I drove an ULTIMA!!! (Enzo who?!?)

Ok, so while some of you were kicking it at Crystal Cove today, I took a journey up to Malibu into Corral Canyon by invitation of a friend of a friend of a guy I met at a car racing thing.

I have been salivating at a car that performs far superior to even the Enzo for the cost of a used 550. Sure I love Ferrari still and always will, but in an apples to apples supercar world, a simple LS1 in an Ultima GTR on a canyon in Malibu early on a chilly saturday morning was probably the best hour of my life, including the threesome with two models I got on film. No other driving experience has brought such a big smile to my face, well once when I took the indy car for loops around Skypark Circle in Irvine, that was a hoot, but in the streetcar sense, the Ultima is just HOT! Better balance than an F40 hands down.

The Ultima is very nimble, Darth550 and Mike550, you boys experienced Corral Canyon in a little duel, imagine more grip and better seats...and true, less horsepower, but I am still jazzed at what I experienced. Can you boys say Touge? We actually had a chat about the Ultima during the photoshoot, and I am thinking that this is it for me.

My goal is to build or purchase a Can-Am model for some open-air thrills. I just need to finish obligations to my book publisher and probably get off my butt and pitch another TV show.

I imagine that with the Can-Am, I will still fantasize at what driving a 333sp on the street would be like, but it will still be on the street.

-=Drive responsibly=-

 

I am in talks with www.Brammo.com, they build the ultimate Ultimas. I need to make a call to them tomorrow. Thanks for the link, but that model is a little underpowered for my goals. >

 

actually you can beat Mclaren's if you choose the right engine config, as this car was the testbed for the F1, but since the F1 was released they continued development and come up with the relatively newer GTR model. There are some 1300bhp+ twin turbos around out there that will give the F1 something to envy.

It is not that it is impossible to beat an F1, but what indeed is the point? that is why lambo and ferrari respect the f1, but there are few places on earth to let the cars really run to their potential.

 

I have been familiar with the Ultima since about 97 when I first saw them in kitcar magazine, and I have closely watched the development ever since then, speaking with two US reps for the company.

I am going to bo some fabrication here with friends that used to be at Stillen Sportsparts, and possibly have the chassis and body prepped initially by Brammo up in Oregon if they'll ever call me back. Realistically, rolling chasis in the states will be $90,000.

It is very empty inside, no carpets, radio, but you can ofcourse put down dynamat and carpets, toss in a stereo and away you go. I can say having driven a GTR on the street, it feels very much like the F40, a no bs car, but it is probably capable of a commute if you don't mind the blindspots. (cured by cockpit cameras in this one) The motor I was driving was underpowered by Ultima standars, but will eat a Gallardo, Murci or 360cs alive. Porsches are not even a consideration.

Umm, see thread 'Tim's house of vegetarian porn' I'll rossa subscribe one of these days, if that is what all the cool kids are doing.

There are a few that top out at 227mph in 5th with one more gear to go.

As for handling it... Well I had a 420bhp motor in a 2200lb car, and driven my friends 900bhp mustang at pomona and out on a tarmac race. I have taken quite a few courses, and I am not power-drunk, there is a certain point when you can have too much under the hood. I know my limits.

 

I have not driven the Noble, I have to say it looks like a lot of fun. I think a can-am is going to be a lot of fun on the street and track, the gtr has the ability to hold a larger motor without flexing it, so i am waiting from brammo.com to call me back.

Fulltilt, I think it will be a 12 month at best build time for whatever I decide on. When it happens, it is coming out. The owner of the car I drove is a little reluctant to come forward, they happen to be an a-list Hollywood star that wants to remain low-profile.