Ultima Targa Top
Discussion
Anyone know of an attempt at a targa top for an Ultima GTR? I love the GTR, and the Can-Am is awesome, but why not have both? With so much customizing in a home built car as it, I'm suprised to have not seen an attempt at a targa top.
I realize this may not be an easy task, but especially those built with the front roll hoop seem better suited. Any comments? The feasiblity of this side project will likely affect my choice of ordering a GTR vs. Can-Am.
I realize this may not be an easy task, but especially those built with the front roll hoop seem better suited. Any comments? The feasiblity of this side project will likely affect my choice of ordering a GTR vs. Can-Am.
, I'd like to see some pictures to get a better idea of what it's going to look like. 
J-K, maybe I am misunderstanding what you mean, but in many of the pictures on the Ultima CanAm website show a front roll hoop without the connecting members over the passenger compartment. Were you trying to have a front roll hoop with the smaller wind screen? As far as I can tell, the soft top only fits the larger wind screen anyways, which has the front roll hoop and no "T bars."
Ken, I was just looking at pictures of the GTR and CanAm when you replied trying to figure out if door hinges and such were placed in the same position so as to accomodate the switching of parts. I suppose you could locate a CanAm owner to report he damaged the parts you needed so the factory would supply him (and ultimately you) with the extra bits. I can see why the factory would resist this...if you want the benefit of both cars, then they would like for you to buy both cars.
ultiman said:
The doors on a Sport or GTR do indeed comprise most of the roof as anyone opening a door after driving the car in rain will agree as most of the water falls in your lap. However, the full height windows on the CanAm do not curl right round above the driver and passenger. Look at the CanAm soft roof which is quite wide, not 10" like the GTR.
Ultiman and k wright,
So, perhaps ordering a CanAm car with the larger wind screen and full height windows, but substituting the GTR rear bulk head and engine cover would be the best solution. Fabricating a targa top to fill the void above would basically solve the problem without requiring the changing of parts while giving a targa top look.
The question remains whether the factory will substitute those GTR parts. What do you guys think?
GTRCLIVE said:
paradigm said:
GTRCLIVE said: Wieght has nothing to do with it when you've got the Cubic Inches
...
You sound like a drag racer, does your car even turn?
That's an interesting comment, seeing as how larger displacement is directly related to the weight of the engine.
Not when you've got the same outside dimensions on the block.( ie it's still a Small Block Chevy ) The extra wieght of the crank through and the longer rods, are offset buy the ALUMIUM block.
Read it a weep boy.
Most of us here are talking about agile race cars, weight has always been a factor and always will be, inertia's a bitch. All other things being equal, larger engine (you can only bore it out a finite amount) = heavier engine, 'nough said...we all know you meant power instead of displacement anyways. Every time I read your writing I weep.
I'm finishing up my MS degree, so I don't quite have the money in the bank yet to build an Ultima. However, I've been researching them for about a year and plan on continuing to do so until I finish my degree, start my job, and bring in some real cash. I'm already involved in building cars from scratch, perhaps you've heard of Formula SAE. In the meantime, I'm picking the brains of all the guys like you out there that have first hand experience with Ultimas to get ideas. Do you have anything constructive to say concerning this thread topic that may be of help?
Being in the US, I often read many things on PH that I don't understand, especially abbreviations...like what is BTEC (HNC)? Is that similar to my MS (Masters of Science) degree in Mech. Eng.? And while I'm at it, what is a Q plate? As for the C5 corvette, no thanks, my father has one...it's fine for strolling around the town 
. I'd rather have a real car from the UK, a place where people know how to make real cars.
. I'd rather have a real car from the UK, a place where people know how to make real cars.davefiddes, thanks for the clarification on the abbreviations.
Why do people care about having a Q plate on a kit car, is there some shame associated with it?
As you may know since I've seen the whole discussion of plates discussed in other PH topics, plates in the US have nothing to do with year or make or anything (at least in the numbers/letters). And, luckily custom plates seem to be dirt cheap compared to those in the UK. I know where I live in Virginia they are only $10 more than a random, standard issue plate, so about $35 total a year (last time I checked). So you can have anything you want on your plate as long as someone else didn't think of it first.
Why do people care about having a Q plate on a kit car, is there some shame associated with it?
As you may know since I've seen the whole discussion of plates discussed in other PH topics, plates in the US have nothing to do with year or make or anything (at least in the numbers/letters). And, luckily custom plates seem to be dirt cheap compared to those in the UK. I know where I live in Virginia they are only $10 more than a random, standard issue plate, so about $35 total a year (last time I checked). So you can have anything you want on your plate as long as someone else didn't think of it first.
I visited the UK about 2 years ago and while I was there I think I remember being told that you are assigned a plate number, but you actually buy the letters and numbers and stick them to the plate yourself, is this correct? I was (am) amazed by this as I can only imagine the criminals having quite a good time faking plates to assist them in other devious actions. Is this not a problem in the UK, is there a penalty stiff enough to strongly discourage this behavior?
Our plates are stamped metal with raised numbers, somewhat hard to reproduce, and are kindly manufactured by state prisoners...and they get paid, is there something wrong here???
Our plates are stamped metal with raised numbers, somewhat hard to reproduce, and are kindly manufactured by state prisoners...and they get paid, is there something wrong here???
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