Ultima for sale
Discussion
Just seen the Ultima these guys are selling, looks like a reasonable deal, does anybody know its history?
www.beaulieugarage.co.uk/
www.beaulieugarage.co.uk/
Seeing this car and some others for around the 30k mark, and having seen some at the 55k-65k mark it makes me wonder.
I have an elise and not wanting an Exige due to it being to close (and slower) than my elise I figured the ultima would fit the bill for something adequately different. Is there anything I should watch for when looking at these 30k cars?
Do they stand up to the abuse of driving all day at trackdays? and can I run them with slicks using the factory dampers and suspension?
Carsten
I have an elise and not wanting an Exige due to it being to close (and slower) than my elise I figured the ultima would fit the bill for something adequately different. Is there anything I should watch for when looking at these 30k cars?
Do they stand up to the abuse of driving all day at trackdays? and can I run them with slicks using the factory dampers and suspension?
Carsten
30K usually buys something thats either poorly finished and/or has low spec engine, brakes, suspension etc. Generally that means that if you want to run it seriuosly on track days some money has to be spent. By the time its right both in the looks and the go/stop departments your over 40K into the car, might be 45K and its harder to undo someone elses poor work than it is to do it right in the first place. So what price the agravation and labour. Having said this it's worth looking at anything low priced but do it with a calculator in hand and an open mind. Finally, 55K may be a lot of money but for a low mileage properly built Ultima its about right. I think that a fully spec'ed factory bulit GTR comes in at more than that but either way its a car that holds its own in performance and looks with machinery costing far more 
>> Edited by ultimajohn on Sunday 30th June 17:31
>> Edited by ultimajohn on Sunday 30th June 17:31
PS.
All the above only applies to Chevy engined/G50 cars. If its anything else you must look at it differently. There are some very, very nice cars in which the builder has decided to fit other engines, sometimes a different gearbox. Usually it would not be economic to buy such a car with the intention of fitting the "standard" Chevy/G50. The chassis mods, new exhaust system, adapter plate and reworking the engine bay installation are just too expensive. If the car in question is different then look at it as it is and decide whether it fits the bill for you.
All the above only applies to Chevy engined/G50 cars. If its anything else you must look at it differently. There are some very, very nice cars in which the builder has decided to fit other engines, sometimes a different gearbox. Usually it would not be economic to buy such a car with the intention of fitting the "standard" Chevy/G50. The chassis mods, new exhaust system, adapter plate and reworking the engine bay installation are just too expensive. If the car in question is different then look at it as it is and decide whether it fits the bill for you.
Points noted..
The Beaulieu Ultima seems to come with a chevy 8 (can only assume it is a small block..)
But having seen the interior of the red one thats for sale (can't remember where..) some of the stuff seems OTT for trackuse.. (leather/satnav etc..)
If Ultima inspect every car before releasing it, then the assumption is that the basics are in order.(mods and upgrades are part of the fun.)
The Beaulieu Ultima seems to come with a chevy 8 (can only assume it is a small block..)
But having seen the interior of the red one thats for sale (can't remember where..) some of the stuff seems OTT for trackuse.. (leather/satnav etc..)
If Ultima inspect every car before releasing it, then the assumption is that the basics are in order.(mods and upgrades are part of the fun.)
LRdriver
Inspect? I think you may mean the inspection offered by Ultima as part of their service to builders. Beware not everyone takes this offer up. Of course if the car has been SVA'd its got to be road worthy at the time of testing. If it's been MOT'd the same applies. When I refer to high spec I mean things like 450bhp plus, Big brakes, Competition drive shafts, Top spec dampers and springs, fire extinguishers plumbed in etc.
Leather trim, Satnav and rearview camera are OK
but don't actually add to the performance do they! I'm a purist and biased. I apologise to anyone with these last items fitted before you send someone round to sort me out! 
Inspect? I think you may mean the inspection offered by Ultima as part of their service to builders. Beware not everyone takes this offer up. Of course if the car has been SVA'd its got to be road worthy at the time of testing. If it's been MOT'd the same applies. When I refer to high spec I mean things like 450bhp plus, Big brakes, Competition drive shafts, Top spec dampers and springs, fire extinguishers plumbed in etc.
Leather trim, Satnav and rearview camera are OK
but don't actually add to the performance do they! I'm a purist and biased. I apologise to anyone with these last items fitted before you send someone round to sort me out! 
When I bought my car, it had been built pretty badly, and with a poor Rover V8 engine in. Then again, it was vv cheap . I looked at changing to Chevy power, and it came out at about £6k on top of the price of the engine. In the end, I just put in a decent Rover 4.8, and spent the rest of the cash rectifying the other problems with the car. Now, it's a pretty decent little car, but there's still a bit of money to be spent getting it right up to how I want it.
Then again, that's all part of the fun of a car like this. Playing with it, and making it "better".
As said before. Go along and look. Take stock of what you're getting, and work out whether that's what you want, or how much it's going to cost you to make it what you want.
In the final analysis, the only way to be 100% sure that you get exactly the car you want, is to ring up Ted and order yourself a kit
James
. I looked at changing to Chevy power, and it came out at about £6k on top of the price of the engine. In the end, I just put in a decent Rover 4.8, and spent the rest of the cash rectifying the other problems with the car. Now, it's a pretty decent little car, but there's still a bit of money to be spent getting it right up to how I want it. Then again, that's all part of the fun of a car like this. Playing with it, and making it "better".
As said before. Go along and look. Take stock of what you're getting, and work out whether that's what you want, or how much it's going to cost you to make it what you want.
In the final analysis, the only way to be 100% sure that you get exactly the car you want, is to ring up Ted and order yourself a kit
James
The used prices for the GTR's look very tempting. 50k for a decent example sounds fair enough. Does the factory deal in approved used examples? I notice some cars are running porsche gearboxes. A porsche 993TT engine can be picked up for around 5k now, so these sound like a good choice too. Is it possible for the factory to fit other unit's than a V8? The R32 Nissan skyline engines have a very good reputation for massive reliable power too. Any thoughts?
What engines are generally used aside from the old american V8's? Has anyone ever put in a new engine? Some of the offerings from Birds, AMG etc must be tempting - Pagani Zonda style.
Also does the factory or any specialist company offer a carbon fibre dashboard option? A black GTR with a racing style alloy and carbon interior would look awesome. It must be possible to rivet sheets of carbonfibre insted of alloy for that F1 look.
Also does the factory or any specialist company offer a carbon fibre dashboard option? A black GTR with a racing style alloy and carbon interior would look awesome. It must be possible to rivet sheets of carbonfibre insted of alloy for that F1 look.
So how does the Ultima hold up on track? Any issues with engine reliability and are the standard spec dampers/brakes/springs up to the abuse? I would be quite willing to get one of these cars in the 30k bracket and uprate stuff as needed.
I saw my first Ultima(black one) in Marlow on the 1st june this year..thats when i knew..
I saw my first Ultima(black one) in Marlow on the 1st june this year..thats when i knew..
The black GTR in Marlow was mine. Regarding the dynamics of the Ultma. I only know of the most recent cars such as mine but the car is built for track use. The brakes are AP racing running close to 13 inch discs with Mintes 1166 pads ( higher spec than most club championships and they work very well). The springs and dampers are designed for the car with both having specific Ultima stamps. The suspension is twin wishbone front and rear running semi rose joint in road spec. All this gives the most amazing ride (with loads of adjustments on the dampers) and body control you would not believe. I am sure you can upgrade any of the past describe from the £30K car with the exception of the brakes, tyres due to the limit of wheel size. However as the car was originally desined by a certain Mt Noble as a race car I am sure it would keep most people happ
LRDriver do have a look at the snaps I recently took of this car..
www.freeweb.telco4u.net/theoptician/ultima/
Regards
Ed
www.freeweb.telco4u.net/theoptician/ultima/
Regards
Ed
Rover/Ford V8's, Renault V6, BMW etc.
Whilst the factory recommend the Chevy unit as it provides cheap, reliable horsepower, there's no reason (provided it fits) that you can't put any lump in. But, you've got the hassle of matching to a suitable gearbox and getting the geometry correct for the drive shafts etc.
As Ted said to me, "if you want a BMW engine in it then fine - but why would you want an Ultima that sounded like a BMW?!?!?!?" Case closed
Regarding the cabon fibre. There's no reason why you can't use the GRP dash supplied from Ultima as a mould/buck for laying up a carbon fibre replacement. You don't need an autoclave for CF as it will cure at room temp (just takes longer and isn't as strong). Would look the dogs bits though so I might just give it a go! Definitely up for making the interior a bit -'special' with some nice ally bits etc. Tastefully done however. Saw a gunmetal GTR at the factory when I visited which looked a bit of a dogs dinner. The interior was well built but no very tasteful. The addition of chrome body badges didn't help either!
(2 months to go
)
Whilst the factory recommend the Chevy unit as it provides cheap, reliable horsepower, there's no reason (provided it fits) that you can't put any lump in. But, you've got the hassle of matching to a suitable gearbox and getting the geometry correct for the drive shafts etc.
As Ted said to me, "if you want a BMW engine in it then fine - but why would you want an Ultima that sounded like a BMW?!?!?!?" Case closed
Regarding the cabon fibre. There's no reason why you can't use the GRP dash supplied from Ultima as a mould/buck for laying up a carbon fibre replacement. You don't need an autoclave for CF as it will cure at room temp (just takes longer and isn't as strong). Would look the dogs bits though so I might just give it a go! Definitely up for making the interior a bit -'special' with some nice ally bits etc. Tastefully done however. Saw a gunmetal GTR at the factory when I visited which looked a bit of a dogs dinner. The interior was well built but no very tasteful. The addition of chrome body badges didn't help either!
(2 months to go
) quote:
What engines are generally used aside from the old american V8's? Has anyone ever put in a new engine? Some of the offerings from Birds, AMG etc must be tempting - Pagani Zonda style.
Also does the factory or any specialist company offer a carbon fibre dashboard option? A black GTR with a racing style alloy and carbon interior would look awesome. It must be possible to rivet sheets of carbonfibre insted of alloy for that F1 look.
quote:
Rover/Ford V8's, Renault V6, BMW etc.
Whilst the factory recommend the Chevy unit as it provides cheap, reliable horsepower, there's no reason (provided it fits) that you can't put any lump in. But, you've got the hassle of matching to a suitable gearbox and getting the geometry correct for the drive shafts etc.
As Ted said to me, "if you want a BMW engine in it then fine - but why would you want an Ultima that sounded like a BMW?!?!?!?" Case closed
Regarding the cabon fibre. There's no reason why you can't use the GRP dash supplied from Ultima as a mould/buck for laying up a carbon fibre replacement. You don't need an autoclave for CF as it will cure at room temp (just takes longer and isn't as strong). Would look the dogs bits though so I might just give it a go! Definitely up for making the interior a bit -'special' with some nice ally bits etc. Tastefully done however. Saw a gunmetal GTR at the factory when I visited which looked a bit of a dogs dinner. The interior was well built but no very tasteful. The addition of chrome body badges didn't help either!
(2 months to go
quote:
What engines are generally used aside from the old american V8's? Has anyone ever put in a new engine? Some of the offerings from Birds, AMG etc must be tempting - Pagani Zonda style.
Also does the factory or any specialist company offer a carbon fibre dashboard option? A black GTR with a racing style alloy and carbon interior would look awesome. It must be possible to rivet sheets of carbonfibre insted of alloy for that F1 look.
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