Went to the factory and met Ted Saturday 4th Jan
Discussion
Well, a friend and I went up to the factory to meet Ted and talk Ultmimas, build times, problems, costs e.t.c.
Firstly, must say what a nice bloke Ted is!! We got there just after 11am and left 2.45pm, only him and us there.
Must say how professional the set up is and there were three shells in various stages of build and this made me understand alot of the stuff put on the various build sites such as CJ`s and Javiers.
The build quality is fantastic for what is effectively a kit cat, loads of components made out of billets, rather than fabrications.
The Demo cars looked fantastic the silver GTR, the yellow Can Am and the red GTR, various spec levels.
Ted is looking into whether he can fit me a hung pedal box rather than the standard floor mounted one and a few other things.
Loads to sort out yet, but pretty much there.
Didn`t do a test run as snow and ice not the best mix for an Ultima!!
Being an ex-Lotus V8 Esprit owner, both myself and my friend commented on how nice it was to go and see a manufacturer and meet the owner. Must have been the same for the new Lotus owners at the start meeting Colin Chapman!!
Just thought I would share my experience with you guys!!
Dave
Firstly, must say what a nice bloke Ted is!! We got there just after 11am and left 2.45pm, only him and us there.
Must say how professional the set up is and there were three shells in various stages of build and this made me understand alot of the stuff put on the various build sites such as CJ`s and Javiers.
The build quality is fantastic for what is effectively a kit cat, loads of components made out of billets, rather than fabrications.
The Demo cars looked fantastic the silver GTR, the yellow Can Am and the red GTR, various spec levels.
Ted is looking into whether he can fit me a hung pedal box rather than the standard floor mounted one and a few other things.
Loads to sort out yet, but pretty much there.
Didn`t do a test run as snow and ice not the best mix for an Ultima!!
Being an ex-Lotus V8 Esprit owner, both myself and my friend commented on how nice it was to go and see a manufacturer and meet the owner. Must have been the same for the new Lotus owners at the start meeting Colin Chapman!!
Just thought I would share my experience with you guys!!
Dave
Going to "Ted_Town" is all a bit Alice in Wonderland. Its like Christmas all over when you walk through the door and see all the cars lined up in various stages of completion. If I were ten years old old I would be running around shouting "Wow look at this Dad".
The funny thing is I still feel like that when I have visited, only sensibility takes over...hmmm well to a certain degree, but I still bought the car.
Maybe Ted should re-name his factory to "Ultima Toy Store"
or "Mental Cars R Us" ??
You know what you are buying into from the moment you walk through the door, and you can cut the professionalistic (new word - take note
) atmosphere with a knife. It's a bit like visiting mission control, or a military command bunker - quite similar really, only Ted's missiles fly along the ground..
Just trailoring my GTR back from Hinckley was amazing watching people point and stare at it on the back of the truck. My highlight was when we arrived at our destination, and the guy who has worked at the local vehicle dismantlers for 30 years said, "What the hell is that!"..There are cars and there are Ultima's.
Hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did and I wish you luck in anticipation of your build. Welcome aboard.
The funny thing is I still feel like that when I have visited, only sensibility takes over...hmmm well to a certain degree, but I still bought the car.
Maybe Ted should re-name his factory to "Ultima Toy Store"
or "Mental Cars R Us" ?? You know what you are buying into from the moment you walk through the door, and you can cut the professionalistic (new word - take note
) atmosphere with a knife. It's a bit like visiting mission control, or a military command bunker - quite similar really, only Ted's missiles fly along the ground.. Just trailoring my GTR back from Hinckley was amazing watching people point and stare at it on the back of the truck. My highlight was when we arrived at our destination, and the guy who has worked at the local vehicle dismantlers for 30 years said, "What the hell is that!"..There are cars and there are Ultima's.
Hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did and I wish you luck in anticipation of your build. Welcome aboard.
Would love to have a proper run in an Ultima, but as Ted said, it was not the weather which is fair comment and I make a dreadful passenger.
Once the weather is a bit better, hopefully soon, would like to cadge a ride with one of the local lads around my home Berkshire or Hants, Surrey.
Will def come along to the VW meet as I will not get the first lot of kit until end of March/early April.
Cheers,
dave
Once the weather is a bit better, hopefully soon, would like to cadge a ride with one of the local lads around my home Berkshire or Hants, Surrey.
Will def come along to the VW meet as I will not get the first lot of kit until end of March/early April.
Cheers,
dave
I travelled from the US to visit the factory, got a proper ride in the Yellow Can Am by Ted. Spent several hours taking pictures and looking. It sure was like a candy store. After the visit I just had to have a GTR. It took me a few months to figure out the funding. I didn't have to sell my 1st born after all. Now I'm seeing light at the end of the build tunnel and hope to experience the grin factor when it hits the road in spring.
Have to disagree with you there Vez. Being a big girls blouse I bought a factory built GTR off of the first owner. The workmanship in this car is truly amazing right down to the excellent attention to detail.
Everyone else who has seen it; be they car heads or engineers has been totally in awe or of it. Those that know what the car is have commented on it being in no way comparable to a kit car.
Other Ultima owners who have also seen the car close up have also said the same.
May be you saw a vehicle that had to have PDI checking, or still had work outstanding? After all I owe no loyalty to the factory as I am truly independant and unbiased individual, being as I didn't but from Ultima. As an engineer, it is my opinion that these cars are of a very high standard of workmanship. Oh, and before the linking of sucking and ar$e are quantified, this is just MY opinion, and you may not agree...once again just my 2 pence worth.
Also your post seems to be a bit of a suicide post as far as if you ever need to get support from the factory is concerned!
Everyone else who has seen it; be they car heads or engineers has been totally in awe or of it. Those that know what the car is have commented on it being in no way comparable to a kit car.
Other Ultima owners who have also seen the car close up have also said the same.
May be you saw a vehicle that had to have PDI checking, or still had work outstanding? After all I owe no loyalty to the factory as I am truly independant and unbiased individual, being as I didn't but from Ultima. As an engineer, it is my opinion that these cars are of a very high standard of workmanship. Oh, and before the linking of sucking and ar$e are quantified, this is just MY opinion, and you may not agree...once again just my 2 pence worth.
Also your post seems to be a bit of a suicide post as far as if you ever need to get support from the factory is concerned!
Had the honour of going to the Hinkley Factory last September. It was a rather cloudy day when my friend keith "Cheif" Patrick and myself set off up the M5. Thought it would rain and that wold have ruined the possibility of a run in the Can-Am which I have set my heart on! Just past coventry and the clouds cleared for a beautiful if not chilly day.
Ted was superb and was direct in answering all the silly and boring questions that I'm sure he has hear a thousand times before! Even got to see stigs car being body fitted which was a pleasent surprise!
As for the ride in the Can-Am the sheer acceleration as we shot past a hire luton van and into some sweeping curves was breath taking! PS move the passenger seat forward if you go for a spin so you can reach the foot rest! I felt like a dancing russian as my feet bounced all over the shop!
A grand Day out and one that me and keith won't be forgetting in a hurry!
Oh and there is one item which is missing off the Can-Am Accessories list! A decent pair of sunglasses!! Go for a spin and you will soon find out why!
My Can-Am order should be in July with November build start. I think I am looking at £38,000 for a resonably high spec.
dwjp
Ted was superb and was direct in answering all the silly and boring questions that I'm sure he has hear a thousand times before! Even got to see stigs car being body fitted which was a pleasent surprise!
As for the ride in the Can-Am the sheer acceleration as we shot past a hire luton van and into some sweeping curves was breath taking! PS move the passenger seat forward if you go for a spin so you can reach the foot rest! I felt like a dancing russian as my feet bounced all over the shop!
A grand Day out and one that me and keith won't be forgetting in a hurry!
Oh and there is one item which is missing off the Can-Am Accessories list! A decent pair of sunglasses!! Go for a spin and you will soon find out why!
My Can-Am order should be in July with November build start. I think I am looking at £38,000 for a resonably high spec.
dwjp
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