Saw my first Ariel Atom yesterday

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Saw my first Ariel Atom yesterday

Postby Dangermouse » Mon Sep 26, 2011 5:51 pm

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?

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Re: Saw my first Ariel Atom yesterday

Postby arranj » Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:03 pm

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
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Re: Saw my first Ariel Atom yesterday

Postby RobvdVeer » Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:24 pm

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

I also expect the handling might be slightly better
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Re: Saw my first Ariel Atom yesterday

Postby Darren C » Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:41 pm

Hi Dermot,

You did make me smile. :D

We've got loads of em here in West Sussex :lol:

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.
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Re: Saw my first Ariel Atom yesterday

Postby Dangermouse » Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:13 pm

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.
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Re: Saw my first Ariel Atom yesterday

Postby Dangermouse » Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:17 pm

Darren C wrote: You did make me smile. :D

.


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.
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Re: Saw my first Ariel Atom yesterday

Postby Darren C » Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:36 pm

Hi Dermot,

Yes in a good way. :lol:

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. :lol:

Ended up driving with drilling safety goggles on. :geek:
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Re: Saw my first Ariel Atom yesterday

Postby bandit » Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:05 am

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.
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Saw my first Ariel Atom yesterday

Postby A Van » Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:23 am

My mate has a Dax kitcar with a turbocharged Hayabusa and no windscreen, it's a lethal machine and flies past other 'fast' cars
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Re: Saw my first Ariel Atom yesterday

Postby Dan 6511 » Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:46 pm

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
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