First Drive - YEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

[craig-ultima]

Took the car for a really quick test drive just on local streets so no high speeds. BUT IT IS INSANE. I was simply jazzed that the car actually goes and it looks like I put everything together right.

Great looking, too, I'm amazed since I hadn't actually seen one fully in the flesh until this weekend when I put the front and rear body clips on.

Neighbours stopped dead in the street and stared, a couple of kids on bikes almost fell over. I was giddy for hours, especially since I've practically done no car work ever prior to starting this project 10 months ago. Now all I have to do is learn how to drive it :)

More photos and info at www.craig-ultima.com if you are interested.

Lets try this picture insert thing...

[pic] http://www.craig-ultima.com/images/2005-08-24/cool-picture.jpg [/pic]

[craig-ultima]

Lets try that pic insert again... (don't put spaces in)

[gemini]

Nice on ya lucky sod!

[wedge girl]

Wow, that's some site you've put together, makes great reading.

[GTRene]

Like your building site Craig! very good, and well documented...just drive and drive, forget the rest, but watch out for speed traps
I hope soon to drive a Ultima GTR myself when I have the money, only in my country the Netherlands there is a special vehicle tax called BPM...that spoils a lot the newer the car the more BPM and thats between 17.000,- and 35.000,-euro's new on a Ultima
so when you finally can buy an outside my country Ultima...you can't drive because of the extra BPM money, our surrounding countries don't have that special tax its nice in the Netherlands but not car friendly!!

Enjoy your car...
René

[usagtrman]

Hi Craig

Congratulations! I know the feeling! It's hard to wipe the grin off my face..... Nice job of keeping on schedule too. Looking forward to meeting you and seeing your car in Dekalb.

Brad Z

[builder]

What is this? Are Ultima(e) in season?

Y'all are making me really anxious to get mine on the road. The shop should be done by 1 October. Only then can I start!!!!!!!

Contratulations, Craig! You've selected the fast color. Hope to meet you in Chicago. BTW, how many points do you have left on your driver's license?

-- Scott

[craig-ultima]

Thanks!

I am really am aiming to get the car to Chicago. Its a long trip (370 miles), and I need to 100% confident that the car will make it there and back, and that I get familiar enough driving it to be okay.

[builder]

craig-ultima said:

Thanks! I am really am aiming to get the car to Chicago. Its a long trip (370 miles), and I need to 100% confident that the car will make it there and back, and that I get familiar enough driving it to be okay.

We won't let "familiar enough" to stand as a valid reason not to come. And, if you can't drive not even two hours each way, well...

-- Scott

[gtr4me]

builder said:

craig-ultima said: Thanks! I am really am aiming to get the car to Chicago. Its a long trip (370 miles), and I need to 100% confident that the car will make it there and back, and that I get familiar enough driving it to be okay. We won't let "familiar enough" to stand as a valid reason not to come. And, if you can't drive not even two hours each way, well... -- Scott

Let's see 370/2 = 185 mph, the Ultima should have no problem in getting there in 2 hours

[Boosted LS1]

Craig,

After seeing your exotica I'm very tempted and have no shortage of engines. How much does an ultima cost minus just the engine? Just a rough idea will do?

Boosted.

[RobGTO]

So gonna own a GTR when im done with uni, and a couple of rubbish jobs.

[mkoch1]

Great job on getting the beast running. If you don't feel comfortable driving it out to Chicago just trailer it out. I am trailering mine out.

Mark

[craig-ultima]

Thanks everyone for the encouraging words. I will be in Chicago, trailer or drive.

LS1 Boosted - I spent about $65k with Ultima. That includes some un-necessary stuff like the stainless steel exhaust, leather bits and pieces, and I got the tyres from them as well since I couldn't find them cheaper here in the US. That number includes the $7k for the transmission - that was a 2004 price, BTW - it looks like its doubled.this year.

I'm sure you can do it a bit cheaper if you source some of the parts locally. But since this was my first car project, I wanted to err on the side of getting it right, even if it cost me a bit more.

[jschwartz]

Craig,
Congrats on your build and first drive.
My GTR's maiden voyage was the Hot Rod Power Tour in 2003. I had a few hundred miles on it, then hit the road and did 3500 or so. It's now got 0ver 20,000 miles.
See you in Chicago
Jeff S

[craig-ultima]

Thanks... a racing buddy of mine came around today to help me get the car going properly. He took it out and ran it pretty hard for a few miles. Its the first time a good driver has run it.

Its absolutely insane. At one point we were both screaming out loud, and still he kept the revs down in the 3500 to 5300 range. He's done a lot of track racing in different classes like Formula Ford and the likes, and owns Porches, Corvettes, etc, and says this is faster than anything he's ever driven. We happened across a F430 and gave it a quick run, and it couldn't get away .

Wow.... wow....

[Hugger Z]

Congratulations Craig. I am really loking forward to seeing your car in Chicago later this week. I have been following your website closely and enjoy the detail you put in there. Enjoy your newly completed car and have some fun with it!

[craig-ultima]

Unfortunately I won't have the car there since my plans to trailer it there fell through and I don't feel comfortable driving it that far yet. But I'll be there.