Ultima Cars relocated to US, becomes Peregryn
Newly formed company has IP, rights and tooling for every Ultima; sales should start next year
Because you’re a clued-up PHer, you’ll know plenty about Ultima already, from its origins with Lee Noble to supercar-slaying fame on Top Gear. Perhaps you’ve eyed up one or two in the classifieds, too. But for many, even in the UK, Ultima is something of an unknown; in the US, it must be as familiar as a Cumberland sausage.
Now that looks set to change, thanks to Peregryn Automotive (and yes, that is how they’re spelling it). A newly created company, fronted by entrepreneurs Chris Eby and Mike Ellis, it is said to have acquired ‘the IP, rights and tooling for the entire range of Ultima Cars.’ Its intention, signalled via a new website, is to offer ‘fully assembled turn-key vehicles’ built in the USA ‘for customers worldwide’.
Existing customers - i.e. those with orders placed before August of this year - are assured that the current factory will fulfil their commission, and ‘to every extent possible’, Peregryn will help to support existing owners when it comes to replacement parts. The future of Ultima’s existing premises in the UK is not mentioned.
Ultimately, the Peregryn plan is to build a pair of models entirely in the US once the new operation is up and running. There’ll be a road-biased Ultima GT-S, and track-focused GT-R; the cost will be from $195k, and with appetite for raw, demanding, old-school but new-build supercars showing no sign of slowing up, it’s easy to imagine a few Stateside customers taking an interest.
The timeline is short: production is due to begin in March, with first deliveries expected in April or May 2027. Deposits are already being accepted (and no doubt gladly received, given the scale of the endeavour), with cars due to be seen at shows during next summer.
Whatever exactly happens along the way, clearly the future is shaping up to be very different from Ultima’s storied past as an exclusively UK manufacturer, which stretched back more than 40 years. Certainly getting hold of a new race car for the road is going to be rather trickier than it was; all the more reason, then, to take a look at our Ultima Sports auction - bidding ends tonight…
For example:
https://race-car-replicas.com/
Sad loss for the UK.
That said, I am forever forgetting this brand exists, despite a back catalogue (and classifieds section) of some absolutely stunning things.
Hopefully this isn't yet another private equity takeover that leads to the swift demise of such an automotive treat.
Thank you for you attention to this matter...
Das war einmal, but hey look at what they are doing in the EU, ok in Europa, all according to plan.
ok different subject
some still make some fantastic car in small numbers, so they stay special, the UK was a master in that and can be again, with all new comers Professors, professionals and car designers etc etc they promissed us, ow wait...
Thank you for you attention to this matter...
Das war einmal, but hey look at what they are doing in the EU, ok in Europa, all according to plan.
ok different subject
some still make some fantastic car in small numbers, so they stay special, the UK was a master in that and can be again, with all new comers Professors, professionals and car designers etc etc they promissed us, ow wait...
Cobra (kit cars) are about as good as you’ll get. Lightweight ain’t really a thing over here (sadly)
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