================

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow
   information:
Cash paid during the period for interest                        $ 2,711,874        $ 3,429,369         $ 797,916        $ 1,059,731
                                                          ================== ================== ================= ==================









                             See accompanying notes.


                                       7


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                               SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
                                   (Unaudited)


1.  Summary of significant accounting policies:

Interim financial statements:

The unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in
the opinion of the general partners,  necessary to a fair statement of financial
position and results of operations for the interim periods  presented.  All such
adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  These unaudited interim financial
statements  should be read in  conjunction  with the most recent  report on Form
10K.


2.  Organization and partnership matters:

ATEL Capital  Equipment Fund VII, L.P. (the Fund),  was formed under the laws of
the  State  of  California  on July 17 ,  1996,  for the  purpose  of  acquiring
equipment to engage in equipment leasing and sales activities.  Contributions in
the amount of $600 were received as of July 17, 1996, $100 of which  represented
the General Partner's (ATEL Financial  Corporation's)  continuing interest,  and
$500 of which represented the Initial Limited Partners' capital investment.

Upon the sale of the  minimum  amount of Units of Limited  Partnership  interest
(Units) of  $1,200,000  and the  receipt of the  proceeds  thereof on January 7,
1997, the Partnership commenced operations.

The Partnership  does not make a provision for income taxes since all income and
losses will be allocated to the Partners for inclusion in their  individual  tax
returns.


3.  Investment in leases:

The Partnership's investment in leases consists of the following:



                                                                              Depreciation
                                          Balance                              Expense or         Reclassi-           Balance
                                       December 31,                           Amortization       fications or      September 30,
                                           2001              Additions          of Leases        Dispositions          2002
                                           ----              ---------          ---------        ------------          ----
Net investment in operating
                                                                                                       
   leases                               $   101,066,589         $ 3,959,522     $ (13,821,227)      $(1,751,577)      $ 89,453,307
Net investment in direct
   financing leases                          18,931,921          3,052,572           (859,894)       (3,152,253)        17,972,346
Assets held for sale or lease                 9,267,614                  -                  -           411,845          9,679,459
Reserve for losses                             (504,227)          (300,000)                 -           504,227           (300,000)
Initial direct costs, net of
   accumulated amortization                     287,978            107,961           (146,736)                -            249,203
                                    -------------------- ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
                                        $   129,049,875      $   6,820,055      $ (14,827,857)    $  (3,987,758)      $117,054,315
                                    ==================== ================== ================== ================= ==================




                                       8


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                               SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
                                   (Unaudited)


3.  Investment in leases (continued):

Property on operating leases consists of the following:



                                          Balance                                                                     Balance
                                       December 31,      Acquisitions, Dispositions & Reclassifications            September 30,
                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                           2001          1st Quarter        2nd Quarter        3rd Quarter       2002
                                           ----          -----------        -----------        -----------       ----
                                                                                                       
Transportation                         $     80,788,684     $     (180,106)    $     (356,586)    $  (3,448,074)      $ 76,803,918
Marine vessels/barges                        27,030,136                  -                  -                 -         27,030,136
Construction                                 22,831,963           (417,700)                 -                 -         22,414,263
Manufacturing                                 9,702,801            (28,868)          (306,545)                -          9,367,388
Materials handling                            5,265,654          3,959,522           (166,602)                -          9,058,574
Mining                                        9,012,965                  -                  -                 -          9,012,965
Communications                                4,387,819                  -                  -           (77,934)         4,309,885
Office automation                             5,297,632           (466,740)        (1,119,362)                -          3,711,530
Other                                         5,813,733           (120,237)           320,234           242,316          6,256,046
                                    -------------------- ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
                                            170,131,387          2,745,871         (1,628,861)       (3,283,692)       167,964,705
Less accumulated depreciation               (69,064,798)        (3,445,301)        (3,236,625)       (2,764,674)       (78,511,398)
                                    -------------------- ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
                                        $   101,066,589     $     (699,430)     $  (4,865,486)    $  (6,048,366)      $ 89,453,307
                                    ==================== ================== ================== ================= ==================


All of the property on leases was acquired in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002.

At September 30, 2002,  the aggregate  amounts of future  minimum lease payments
are as follows:



                                                                  Direct
                                              Operating          Financing
                                               Leases             Leases             Total
                                                                       
Three months ending December 31, 2002      $   4,589,199      $   1,158,139     $   5,747,338
        Year ending December 31, 2003         16,526,171          3,935,864        20,462,035
                                 2004          9,655,069          3,850,612        13,505,681
                                 2005          6,430,497          3,779,344        10,209,841
                                 2006          1,509,428          1,706,695         3,216,123
                           Thereafter            769,350            746,260         1,515,610
                                       ------------------ ------------------ -----------------
                                            $ 39,479,714      $  15,176,914      $ 54,656,628
                                       ================== ================== =================




                                       9


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                               SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
                                   (Unaudited)


4.  Non-recourse debt:

Notes payable to financial  institutions are due in varying  monthly,  quarterly
and semi-annual installments of principal and interest. The notes are secured by
assignments  of lease  payments and pledges of the assets  which were  purchased
with the proceeds of the particular notes. Interest rates on the notes vary from
7.4% to 8.828%.

Future minimum principal payments of non-recourse debt are as follows:




                                            Principal          Interest            Total
                                                                      
Three months ending December 31, 2002    $      969,476      $      65,782     $   1,035,258
        Year ending December 31, 2003         3,261,130            288,831         3,549,961
                                 2004           298,403             67,364           365,767
                                 2005           322,838             42,927           365,765
                                 2006           216,850             20,179           237,029
                           Thereafter           114,555              5,418           119,973
                                      ------------------ ------------------ -----------------
                                         $    5,183,252      $     490,501     $   5,673,753
                                      ================== ================== =================



5.  Long-term debt:

In 1998, the Partnership  entered into a $65 million receivables funding program
(the Program) with a receivables  financing company that issues commercial paper
rated A1 by Standard and Poors and P1 by Moody's  Investor  Services.  Under the
Program,  the receivables  financing company receives a general lien against all
of the otherwise  unencumbered  assets of the Partnership.  The Program provides
for borrowing at a variable interest rate (1.8105% at September 30, 2002).

The Program  requires the General  Partner to enter into various  interest  rate
swaps with a financial  institution  (also rated A1/P1) to manage  interest rate
exposure  associated  with  variable  rate  obligations  under  the  Program  by
effectively  converting  the variable rate debt to fixed rates.  As of September
30, 2002, the Partnership  receives or pays interest on a notional  principal of
$36,837,000, based on the difference between nominal rates ranging from 4.10% to
7.58% and the variable rate under the Program. No actual borrowing or lending is
involved.  The last of the swaps terminates in 2009. The differential to be paid
or received is accrued as interest  rates change and is recognized  currently as
an adjustment to interest expense related to the debt.






                                       10


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                               SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
                                   (Unaudited)


5.  Long-term debt (continued):

Through  hedge  agreements,  the  interest  rates have been  effectively  fixed.
Borrowings under this facility are as follows:

                     Original            Balance           Rate on
   Date               Amount          September 30,     Interest Swap
 Borrowed            Borrowed             2002            Agreement
 --------            --------             ----            ---------
  4/1/98              $ 21,770,000        $ 1,709,000          6.22000%
  7/1/98                25,000,000          3,913,000          6.15500%
  10/1/98               20,000,000          6,839,000          5.55000%
  4/16/99                9,000,000          2,640,000          5.89000%
  1/26/00               11,700,000          7,143,000          7.58000%
  5/25/01                2,000,000          1,500,000          5.79000%
  9/28/01                6,000,000          4,574,000          4.36000%
  1/31/02                4,400,000          3,716,000          4.10000%
  2/19/02                5,700,000          4,803,000          5.49000%
                 ------------------ ------------------
                      $105,570,000        $36,837,000
                 ================== ==================

Future minimum principal payments of long-term debt are as follows:


                                                                                                   Rates on
                                                                                                 Interest Swap
                                           Principal          Interest            Total           Agreements*
                                           ---------          --------            -----           -----------
                                                                                         
Three months ending December 31, 2002      $   3,291,000      $     527,060     $   3,818,060    5.859%-5.870%
        Year ending December 31, 2003         11,524,000          1,653,145        13,177,145    5.858%-5.878%
                                 2004          9,458,000          1,041,833        10,499,833    5.871%-5.910%
                                 2005          7,875,000            539,650         8,414,650    5.927%-6.257%
                                 2006          2,810,000            206,986         3,016,986    6.414%-7.009%
                                 2007            903,000            103,979         1,006,979    7.007%-7.211%
                                 2008            635,000             46,443           681,443    7.245%-7.480%
                                 2009            341,000             12,229           353,229       7.580%
                                       ------------------ ------------------ -----------------
                                            $ 36,837,000      $   4,131,325      $ 40,968,325
                                       ================== ================== =================


* Represents the range of monthly weighted average fixed interest rates paid for
amounts maturing in the particular year. The receive-variable rate portion of
the swap represents commercial paper rates (1.8105% at September 30, 2002).



                                       11


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                               SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
                                   (Unaudited)


6.  Related party transactions:

The terms of the Limited Partnership  Agreement provide that the General Partner
and/or Affiliates are entitled to receive certain fees for equipment  management
and resale and for management of the Partnership.

The Limited Partnership Agreement allows for the reimbursement of costs incurred
by the General Partner in providing  administrative services to the Partnership.
Administrative  services  provided  include  Partnership  accounting,   investor
relations,  legal  counsel and lease and  equipment  documentation.  The General
Partner  is not  reimbursed  for  services  where it is  entitled  to  receive a
separate fee as compensation for such services, such as management of equipment.
Reimbursable  costs  incurred  by  the  General  Partner  are  allocated  to the
Partnership  based upon actual time incurred by employees working on Partnership
business and an allocation of rent and other costs based on utilization studies.

Substantially  all  employees  of the General  Partner  record time  incurred in
performing administrative services on behalf of all of the Partnerships serviced
by the General  Partner.  The General Partner believes that the costs reimbursed
are the lower of actual  costs  incurred  on  behalf of the  Partnership  or the
amount  the  Partnership  would  be  required  to pay  independent  parties  for
comparable  administrative  services  in the same  geographic  location  and are
reimbursable in accordance with the Limited Partnership Agreement.

The  General   Partner   and/or   Affiliates   earned  fees,   commissions   and
reimbursements, pursuant to the Limited Partnership Agreement as follows:



                                                                                      2002              2001
                                                                                      ----              ----

                                                                                                
Incentive  management  fees  (computed  as  4% of  distributions  of  cash  from
operations,  as defined in the  Limited  Partnership  Agreement)  and  equipment
management  fees (computed as 3.5% of gross revenues from operating  leases,  as
defined in the Limited Partnership Agreement plus 2% of gross revenues  from
full  payout  leases,  as  defined  in the  Limited  Partnership                  $      730,798      $     943,372

Cost reimbursements to General Partner                                                   755,205            895,938
                                                                                ----------------- ------------------
                                                                                   $   1,486,003      $   1,839,310
                                                                                ================= ==================





                                       12


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                               SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
                                   (Unaudited)


7. Partner's capital:

As of  September  30,  2001,  14,996,050  Units  ($149,960,050)  were issued and
outstanding.  The Fund is authorized to issue up to 15,000,050 Units,  including
the 50 Units issued to the initial limited partners.

Available Cash from Operations, as defined in the Limited Partnership Agreement,
shall be distributed as follows:

First,  Distributions  of Cash  from  Operations  shall be 88.5% to the  Limited
Partners,  7.5% to the  General  Partner  and 4% to the  General  Partner or its
affiliate designated as the recipient of the Incentive Management Fee, until the
Limited  Partners have received  Aggregate  Distributions  in an amount equal to
their Original  Invested  Capital,  as defined,  plus a 10% per annum cumulative
(compounded daily) return on their Adjusted Invested Capital,  as defined in the
Limited Partnership Agreement.

Second, 85% to the Limited Partners, 7.5% to the General Partner and 7.5% to the
General  Partner or its  affiliate  designated as the recipient of the Incentive
Management Fee.

Available Cash from Sales or Refinancing,  as defined in the Limited Partnership
Agreement, shall be distributed as follows:

First,  Distributions  of Sales or  Refinancings  shall be 92.5% to the  Limited
Partners  and 7.5% to the  General  Partner,  until the  Limited  Partners  have
received  Aggregate  Distributions in an amount equal to their Original Invested
Capital, as defined,  plus a 10% per annum cumulative  (compounded daily) return
on their Adjusted Invested Capital.

Second, 85% to the Limited Partners, 7.5% to the General Partner and 7.5% to the
General  Partner or its  affiliate  designated as the recipient of the Incentive
Management Fee.




                                       13


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                               SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
                                   (Unaudited)


8.  Line of credit:

The  Partnership  participates  with the  General  Partner  and  certain  of its
affiliates  in  a  $43,654,928   revolving  line  of  credit  with  a  financial
institution  that  includes  certain  financial  covenants.  The line of  credit
expires  on June 28,  2004.  As of  September  30,  2002,  borrowings  under the
facility were as follows:

Amount  borrowed by the Partnership under the acquisition
     facility                                                      $ 10,300,000
Amounts borrowed by affiliated partnerships and limited
     liability companies under the acquisition
     facility                                                        21,900,000
                                                              ------------------
Total borrowings under the acquisition facility                      32,200,000
Amounts borrowed by the General Partner and its sister
     corporation under the warehouse facility                                 -
                                                              ------------------
Total outstanding balance                                          $ 32,200,000
                                                              ==================

Total available under the line of credit                           $ 43,654,928
Total outstanding balance                                           (32,200,000)
                                                              ------------------
Remaining availability                                             $ 11,454,928
                                                              ==================

Draws on the acquisition facility by any individual borrower are secured only by
that borrower's assets,  including  equipment and related leases.  Borrowings on
the  warehouse  facility  are  recourse  jointly to  certain  of the  affiliated
partnerships and limited  liability  companies,  the Partnership and the General
Partner.

The credit agreement  includes certain  financial  covenants  applicable to each
borrower.  The  Partnership was in compliance with its covenants as of September
30, 2002.


9.  Commitments:

As of September 30, 2002, the Company had no outstanding commitments to purchase
lease equipment.





                                       14


Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations

Capital Resources and Liquidity

During the first three  quarters  of 2002 and 2001,  our  primary  activity  was
engaging in equipment leasing activities.

Our liquidity will vary in the future,  increasing to the extent cash flows from
leases  exceed  expenses,  and  decreasing  as lease  assets  are  acquired,  as
distributions are made to the limited partners and to the extent expenses exceed
cash flows from leases.

As  another  source  of  liquidity,  we  have  contractual  obligations  with  a
diversified  group of lessees for fixed lease terms at fixed rental amounts.  As
the initial  lease terms  expire we will  re-lease  or sell the  equipment.  The
future  liquidity  beyond the  contractual  minimum  rentals  will depend on our
success in re-leasing or selling the equipment as it comes off lease.

The  Partnership  participates  with the  General  Partner  and  certain  of its
affiliates  in  a  $43,654,928   revolving  line  of  credit  with  a  financial
institution  that  includes  certain  financial  covenants.  The line of  credit
expires  on June 28,  2004.  As of  September  30,  2002,  borrowings  under the
facility were as follows:

Amount  borrowed by the Partnership under the acquisition
     facility                                                      $ 10,300,000
Amounts borrowed by affiliated partnerships and limited
     liability companies under the acquisition
     facility                                                        21,900,000
                                                              ------------------
Total borrowings under the acquisition facility                      32,200,000
Amounts borrowed by the General Partner and its sister
     corporation under the warehouse facility                                 -
                                                              ------------------
Total outstanding balance                                          $ 32,200,000
                                                              ==================

Total available under the line of credit                           $ 43,654,928
Total outstanding balance                                           (32,200,000)
                                                              ------------------
Remaining availability                                             $ 11,454,928
                                                              ==================

Draws on the acquisition facility by any individual borrower are secured only by
that borrower's assets,  including  equipment and related leases.  Borrowings on
the  warehouse  facility  are  recourse  jointly to  certain  of the  affiliated
partnerships and limited  liability  companies,  the Partnership and the General
Partner.

We anticipate  reinvesting a portion of lease  payments from assets owned in new
leasing  transactions.  These reinvestments will occur only after the payment of
all  obligations,  including  debt service (both  principal and  interest),  the
payment  of  management  fees to the  General  Partner  and  providing  for cash
distributions to the Limited Partners.

We currently have available adequate reserves to meet contingencies,  but in the
event  those  reserves  were  found to be  inadequate,  we would  likely be in a
position to borrow against its current portfolio to meet such  requirements.  We
envision no such requirements for operating purposes.

We do not expect to make  commitments of capital other than for the  acquisition
of  additional  equipment.  As of September  30, 2002, we had made none of these
commitments.

If inflation in the general  economy  becomes  significant,  it may affect us in
that the residual  (resale)  values and rates on re-leases of our leased  assets
may increase as the costs of similar assets increase. However, our revenues from
existing  leases would not increase,  as such rates are generally  fixed for the
terms of the leases without adjustment for inflation.

If interest rates increase significantly,  the lease rates that we can obtain on
future  leases  will  be  expected  to  increase  as the  cost of  capital  is a
significant  factor in the  pricing of lease  financing.  Our leases  already in
place, for the most part, would not be affected by changes in interest rates.

During 2002 and 2001,  our primary  source of liquidity was rents from operating
leases.

In both 2002 and in 2001, our cash flows from operating  activities  came almost
entirely from operating lease rents for both the three and nine month periods.

Our sources of cash from investing  activities  consisted of proceeds from sales
of assets and direct  financing lease rents.  Rents from direct financing leases
decreased  compared to 2001 as a result of asset sales over the last year. We do
not expect that the amounts of proceeds  from sales of assets will be consistent
from  one  period  to  another.  In 2002 and  2001,  we used  cash in  investing
activities to purchase  assets on operating and direct  financing  leases and to
pay initial direct costs to the Managing Member.



                                       15


In 2002 and 2001,  borrowings  on the line of credit and  proceeds of  long-term
debt were our only sources of cash from financing sources.

The  amounts we  distributed  to our  partners  have not  changed  significantly
compared  to  2001.  The  amounts  of cash we used to  repay  non-recourse  debt
increased  slightly  for the nine month  period and the three month  period as a
result of scheduled debt payments we have made. The portion of the debt payments
attributed principal payments, as opposed to interest payments, has increased.

Results of operations

Our  operations  in 2002  resulted in a net loss of $919,621  (nine  months) and
$91,256 (three  months).  In 2001,  our  operations  resulted in a net income of
$2,899,418  (nine months) and $1,313,434  (three months).  Our primary source of
revenues  is from  operating  leases.  These  lease  revenues  and  the  related
depreciation expenses have decreased compared to 2001 as a result of asset sales
over the last year.  Equipment  management fees are based on our rental revenues
and have  decreased  due to  decreases in our  revenues  from leases.  Incentive
management fees are based on the levels of distributions of cash from operations
to limited  partners.  Our lease  revenues and  distributions  of operating cash
flows  decreased  compared  to  2001,  and as a  result,  management  fees  also
decreased.  Interest  expense has  decreased as a result of the  scheduled  debt
payments we have made over the last year.



                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings.

No material legal  proceedings are currently  pending against the Partnership or
against any of its assets.

Applied Magnetics Corporation:

In January 2000, Applied Magnetics Corporation (the Debtor) filed for protection
from creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The Partnership had
assets  with a total net book value of  $8,048,095  leased to Applied  Magnetics
Corporation  at the  bankruptcy  filing date.  On January 31, 2000,  the General
Partner was  appointed to the Official  Committee  of  Unsecured  Creditors  and
currently  serves as the  Chairperson of the Committee.  Procedures were quickly
undertaken for the  liquidation of the  Partnership's  leased  equipment,  which
proceeds  resulted in recoveries  of  $1,773,798 or 21.7% of original  equipment
cost. As of November 1, 2000, liquidation of the assets was completed.

The debtor filed a Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan"),  which was approved by a
vote of the creditors of the debtor in October 2001.  The Plan provided that the
Debtor change its name to  "Integrated  Micro-Technology",  and enter into a new
line of business, the manufacture and production of "micro-machines". As part of
the Plan, the Partnership,  along with the other unsecured creditors, receives a
proportionate  share of their unsecured  claims, in the form of ownership shares
and warrants in the newly formed business. The success of this new business plan
is highly uncertain.

On February 13, 2002, the reorganized  Debtor filed a notice of objection to the
Partnership's  claim  due to  duplication  and an  improper  liquidated  damages
provision. The Partnership disputed this and, as of July 26, 2002, agreement has
been  reached  between  the  Partnership  and  Debtor  as to the  amount  of the
Partnership's  claim, and the Debtor's objection to the Partnership's  claim was
withdrawn.

The Partnership  anticipates  additional amounts may be recoverable  through its
equity interests in the reorganized  lessee's business,  however, any recoveries
above the amounts received upon liquidation of the  Partnership's  equipment are
highly uncertain and speculative.

Pioneer Companies, Inc.:

On July 31, 2001,  petitions  for  reorganization  under  Chapter 11 of the U.S.
Bankruptcy  Code  were  filed  by  the  Pioneer  Companies,  Inc.,  et  al.  The
Partnership's  Proof of Claim was timely  filed on October  14,  2001,  with the
Bankruptcy  Clerk in Houston.  The  Partnership  is the successor in interest to
First Union Rail Corporation  (FURC) under four (4) tank car lease schedules for
36 tank cars with Pioneer  Chlor-Alkali  Company,  Inc. n/k/a Pioneer  Americas,
Inc. (together,  the "Lease").  FURC manages the Lease for the Partnership.  The
Order Confirming  Debtor's Joint Plan of Reorganization  Under Chapter 11 of the
Bankruptcy  Code ("Plan") was entered on November 28, 2001. The Effective  Date,
as defined in the Plan, was December 31, 2001.  Pursuant to Schedules  6.1(a)(x)
and 6.1(a)(y) of the Plan, the Lease was rejected by the debtor.

Although the  equipment  was to be returned to FURC by December  31,  2001,  the
debtor  continued  to use and  pay  for  the  equipment  under  the  lease  on a
month-to-month  basis.  A letter  agreement  has been  executed by the debtor to
formalize an understanding for debtor's continued use of the equipment under the
terms of the Lease on a month-to-month  basis until the cars were returned.  The
debtor has also objected to the Partnership's  claim,  which objection was being
disputed by the Partnership and is likely to be resolved via an amended Proof of
Claim. At this point, all equipment has been returned to the Partnership, and is
in the process of being  re-leased  and/or sold. The full extent of any recovery
is not known at this time.



                                       16


Item 2. Changes In Securities.

         Inapplicable.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

         Inapplicable.

Item 4. Submission Of Matters To A Vote Of Security Holders.

         Inapplicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

         Inapplicable.

Item 6. Exhibits And Reports On Form 8-K.

(a)       Documents filed as a part of this report

       1. Financial Statements

          Included in Part I of this report:

               Balance Sheets, September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001.

               Statements  of  operations  for the nine and three month  periods
               ended September 30, 2002 and 2001.

               Statement  of changes in  partners'  capital  for the nine months
               ended September 30, 2002.

               Statement  of cash  flows  for the nine and three  month  periods
               ended September 30, 2002 and 2001.

               Notes to the Financial Statements.

       2. Financial Statement Schedules

               All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable
               accounting  regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
               are  not  required   under  the  related   instructions   or  are
               inapplicable, and therefore have been omitted.

(b)       Report on Form 8-K
               None



                                       17


                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date:
November 7, 2002

                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.
                                  (Registrant)



                By: ATEL Financial Corporation
                    General Partner of Registrant




                                    By:    /s/ DEAN L. CASH
                                         -------------------------------------
                                         Dean L. Cash
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer
                                         of General Partner




                                    By:    /s/ PARITOSH K. CHOKSI
                                         -------------------------------------
                                         Paritosh K. Choksi
                                         Executive Vice President of
                                         Managing Member and Principal
                                         financial officer of registrant




                By:   /s/ DONALD E. CARPENTER
                    ---------------------------------------
                    Donald E. Carpenter
                    Principal accounting
                    officer of registrant



                                       18


                                 CERTIFICATIONS


I, Paritosh K. Choksi, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of ATEL Cash  Distribution
Fund VII, LP;

2. Based on my  knowledge,  this  quarterly  report  does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact  necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the  circumstances  under which such statements
were made, not  misleading  with respect to the period covered by this quarterly
report;

3.  Based  on my  knowledge,  the  financial  statements,  and  other  financial
information  included in this quarterly  report,  fairly present in all material
respects the financial  condition,  results of operations  and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.  The  registrant's  other  certifying  officers  and  I are  responsible  for
establishing and maintaining  disclosure  controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

     a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material
     information   relating  to  the  registrant,   including  its  consolidated
     subsidiaries,  is  made  known  to  us by  others  within  those  entities,
     particularly  during  the period in which  this  quarterly  report is being
     prepared;

     b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's  disclosure controls and
     procedures  as of a date  within 90 days prior to the  filing  date of this
     quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

     c)  presented  in  this  quarterly   report  our   conclusions   about  the
     effectiveness  of the  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  based  on our
     evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our
most recent evaluation,  to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of
registrant's   board  of  directors  (or  persons   performing   the  equivalent
functions):

     a) all  significant  deficiencies  in the design or  operation  of internal
     controls which could adversely affect the  registrant's  ability to record,
     process,  summarize and report  financial data and have  identified for the
     registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

     b) any fraud,  whether or not material,  that involves  management or other
     employees  who  have  a  significant  role  in  the  registrant's  internal
     controls; and

6. The  registrant's  other  certifying  officers  and I have  indicated in this
quarterly report whether there were significant  changes in internal controls or
in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to
the date of our most recent  evaluation,  including any corrective  actions with
regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date:     November 7, 2002



  /s/ PARITOSH K. CHOKSI
- --------------------------------------
Paritosh K. Choksi
Principal financial officer of registrant, Executive
Vice President of General Partner


                                       19


                                 CERTIFICATIONS


I, Dean L. Cash, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of ATEL Cash  Distribution
Fund VII, LP;

2. Based on my  knowledge,  this  quarterly  report  does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact  necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the  circumstances  under which such statements
were made, not  misleading  with respect to the period covered by this quarterly
report;

3.  Based  on my  knowledge,  the  financial  statements,  and  other  financial
information  included in this quarterly  report,  fairly present in all material
respects the financial  condition,  results of operations  and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.  The  registrant's  other  certifying  officers  and  I are  responsible  for
establishing and maintaining  disclosure  controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

     a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material
     information   relating  to  the  registrant,   including  its  consolidated
     subsidiaries,  is  made  known  to  us by  others  within  those  entities,
     particularly  during  the period in which  this  quarterly  report is being
     prepared;

     b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's  disclosure controls and
     procedures  as of a date  within 90 days prior to the  filing  date of this
     quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

     c)  presented  in  this  quarterly   report  our   conclusions   about  the
     effectiveness  of the  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  based  on our
     evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our
most recent evaluation,  to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of
registrant's   board  of  directors  (or  persons   performing   the  equivalent
functions):

     a) all  significant  deficiencies  in the design or  operation  of internal
     controls which could adversely affect the  registrant's  ability to record,
     process,  summarize and report  financial data and have  identified for the
     registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

     b) any fraud,  whether or not material,  that involves  management or other
     employees  who  have  a  significant  role  in  the  registrant's  internal
     controls; and

6. The  registrant's  other  certifying  officers  and I have  indicated in this
quarterly report whether there were significant  changes in internal controls or
in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to
the date of our most recent  evaluation,  including any corrective  actions with
regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date:     November 7, 2002



  /s/ DEAN L. CASH
- --------------------------------------
Dean L. Cash
President and Chief Executive
Officer of General Partner


                                       20


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection  with the Quarterly  report on Form 10Q of ATEL Cash  Distribution
Fund VII,  LP, (the  "Partnership")  for the period ended June 30, 2002 as filed
with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on the date hereof (the  "Report"),
and  pursuant  to 18  U.S.C.  ss.1350,  as  adopted  pursuant  to  ss.906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002, I, Dean L. Cash,  Chief  Executive  Officer of ATEL
Financial  Services,  LLC,  general partner of the  Partnership,  hereby certify
that:

1. The Report fully complies with the  requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. The  information  contained in the Report  fairly  presents,  in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership.

Date:     November 7, 2002



  /s/ DEAN L. CASH
- --------------------------------------
Dean L. Cash
President and Chief Executive
Officer of General Partner


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection  with the Quarterly  report on Form 10Q of ATEL Cash  Distribution
Fund VII,  LP, (the  "Partnership")  for the period ended June 30, 2002 as filed
with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on the date hereof (the  "Report"),
and  pursuant  to 18  U.S.C.  ss.1350,  as  adopted  pursuant  to  ss.906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002, I, Paritosh K. Choksi,  Chief Financial  Officer of
ATEL Financial Services, LLC, general partner of the Partnership, hereby certify
that:

1. The Report fully complies with the  requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. The  information  contained in the Report  fairly  presents,  in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership.

Date:     November 7, 2002



  /s/ PARITOSH K. CHOKSI
- --------------------------------------
Paritosh K. Choksi
Executive Vice President of General
Partner, Principal financial officer of registrant

                                       21