De Lorean EuroTec

On my list of fantasy cars has always been the Caterham 7 (such as Arran’s). Well on Saturday afternoon, the seven just got dropped down a notch by the Atom.

Now, they may be as common as muck in the UK, but I have never seen one in the US, anywhere – car show, roadway, track. So I was absolutely astounded when on Saturday afternoon as I was on my way to a local car show with my son, this “go-cart” raced out from a side street and disappeared into the distance. Wait! Was that an Ariel Atom! Holy S#@t!

I floored the ol’ minivan and had soon caught up with the Atom, although the fact that it was stopped at a set of lights may have helped a little

Green light, and whoosh, it was gone again. I was so surprised that I didn’t even think to get out the camera, but as luck would have it, it was on its way to the same show I was going to. Of course by the time I got there it had registered, parked, and cooled down.

I knew a little about the car, in that it is light and very fast, made in the UK, and obviously eschews such luxuries as doors, roof, windows etc.
I had seen the car on that infamous Top Gear episode, but didn’t know it was available stateside.

Twice the HP and ½ the weight of our cars, which makes it a tad quick

A little post-show research revealed that there are thought to be about 250 cars in total in the states, but it isn’t known how many are road-legal. Many are track-day cars only. Several states seemingly won't allow it to be registered. Does anyone know how difficult it is to register in the UK?

Since it is not a kit car, but "factory" built, you buy it registered. It's the things like the mud guards and lights that make it road legal.

Quite a rare car, since I would guess most are either kept or crashed! - here is one that was on Ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220850831699

"..twice the power and half the weight..."

I also expect the handling might be slightly better

Hi Dermot,

You did make me smile.

We've got loads of em here in West Sussex

They meet type approval, in the UK, so theres no issues, just buy it and go!

They do a mad turbo one now, as if they're not mad enough.

RobvdVeer wrote:"..twice the power and half the weight..."

I also expect the handling might be slightly better

Funny you should say that, but supposedly the suspension was tweaked by Lotus, so you never know.

But I would imagine it handles like the go-kart it resembles. This one certainly looked like it did.

Darren C wrote: You did make me smile.

.

I hope in a good way

Darren C wrote: They meet type approval, in the UK, so theres no issues, just buy it and go!

They do a mad turbo one now, as if they're not mad enough.

Are UK drivers required to wear a motorcycle helmet? Or do they do it voluntarily.

The one I saw was registered as a car, but the driver and passenger both wore full face helmets. Though that may be a personal preference. I wouldn't fancy mingling with some of the lifted pickup trucks over here.

Hi Dermot,

Yes in a good way.

In UK the law is two wheels, Helmet compulsory, big fines unless you are a turban wearer.

So 3 wheels and above its up to the individual.

When I was much much younger I roof chopped a VW beetle to a 6" high windscreen. Drove around for weeks without a windscreen (windsheild) until I could afford to buy one.

Your ok upto 40mph, after that the flies bloody hurt.

Ended up driving with drilling safety goggles on.

A guy I deal with, builds (& in fact designed) the engine in the later one, which was on Top Gear. It's two Suzuki Hayabusa bike engines, kind of grafted together to make a V8. You can even have it twin turbo'd, 1000bhp! He's done me a couple of bike engines, very good, he is.
www.holeshot-racing.co.uk

My mate has a Dax kitcar with a turbocharged Hayabusa and no windscreen, it's a lethal machine and flies past other 'fast' cars

One of my mates built this from scratch which is similar to an atom and probably just as fast. I've been in it, its insane.

http://www.wr4.co.uk/#/content/start/

and vids of it http://www.youtube.com/warnerr4