2000 Ultima GTR: Absolute Insanity

From the April 2000 difficulty of Automobile and Driver.

Have we acquired a deal for you: Write out a pleasant test for $100,300 and ship it to the British producer of this magnificence, and he’ll ship you the automobile all wrapped in an enormous delivery field—solely there is no engine.

We hear you proper now saying, “Nice. That is worse than these $75,000 Mustangs.”

Wait, do not throw the journal throughout the room—you are not going to imagine this. After you’ve got invested, oh, one other $40,000 or so for an engine and transmission, you are going to personal a automobile that’s faster than the most recent Porsche Turbo, any showroom Ferrari, even the fearsome Dodge Viper. To be honest, in contrast to the opposite vehicles, that are actual vehicles, this British import is extra a race automobile tuned for the streets since there aren’t any airbags and there is minuscule baggage house and it is tough to get into.

The automobile, known as the Ultima GTR, hails from the fertile race-car turf of Britain, the land the place McLaren, Reynard, Williams, and Van Diemen construct race vehicles that win with outstanding regularity. Lee Noble, a contract automobile designer, designed and constructed the primary Ultima in 1983 for a British equipment­-car racing collection. It used many Renault components, together with a 270-horsepower V-6 engine mounted amidships. It was a suc­cess on the observe, so Noble went on to promote 40 race vehicles earlier than 1988, when he up to date it. One of many 13 new fashions was pur­chased for about $25,000 by a civil engi­neer named Ted Marlow.

A weekend racer, Marlow did what most race-car homeowners do—he personalized the Ultima to his liking. He swapped the V-6 for a 440-hp Chevy small-block V-8. In 1992, after 4 years of modifying and perfecting his automobile, Marlow, then 44, pur­chased Noble’s enterprise. His purpose was to show the Ultima right into a civilized avenue automobile but retain its prowess on the observe. The professional­ject took 18 months. Marlow changed the Renault components with Ultima-specific items. He farmed out some bits and items however did many of the work himself. The brakes, for instance, have been designed by the properly­-known agency AP Racing.

Since 1995, Marlow’s small manufacturing unit in Hinckley, England, has turned out about 200 Ultimas. And this yr, in faraway California, a retired advertising government named Mike Mullin has begun promoting Ultima GTRs from his Costa Mesa store.

As an engineless equipment automobile, the Ultima bypasses federal rules. As soon as it is within the States, Mullin will set up no matter engine you want to pay for, however at the moment, he has two choices—an aftermarket small-block Chevy V-8 or a current-production LS1 V-8 from a C5 Corvette. Each engines use a late-model Porsche 911 transmission and differential. The small-block engine and the 911 transaxle price $38,000; the LS1 engine with transaxle prices $42,000.

If, nonetheless, you reside in a state with strict emissions legal guidelines and annual smog exams—California, for one—you want the LS1 V-8. The fantastic thing about its set up is that the inventory engine-control system, the catalysts, and the OBD II diagnostics stay unchanged.

The LS1 engine within the automobile we examined felt good. Pumping out 345 hp, the alu­minum V-8 is a confirmed, trouble-free, immediately responding gem. Our Ultima GTR weighed simply 2314 kilos, so the Vette engine virtually lifts the entrance wheels off the bottom at full throttle. Zero to 60 mph flashes by in 3.3 seconds. It’s going to hit 100 mph in 8.4 seconds, and that is faster than any present manufacturing automobile we have examined—it even outruns Warren Mosler’s Raptor, the opposite street-legal Group C wannabe. (However do not forget that the practically $160,000 Raptor has handed federal crash requirements, a feat the Ultima GTR has not tried since it’s, technically, a equipment automobile.) At greater than 150 mph, which is available in 26.3 seconds from standstill, the Ultima’s high-drag form and non-obligatory $3700 rear wing gradual issues down a bit, however nonetheless, the 157-mph prime pace happens on the 6000-rpm redline in fifth gear. The automobile felt stable and did not play sen­sitive even as soon as throughout our powerful perfor­mance testing. And, there is a 12-month guarantee.

There may be nothing kit-carish about it in actuality. Most equipment vehicles borrow closely from present autos. Not so with the GTR. Aside from the engine, transmission, and lights, it is nearly all unique.

In England, race outlets dot the countryside, and it is obvious that expert fabricators with gifted palms have turned out this automobile. The fiberglass physique of our check automobile had not a ripple throughout its curvy flanks. Each weld of the steel-­tube body displayed practically good beads. The doorways did not trace of binding, and the inside displayed impeccable match and end.

The Ultima’s suspension employs unequal-length management arms throughout and large vented, cross-drilled disc brakes that carried out with out fade. We skilled some early rear lockup that lengthened the stopping distance from 70 to 0 mph to 199 toes, however Mullin mentioned some brake tuning would shorten that distance fairly a bit. Contemplating how properly the automobile connected below acceleration and the superb 0.98-g lateral-acceleration determine, we all know the Ultima has loads of grip.

Scorching efficiency is all properly and good on the observe. The actual check comes on public roads, and that is the place the Ultima actually stunned us.

The trip is actually agency, and sure, we did drive the automobile on clean California roads. However even after we may see a nasty patch of street forward and braced ourselves for some kidney upset, the unpleasantness by no means got here. On the freeway, the Ultima did not wander a bit. Since Mullin retained the cats and muffler that include the LS1 engine, the loudest noise we heard was some wind roar. General, the trip is suitable and nonpunishing. The low trip peak made us worry driveway ramps and parking heaps, however the quick overhangs prevented the entrance finish from scraping.

We would not name the Ultima GTR a grocery getter, just because it is a bit troublesome to get into and out of. You will not want a gymnast’s license to acquire entry, however the vast, tall sill and the low seat will give pause to contemplate how you are going to get in. Our check automobile got here with the non-obligatory $2050 security cage, which professional­vided some handholds for entry. As soon as in, you are blessed with a low, snail’s-eye view of the street, a small steering wheel, a steel shifter rising straight from the ground, and room for anybody so long as they aren’t a lot taller than six toes two. The inside is refreshingly easy, with 5 plain white gauges logically positioned. The local weather controls are one other matter, nonetheless, since they’re below the sprint and require memorization to make use of. Regardless of the big glass space, the $3100 non-obligatory A/C labored properly, as did the heater (one other $1000).

For kicks, we took a couple of laps on a race­observe and could not imagine how assured the Ultima GTR made us really feel. It’s merely a well-engineered and well-built automobile. In each nook, straight, and braking zone, our check automobile was rock stable, with completely no twitchiness regardless of our prodigious speeds. We may gush on without end, however the backside line is we would sacrifice lots for a day of observe time within the GTR.

At $152,150, there are quite a few vehicles that’ll provide you with a thrill, however we now have to place the Ultima GTR in with the highest 5 vehicles that push all the proper auto-enthu­siast buttons. As of this writing, it has been two months since we drove it, and we’re nonetheless smiling.