Ultima or B6 Stealth ?
Discussion
Never heard of it so I did a quick search on the net. After seeing a few pictures it just strikes me as really crudely designed, very kit-carish. Seems like it handles well, but can't see any reason why it would be any better then a GTR unless it does weigh less and has a better suspension.
Put the lightest engine in a GTR, quality suspension and brakes and not many cars should be able to touch it as far as I can tell.
Put the lightest engine in a GTR, quality suspension and brakes and not many cars should be able to touch it as far as I can tell.
The B6 Stealth was based on an Ultima, the windscreens are the same !!
The Stealth came from a person called Bob Light who had a Ultima Sport 4 which he used to race at the special GT championship at Castle Combe, basically he tried to develop the Stealth from that.
He also gave me my most seriously scarey moment in motorsport at Snetteron in dreadful weather in the Winter GT series, I qualified 2nd in a Caterham, great start, leading the pack around 2 corners to the back straight where I was expecting to be eaten up, visiblity nill, no cars came passed me, braking for the corner about to turn in and a Ultima passed me spinning around like a spinning top so close I could touch it.
>> Edited by G Man on Sunday 23 February 07:14
The Stealth came from a person called Bob Light who had a Ultima Sport 4 which he used to race at the special GT championship at Castle Combe, basically he tried to develop the Stealth from that.
He also gave me my most seriously scarey moment in motorsport at Snetteron in dreadful weather in the Winter GT series, I qualified 2nd in a Caterham, great start, leading the pack around 2 corners to the back straight where I was expecting to be eaten up, visiblity nill, no cars came passed me, braking for the corner about to turn in and a Ultima passed me spinning around like a spinning top so close I could touch it.
>> Edited by G Man on Sunday 23 February 07:14
ahh right... thanks for clearing a few things up.
To tell the story, I have been looking into Kitts for a while, and with the exception of the South African GT40's nothing in the uk market takes my fancy. I saw some articles on the B6 Stealth and loved it. As it turns out, they donot offer the Stealth as a kitt, but if I want a road going version, they are willing to sell it to me as a kit as long as they have input regarding its build etc.
To tell the story, I have been looking into Kitts for a while, and with the exception of the South African GT40's nothing in the uk market takes my fancy. I saw some articles on the B6 Stealth and loved it. As it turns out, they donot offer the Stealth as a kitt, but if I want a road going version, they are willing to sell it to me as a kit as long as they have input regarding its build etc.
evo did a trackday test of a stealth, it is an absolute monster but at 100k odd it should be.
one ran in the british GT's last year and with a decent driver it drove off in to the distance from the speed 12 and the lister - something i have yet to see a racing ultima do in the championship. To be fair though perhaps the ultimas were not being driven to the same standard.
I think if i was going to go down the kit route it would be a very difficult decision between a good GT40 rep or an Ultima.
Bennno
G Man said: JV
Just to let you know Ultima outsell Stealth 100's to 1
Look no further that a GTR or Canam,
well it would since this would be Stealth's first car !
Incidently, you say that Bob Light used to or still does race a Ultima Sport 4 ... Is that a Mk4 ?
are these still available ?
am i ruight in thinking they differ from the GTR's / CanAm's / ones I see on the roads today ?
>> Edited by jvaughan on Sunday 23 February 23:20
From the Stealth chassis I have seen, they seem to have positioned themselves as an 'Uber-Ultima', the spec seems a bit more track oriented. As an example, IIRC the suspension featured that kind of mono damper arrangement you see on race cars. Also, they tend to run on centre locks, and have some additional (but maybe irrelevant if you are using the car on the road?) chassis strengthening.
This was just my observation, and in no way denigrates the Ultima. I will be getting the first stages of an Ultima kit within the next 48 hours
This was just my observation, and in no way denigrates the Ultima. I will be getting the first stages of an Ultima kit within the next 48 hours
domster said: From the Stealth chassis I have seen, they seem to have positioned themselves as an 'Uber-Ultima', the spec seems a bit more track oriented. As an example, IIRC the suspension featured that kind of mono damper arrangement you see on race cars. Also, they tend to run on centre locks, and have some additional (but maybe irrelevant if you are using the car on the road?) chassis strengthening.
This was just my observation, and in no way denigrates the Ultima. I will be getting the first stages of an Ultima kit within the next 48 hours
Be prepared to kiss your social life goodbye Dom!
Bob used to race an Ultima Mk4, rather like the one I'm selling at the moment He then decided to develop the concept further, along with a group of very talented people (some of whom are ex-Ultima). The chassis is based on a lenghtened Ultima chassis, but the car is designed as a race car first and foremost, so it is a bit less practical than an Ultima (if that's possible).
I raced against Bob. He was in his Stealth, and I was in the Ultima. Looking around the car in the paddock, I was mighty impressed with the technology that went into it. As previously mentioned, it was originally designed as a GT racer, with a higher budget, so you can't really compare the 2 side by side. However, the Strealth is a seriously impressive car.
I know that they have built at least 1 road car (which was the demo car that was tested in one of the magazines), but their cost makes them even more specialiist than an Ultima.
If money was no object, I'd go for a Stealth B6. If VFM was more important, I'd go for the Ultima GTR.
James
He then decided to develop the concept further, along with a group of very talented people (some of whom are ex-Ultima). The chassis is based on a lenghtened Ultima chassis, but the car is designed as a race car first and foremost, so it is a bit less practical than an Ultima (if that's possible). I raced against Bob. He was in his Stealth, and I was in the Ultima. Looking around the car in the paddock, I was mighty impressed with the technology that went into it. As previously mentioned, it was originally designed as a GT racer, with a higher budget, so you can't really compare the 2 side by side. However, the Strealth is a seriously impressive car.
I know that they have built at least 1 road car (which was the demo car that was tested in one of the magazines), but their cost makes them even more specialiist than an Ultima.
If money was no object, I'd go for a Stealth B6. If VFM was more important, I'd go for the Ultima GTR.
James
Cheers Gav.
I still need to paint my new garage and get an air compressor, twist Stig's arm for his dolly etc. but yeah, 911 has gone and Ultima purchase is imminent.
I am planning a few 'beer and pizza' evenings, where a few local Phers can come along and help. Who needs engine hoists with so many willing helpers?
I still need to paint my new garage and get an air compressor, twist Stig's arm for his dolly etc. but yeah, 911 has gone and Ultima purchase is imminent.
I am planning a few 'beer and pizza' evenings, where a few local Phers can come along and help. Who needs engine hoists with so many willing helpers?
First of, it will not be the first Stealth kit! I have a friend who lives about 6 miles away that has been building one for about 8-months now. He is getting close and should be ready for late summer.
His is running a G50 and Chevy. The rear suspension is hung of the gear box housing, well it was last time I was round there, the final design had not been decided upon. The guy from Stealth was due to visit and take some measurements.
As said above, and James said, it is very difficult to compare because they are not like for like. The B6 is a fabulous car but very very expensive. I believe a GTR would offer better value for money. Still, if money was no object ......
The chassis is not as close as I expected, maybe a lot of development has gone on. The body was only part fitted and it was difficult to get a feel for how it would look. The quality was spot on though.
I'll try and get back round there soon & maybe get some pics.
Paul
His is running a G50 and Chevy. The rear suspension is hung of the gear box housing, well it was last time I was round there, the final design had not been decided upon. The guy from Stealth was due to visit and take some measurements.
As said above, and James said, it is very difficult to compare because they are not like for like. The B6 is a fabulous car but very very expensive. I believe a GTR would offer better value for money. Still, if money was no object ......
The chassis is not as close as I expected, maybe a lot of development has gone on. The body was only part fitted and it was difficult to get a feel for how it would look. The quality was spot on though.
I'll try and get back round there soon & maybe get some pics.
Paul
The Stealth i drove in British GT's was powered by a Panoz/Ford 6ltr V8 and with excellent mapping we had a superb engine that pulled cleanly from 3000 to 6500 revs and produced about 580bhp,this and a Hewland NTL gearbox helped us run faster than the Lister and TVR.
The cars are now at Hugh Chamberlains being rebuilt and Terry Pudwell is trying to raise the sponsorship to run the cars again this season.
I think a well run Ultima with similar engine/gearbox would be able to produce the same performances.I hope to be able to prove that one day !
If anyone is interested i have the in-car tape from the Silverstone GT race in the Stealth,where i started last and came through the field to lead ! I can do copies if required.
As for road cars i have not yet driven a Stealth on the road but every Ultima i have driven has been great fun.
Nigel
The cars are now at Hugh Chamberlains being rebuilt and Terry Pudwell is trying to raise the sponsorship to run the cars again this season.
I think a well run Ultima with similar engine/gearbox would be able to produce the same performances.I hope to be able to prove that one day !
If anyone is interested i have the in-car tape from the Silverstone GT race in the Stealth,where i started last and came through the field to lead ! I can do copies if required.
As for road cars i have not yet driven a Stealth on the road but every Ultima i have driven has been great fun.
Nigel
nigel greensall said:
I think a well run Ultima with similar engine/gearbox would be able to produce the same performances.I hope to be able to prove that one day !
If anyone is interested i have the in-car tape from the Silverstone GT race in the Stealth,where i started last and came through the field to lead ! I can do copies if required.
As for road cars i have not yet driven a Stealth on the road but every Ultima i have driven has been great fun.
Nigel
Hey Nigel, is it possible that you can forward the tape through email or host it somewhere? I would LOVE to see the film of you rocking every car on the course!! As for the racing stealth and the road going Ultimas, have you noticed much of a difference?
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