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 March 31, 2001

              |_|     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

                      MARCH 31, 2001 AND DECEMBER 31, 2000
                                   (Unaudited)


                                     ASSETS

                                                  2001              2000
                                                  ----              ----
Cash and cash equivalents                        $ 1,058,500        $ 1,321,417
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
   doubtful accounts of none in 2001 and
   $724,906 in 2000                                4,873,284          6,222,311
Other assets                                          80,012             90,011
Investments in leases                            145,798,941        149,967,007
                                            ----------------- ------------------
Total assets                                    $151,810,737       $157,600,746
                                            ================= ==================


                        LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL



Non-recourse debt                                $13,890,839        $15,452,741

Other long-term debt                              39,937,000         44,877,000

Lines of credit                                    4,500,000                  -

Accounts payable:
   General Partner                                   274,980            605,684
   Other                                             514,116            703,761

Accrued interest expense                             464,131            533,858
Unearned operating lease income                    1,220,823          1,264,094
                                            ----------------- ------------------
Total liabilities                                 60,801,889         63,437,138
Partners' capital:
     General Partner                              (1,514,601)        (1,514,601)
     Limited Partners                             92,523,449         95,678,209
                                            ----------------- ------------------
Total partners' capital                           91,008,848         94,163,608
                                            ----------------- ------------------
Total liabilities and partners' capital         $151,810,737       $157,600,746
                                            ================= ==================

                             See accompanying notes.


                                       3


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                                INCOME STATEMENTS

                            THREE MONTH PERIODS ENDED
                             MARCH 31, 2001 AND 2000
                                   (Unaudited)



                                                               2001              2000
                                                               ----              ----
Revenues:
   Leasing activities:
                                                                           
      Operating leases                                        $ 8,292,884        $ 9,978,190
      Direct financing leases                                     278,843            197,918
      Leveraged leases                                                  -            195,693
      (Loss) gain on sales of assets                              (80,962)           686,551
Interest                                                           22,392             13,208
Other                                                               2,574              5,535
                                                         ----------------- ------------------
                                                                8,515,731         11,077,095
Expenses:
Depreciation and amortization                                   5,592,378          4,504,188
Interest expense                                                1,110,475          1,434,395
Other                                                             426,046            237,000
Equipment and incentive management fees to General Partne         326,986            540,844
Cost reimbursements to General Partner                            195,377            123,850
Professional fees                                                  54,290             19,416
                                                         ----------------- ------------------
                                                                7,705,552          6,859,693
                                                         ----------------- ------------------
Net income                                                      $ 810,179        $ 4,217,402
                                                         ================= ==================

Net income:
   General Partner                                              $ 214,901          $ 810,179
   Limited Partners                                               595,278          3,407,223
                                                         ----------------- ------------------
                                                                $ 810,179        $ 4,217,402
                                                         ================= ==================

Net income per Limited Partnership Unit                            $ 0.04             $ 0.23
Weighted average number of Units outstanding                   14,996,050         14,996,050


                    STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS' CAPITAL

                            THREE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                                 MARCH 31, 2001
                                   (Unaudited)



                                           Limited Partners       General
                               Units             Amount           Partner             Total

                                                                         
Balance December 31, 2000       14,996,050      $ 95,678,209       $(1,514,601)      $ 94,163,608
Distributions to partners                         (3,750,038)         (214,901)        (3,964,939)
Net income                                           595,278           214,901            810,179
                          ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
Balance March 31, 2001          14,996,050      $ 92,523,449       $(1,514,601)      $ 91,008,848
                          ================= ================= ================= ==================

                             See accompanying notes.


                                       4


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                             STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

                            THREE MONTH PERIODS ENDED
                             MARCH 31, 2001 AND 2000



                                                             2001              2000
                                                             ----              ----
Operating activities:
                                                                         
Net income                                                    $ 810,179        $ 4,217,402
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash
   provided by operating activities:
   Leveraged lease income                                             -           (195,693)
   Loss (gain) on sales of assets                                80,962           (686,551)
   Depreciation and amortization                              5,592,378          4,504,188
   Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
      Accounts receivable                                     1,349,027            118,478
      Other assets                                                9,999              9,999
      Accounts payable, General Partner                        (330,704)          (958,885)
      Accounts payable, other                                  (189,645)           296,266
      Accrued interest expense                                  (69,727)          (148,087)
      Unearned lease income                                     (43,271)           (23,145)
                                                       ----------------- ------------------
Net cash provided by operations                               7,209,198          7,133,972
                                                       ----------------- ------------------

Investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of assets                                   447,351          3,543,679
Reduction of net investment in direct financing leases          466,134          1,024,401
Purchases of equipment on operating leases                   (1,950,111)                 -
Purchases of equipment on direct financing leases              (451,922)                 -
Initial direct costs paid to General Partner                    (16,726)
                                                       ----------------- ------------------
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities          (1,505,274)         4,568,080
                                                       ----------------- ------------------

Financing activities:
Repayments of other long-term debt                           (4,940,000)        (7,804,000)
Borrowings under line of credit                               4,500,000                  -
Distributions to limited partners                            (3,750,038)        (3,748,957)
Distributions to general partner                               (214,901)          (300,664)
Repayments of non-recourse debt                              (1,561,902)        (1,396,812)
Proceeds of other long-term debt                                      -         11,700,000
Repayments of borrowings under line of credit                         -         (9,100,000)
                                                       ----------------- ------------------
Net cash used in financing activities                        (5,966,841)       (10,650,433)
                                                       ----------------- ------------------

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents           (262,917)         1,051,619

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period              1,321,417          1,674,372
                                                       ----------------- ------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                  $ 1,058,500        $ 2,725,991
                                                       ================= ==================

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for interest                    $ 1,180,202        $ 1,582,482
                                                       ================= ==================

                             See accompanying notes.


                                       5


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                 MARCH 31, 2001
                                   (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 and        Reclassi-           Balance
                                          December 31,                         Amortization     fications and        March 31,
                                              2000            Additions         of Leases        Dispositions          2001
                                              ----            ---------         ---------      - -------------         ----
                                                                                                       
Net investment in operating leases           $131,717,168       $ 1,950,111       $(5,544,205)      $(3,332,702)      $124,790,372
Net investment in direct financing
   leases                                      17,087,466           451,922          (466,134)                -         17,073,254
Assets held for sale or lease                   1,233,078                                   -         2,804,389          4,037,467
Reserve for losses                               (504,227)                                  -                 -           (504,227)
Initial direct costs, net of
   accumulated amortization                       433,522            16,726           (48,173)                -            402,075
                                        ------------------ ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
                                             $149,967,007       $ 2,418,759       $(6,058,512)       $ (528,313)      $145,798,941
                                        ================== ================= ================= ================= ==================








                                       6


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                 MARCH 31, 2001
                                   (Unaudited)


3.  Investment in leases (continued):

Property on operating leases consists of the following:



                                  Balance                            Reclassi-           Balance
                                December 31,                       fications and        March 31,
                                    2000           Additions        Dispositions          2001
                                    ----           ---------        ------------          ----
                                                                             
Transportation                    $101,664,857                         $(5,900,528)      $ 95,764,329
Marine vessels/barges               27,276,479                            (628,843)        26,647,636
Construction                        23,002,563                                   -         23,002,563
Manufacturing                       11,801,318         $ 281,750          (906,370)        11,176,698
Mining                               8,536,249           476,716                 -          9,012,965
Office automation                    9,880,540                 -        (1,604,082)         8,276,458
Other                                5,108,831         1,191,645          (236,690)         6,063,786
Materials handling                   5,559,474                 -                 -          5,559,474
Communications                       4,387,819                 -                 -          4,387,819
                              ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
                                   197,218,130         1,950,111        (9,276,513)       189,891,728
Less accumulated depreciation      (65,500,962)      $(5,544,205)        5,943,811        (65,101,356)
                              ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
                                  $131,717,168       $(3,594,094)      $(3,332,702)      $124,790,372
                              ================= ================= ================= ==================


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

At March 31, 2001, the aggregate amounts of future minimum lease payments are as
follows:

                                                Direct
            Year ending     Operating         Financing
           December 31,       Leases            Leases            Total
           ------------       ------            ------            -----
                   2001      $ 17,981,584       $ 2,547,148      $ 20,528,732
                   2002        20,580,116         2,690,350        23,270,466
                   2003        12,741,386         2,329,686        15,071,072
                   2004         8,399,613         2,280,094        10,679,707
                   2005         5,844,934         2,235,643         8,080,577
             Thereafter         2,126,026         1,701,568         3,827,594
                         ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
                             $ 67,673,659      $ 13,784,489      $ 81,458,148
                         ================= ================= =================



                                       7


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                 MARCH 31, 2001
                                   (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
7.1% to 16.9%.

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

         Year ending
        December 31,        Principal          Interest           Total
        ------------        ---------          --------           -----
                   2001       $ 3,914,914         $ 911,706       $ 4,826,620
                   2002         5,761,771           799,842         6,561,613
                   2003         3,261,508           288,853         3,550,361
                   2004           298,403            67,364           365,767
                   2005           322,838            42,927           365,765
             Thereafter           331,405            25,597           357,002
                         ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
                             $ 13,890,839       $ 2,136,289      $ 16,027,128
                         ================= ================= =================


5.  Other 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 (5.74571% at March 31, 2001).

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 March 31,
2001,  the  Partnership  receives or pays  interest on a notional  principal  of
$39,937,000, based on the difference between nominal rates ranging from 5.55% to
7.58% and the variable rate under the Program. No actual borrowing or lending is
involved.  The last of the swaps terminates in 2008. 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.






                                       8


                      ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                 MARCH 31, 2001
                                   (Unaudited)


5.  Other long-term debt (continued):

Borrowings under the Program are as follows:

                           Original           Balance           Rate on
        Amount March 31, Interest Swap
           Date Borrowed   Borrowed             2001           Agreement
           -------------   --------             ----           ---------
            4/1/1998        $ 21,770,000       $ 7,404,000       6.220%
            7/1/1998        $ 25,000,000       $ 7,656,000       6.155%
            10/1/1998       $ 20,000,000      $ 11,243,000       5.550%
            4/16/1999        $ 9,000,000       $ 3,885,000       5.890%
            1/26/2000       $ 11,700,000       $ 9,749,000       7.580%
                       ------------------ -----------------
                            $ 87,470,000      $ 39,937,000
                       ================== =================

The long-term  debt  borrowings  mature from 2004 through 2008.  Future  minimum
principal payments of long-term debt are as follows:

          Year ending
         December 31,        Principal          Interest           Total
         ------------        ---------          --------           -----
             2001              $ 8,784,000       $ 1,724,950      $ 10,508,950
             2002               11,131,000         1,640,179        12,771,179
             2003                7,200,000         1,075,640         8,275,640
             2004                5,422,000           676,854         6,098,854
             2005                3,986,000           369,993         4,355,993
          Thereafter             3,414,000           331,282         3,745,282
                          ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
                              $ 39,937,000       $ 5,818,898      $ 45,755,898
                          ================= ================= =================


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
acquisition, 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  services  to the  Partnership.  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 acquisition and 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 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
(i) actual costs  incurred on behalf of the  Partnership  or (ii) the amount the
Partnership would be required to pay independent parties for comparable services
in the same  geographic  location and are  reimbursable  in accordance  with the
Limited Partnership Agreement.



                                       9


                     ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                 MARCH 31, 2001
                                   (Unaudited)


6.  Related party transactions (continued):

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



                                                                                      2001              2000
                                                                                      ----              ----
                                                                                                    

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 Agreement).                       $ 326,986          $ 540,844



Costs reimbursed to General Partner                                                      195,377            123,850
                                                                                ----------------- ------------------
                                                                                       $ 522,363          $ 664,694
                                                                                ================= ==================



7. Partner's capital:

As  of  March  31,   2001,14,996,050   Units   ($149,960,500)  were  issued  and
outstanding.

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.



                                       10


                     ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII, L.P.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                 MARCH 31, 2001
                                   (Unaudited)


8.  Line of credit:

The  Partnership  participates  with the  General  Partner  and  certain  of its
Affiliates in a $62,000,000 revolving credit agreement with a group of financial
institutions  which  expires  on April  12,  2002.  The  agreement  includes  an
acquisition  facility and a warehouse  facility which are used to provide bridge
financing  for  assets  on  leases.  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 Affiliates, the Partnership and the General Partner.

At March 31, 2001, the Partnership  had $4,500,000 of borrowings  under the line
of credit.

The credit agreement  includes certain  financial  covenants  applicable to each
borrower.  The Partnership was  incompliance  with its covenants as of March 31,
2001.




                                       11


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


Capital Resources and Liquidity

During the first quarter of 2001 and 2000, the  Partnership's  primary  activity
was engaging in equipment leasing activities.

In 2001 and 2000,  the  Partnership's  primary source of liquidity was operating
lease  rents.  The  liquidity  of the  Partnership  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, the Partnership has contractual obligations with
a diversified group of lessees for fixed lease terms at fixed rental amounts. As
the  initial  lease  terms  expire the  Partnership  will  re-lease  or sell the
equipment.  The future  liquidity  beyond the  contractual  minimum rentals will
depend on the General  Partner's  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  $62,000,000   revolving  line  of  credit  with  a  financial
institution. The line of credit expires on April 12, 2002.

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

The Partnership currently has available adequate reserves to meet contingencies,
but in the event those  reserves were found to be  inadequate,  the  Partnership
would  likely be in a position to borrow  against its current  portfolio to meet
such  requirements.  The General  Partner  envisions  no such  requirements  for
operating purposes.

No  commitments  of capital  have been or are expected to be made other than for
the acquisition of additional  equipment.  There were no such  commitments as of
March 31, 2001.

If  inflation  in the general  economy  becomes  significant,  it may affect the
Partnership  inasmuch as the residual  (resale) values and rates on re-leases of
the  Partnership's  leased  assets may  increase as the costs of similar  assets
increase.  However,  the  Partnership's  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 the Partnership
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.  Leases  already in
place, for the most part, would not be affected by changes in interest rates.


Cash Flows

In 2001 and 2000,  the  primary  source of  liquidity  was rents from  operating
leases. Cash from operating  activities was almost entirely from operating lease
rents in both years.

In the first quarter of 2001 and 2000,  the only sources of cash from  investing
activities  was  proceeds  from sales of assets and rents from direct  financing
leases.  In 2001,  proceeds from sales of lease assets  decreased  significantly
compared to 2000.  Proceeds  from such sales are not  expected to be  consistent
from one year to another.  In 2001 the primary  investing  uses of cash were the
purchase of assets on operating and direct financing leases.



                                       12


In 2001, the only source of cash from investing  activities was borrowings under
the line of credit.  In 2000, the only source of cash from operating  activities
was proceeds of other  long-term  debt.  Repayments of other long-term debt have
decreased as a result of scheduled debt payments. Results of operations

Operations  resulted in a net income of $810,179 in 2001  compared to $4,217,402
in the same period in 2000. The Partnership's primary source of revenues is from
operating   leases.   This  is  expected  to  remain  true  in  future  periods.
Depreciation   expense  is  the  single  largest  expense  of  the  Partnership.
Depreciation  is related to operating  lease assets and thus, to operating lease
revenues.  Operating lease revenues and depreciation expense have increased over
the last year as a result of asset acquisitions.

Gains and losses  recognized  on sales of assets have  decreased  from a gain of
$686,551 in 2000 to a loss of $80,962 in 2001. Gains and losses are not expected
to be consistent from one period to another.

Equipment  management  fees are based on the  Partnership's  rental revenues and
have  decreased  in relation to  decreases in the  Partnership's  revenues  from
leases. Such fees decreased from $371,397 in 2000 to $311,703 in 2001. Incentive
management fees are based on the levels of distributions to limited partners and
the sources of the cash  distributed.  Such fees have decreased from $169,447 in
2000 to $15,283 in 2001.

The  decrease  in  interest  expense  is  related  to  the  reduction  of  total
outstanding debt as the result of scheduled payments.


                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings.

No material legal  proceedings are currently  pending against the Partnership or
against  any of its assets.  The  following  is a  discussion  of legal  matters
involving  the  Partnership  but  which  do not  represent  claims  against  the
Partnership or its assets.

In  January  2000,  Applied  Magnetics  Corporation  filed for  protection  from
creditors  under Chapter 11 of the U.S.  Bankruptcy  Code. The  Partnership  has
assets  with a total net book value of  $8,048,095  leased to Applied  Magnetics
Corporation.  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 Partnership  anticipates  additional amounts may be recoverable  through the
reorganization  of the lessee's  business,  however,  any  recoveries  above the
amounts  received upon  liquidation  of the  Partnership's  equipment are highly
uncertain and speculative.



                                       13


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.

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,  March 31,  2001 and  December  31,
                              2000.

                            Income  statements for the three month periods ended
                              March 31, 2001 and 2000.

                            Statement  of changes in  partners'  capital for the
                              three months ended March 31, 2001.

                            Statements of cash flows for the three month periods
                              ended March 31, 2001 and 2000.

                            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



                                       14


                                   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:
May 11, 2001

                      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
                                        Principal financial officer
                                        of registrant




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

                                       15