Ariel Atom, Westfield type cars but with an auto box?

[BlackLabel]

Hi all,

Was wondering if someone here could help with a query I had.

I would like to one day own something like the Ariel Atom however I cannot drive a manual car any more.

Due to an injury it has to be an auto with hand controls. So is there anything on the market like the Atom but with an auto box? I appreciate these cars are made to be as light and no frills as possible and an automatic box is heavier than a manual but I don't really have a choice.

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

[LukeR94]

KTM X-Bow?

Edit: Scrap that, Manual

Edited by LukeR94 on Tuesday 14th January 17:54

[dalzo]

What about some sort or stripped out out track day car with a sequential box?
Plenty on classifieds
Don't know the nature of your injury so not sure if it's a clutch pedal or the movement of the Manual

[AWRacing]

Bike engined kitcar with clutch on hand controls?
Although if you're only allowed to drive autos on your licence then this won't work.

I have seen (fairly recently too), auto kit cars on eBay so they are out there

[BlackLabel]

dalzo said:

What about some sort or stripped out out track day car with a sequential box?
Plenty on classifieds
Don't know the nature of your injury so not sure if it's a clutch pedal or the movement of the Manual

I can't move my ankles at all (paralysis due to a spinal injury) so a sequential would be no use either. I assume most of these sequentials will still have a partially automatic clutch required for down shifting?

[Krikkit]

Might be worth asking Palmersport what they've done with their Atoms. Can't remember if they're sequential or genuine auto though.

[BlackLabel]

AWRacing said:

Bike engined kitcar with clutch on hand controls?
Although if you're only allowed to drive autos on your licence then this won't work.

I have seen (fairly recently too), auto kit cars on eBay so they are out there

Thanks for the suggestion - will have a look.

My license allows me to drive both (I passed my test in a manual) so should be okay.

[eliot]

Krikkit said:

Might be worth asking Palmersport what they've done with their Atoms. Can't remember if they're sequential or genuine auto though.

I've driven one at Palmersport - they are sequential boxes via paddles on the steering wheel. But you do need to pull away from a standing start with a clutch start, but after that you just punch up and down.
Having had a go in all the cars at Palmersport including the single seater and le-man prototype, without exception everyone in my group enjoyed the Atom the most - they were Awesome!

[CraigyMc]

Krikkit said:

Might be worth asking Palmersport what they've done with their Atoms. Can't remember if they're sequential or genuine auto though.

They use a 6-speed sequential box from sadev, and have foot operated clutches.

Excellent fun (I did 3 palmersport events last year and already have one booked this year).

Edited to add: I think one could be adapted to use a hand clutch as it's only used to get moving and to stop the car stalling. You don't use the clutch at all while driving unless you're being a hooligan (which PalmerSport really want you to avoid). There's no need to use it in normal/fast as possible driving.

Palmersport's Atoms aren't really suitable for sale, because they run on LPG (as do all the cars at Palmersport). They also don't rev like a normal Atom (they are revlimited to about 7300rpm or so, rather than well over 8000 from a normal atom).

Edited by CraigyMc on Tuesday 14th January 19:34

[McWigglebum4th]

Isn't there a charity that is involved for motorsport for the legless

[Quattromaster]

OP, I'm in the same boat, injury wise.

There are auto kit cars out there, but they are rare, I sold my Sylva striker auto cross flow last yr, due to lack of use, to a guy from holland, he had been looking for over a yr and was prepared to travel .

I do have a friend with an auto Dax Rush he was looking to sell, I'll ask him if he still has it if your interested. We are in north Essex.

[spaximus]

You could certainly get a Westfield to work with hand controls as this has been done before. If it was me doing it I would get an Westfield that had an MT75 box tunnel. Then replace the engine and box with an auto out of an Omega. All you have left to do then is a servo fitting and the hand controls on the column.

The biggest issue is making sure you can get in and out, other wise nothing is impossible.

Might also be worth looking at the SDV storm. They can use the subaru engine and box of which there is an auto version. The rest is the same sort of work.

[iguana]

McWigglebum4th said:

Isn't there a charity that is involved for motorsport for the legless

missionmotorsport.org

[Dr JonboyG]

Gillet built a special Vertigo for Philippe Streiff with hand controls after he was paralyzed - maybe they can help?

[BlackLabel]

Thanks for all the suggestions - it's given me lots to go on.

@ Quattromaster - thanks for the offer. I'm not ready to buy right now (it will probably be another 6 months or so) but will get back to you then to see if your friend still has the Dax Rush. Btw, any suggestions for hand controls for normal vehicles? Are most brands about the same? I've heard good things about Jeff Gosling. Also do you use a ball/knob on the steering wheel?

[tim2100]

I have seen a westfield with an autobox before. It would just be a case of getting a sierra autobox I guess.

[Cfnteabag]

I know it's a little bit different and I don't have any experience of how well they actually drive ect or if there is anyone building them and supplying as turn key cars but what about an MEV Exocet built using an automatic mx5 as the base?