Ultima builders
Discussion
Hi guys, i've been reading down the forum and checking your websites and noticed that a lot of you are , well, lets say, comfortable in a financial way, no offence trying to be caused here.
But i was just wondering if many Ultima's have been built by anyone with just the one family car/single attached garage etc, i guess just the average guy and how long it has taken you. Has anyone ever taken three years to build an Ultima? i'm not taking the p*** here, i intend to build an Ultima Can-am, but wonder if i'm one of a minority, having a fairly good salary but not well off enough to get myself a TVR as well
But i was just wondering if many Ultima's have been built by anyone with just the one family car/single attached garage etc, i guess just the average guy and how long it has taken you. Has anyone ever taken three years to build an Ultima? i'm not taking the p*** here, i intend to build an Ultima Can-am, but wonder if i'm one of a minority, having a fairly good salary but not well off enough to get myself a TVR as well
There’s a difference between being ‘comfortable in a financial way’ and having a huge mortgage.
It can, and has, been done in a single garage but is far from ideal. Check the specs and you will find a CanAm is 4M long and 1.85M wide so there will not be much room to move in a single garage.
I don’t know the longest build time but you should be reasonably confident that the factory will still be there if you want to order the body a year after you get the chassis.
Steve
It can, and has, been done in a single garage but is far from ideal. Check the specs and you will find a CanAm is 4M long and 1.85M wide so there will not be much room to move in a single garage.
I don’t know the longest build time but you should be reasonably confident that the factory will still be there if you want to order the body a year after you get the chassis.
Steve
I think I would qualify for the longest build time!
Ordered my Ultima sports in 1998, the chassis arrived Sep 98 with panels and a few other bits.
4 weeks later a company I worked for went bust owing my firm about £55,000 with no warning at all.(one of the hazards of being self employed)
i mangaged to get back half from the liquidaters but it took 2 years.
My chassis was sitting in the garage all that time and it pained me to see it like that.
Am now back on track, the chassis was modified by the factory to a GTR last summer and am pleased to say that there are very few other mods needed.
Like Steve says the factory will be around for many years to come.
I don't drive, or have ever owned a TVR.
I think you will also notice that members of this web site appear to be workers, they are out in their garages messing about rather than sitting in front of the TV. (pc's don't count!)
If you are building in a single garage a "dolly" to put it on would be essential. Also try and do as much in the summer months as possible, so you could wheel it out onto your drive when the weather is good.
Above all don't give up on a project!
Gary
Ordered my Ultima sports in 1998, the chassis arrived Sep 98 with panels and a few other bits.
4 weeks later a company I worked for went bust owing my firm about £55,000 with no warning at all.(one of the hazards of being self employed)
i mangaged to get back half from the liquidaters but it took 2 years.
My chassis was sitting in the garage all that time and it pained me to see it like that.
Am now back on track, the chassis was modified by the factory to a GTR last summer and am pleased to say that there are very few other mods needed.
Like Steve says the factory will be around for many years to come.
I don't drive, or have ever owned a TVR.
I think you will also notice that members of this web site appear to be workers, they are out in their garages messing about rather than sitting in front of the TV. (pc's don't count!)
If you are building in a single garage a "dolly" to put it on would be essential. Also try and do as much in the summer months as possible, so you could wheel it out onto your drive when the weather is good.
Above all don't give up on a project!
Gary
Thanks guys, its nice to know there are some others like myself out there. Fortunatly i do have quite a large garage to build in but otherwise i am just the 'average' bloke in the street and this is a HUGE commitment for me. It was either move to a bigger house or do the Ultima, managed to persuade g/f to go for the Ultima at the moment(minor miracle there). Can't wait to get started (hopefully order may/june) and you guys can look forward to lots of stupid questions from me. Thanks. 
Eliot: Wouldn't worry about it. You've got an Ultima, an outrageous yellow monster of a car (love the pic on your profile - whole new meaning to kerb hopping!) and a big Chevy V8. Don't think you're missing that much because they're not one and the same vehicle.
I wish I was comfortably well off. It's taken me about 5-8 years of saving (only 4 since I figured out what I was saving for) and nearly 2 years of building to get an almost finished car. I've had to borrow my parents double garage for the build (they're very supportive but they can't wait for 1st March too!) and cycle to work to cut down on the "boring car" expenses (also helps when it comes to fitting into Ultima seats and operating the clutch).
A kit car has to be the ultimate in hire purchase/finance schemes. If you're planning a long build I'd recommend spending a bit longer saving up and researching the options and what you plan on doing with the finished car. Getting this right and spreading your order can save a lot of money (subject to shipping costs outside of UK).
I wish I was comfortably well off. It's taken me about 5-8 years of saving (only 4 since I figured out what I was saving for) and nearly 2 years of building to get an almost finished car. I've had to borrow my parents double garage for the build (they're very supportive but they can't wait for 1st March too!) and cycle to work to cut down on the "boring car" expenses (also helps when it comes to fitting into Ultima seats and operating the clutch
). A kit car has to be the ultimate in hire purchase/finance schemes. If you're planning a long build I'd recommend spending a bit longer saving up and researching the options and what you plan on doing with the finished car. Getting this right and spreading your order can save a lot of money (subject to shipping costs outside of UK).
I'm ok for money but have to keep things into perspective as I work for my self and work could end tomorrow.
One of the important points to me in building an Ultima is to get good value for money. Hence for example I could go and spend £7K (or what ever on an American speed engine) unpack it out of the box and fit it.(I know its not that simple really)
I have sourced a 2 year old zz4 355hp engine which was in an Ultima and I am adding a Hot cam Kit and 1.6 rockers to increase power to about 400hp. I am also dressing the engine and polishing the inlet manifold. The engine will look like new when finnished.
The engine cost me £1650 I will prob add another £1k of parts so saved some money. And had some fun doing the work.
I know the best bit of the Ultima for me will be the build so I am in no rush.
The most I ever spent on a car befor my Ferrari 355 was £20K the Ferrari cost £50K and I hated spending that sort of money on a car and did not enjoy the Ferrari because of this added also the fact you have to keep up servicing and there is nothing really to tinker with.
So really do not want to spend anymore the 40K ish on the Ultima.
I am also building in a single garage, but I do have 2 single garages next to each other.
What I am trying to say is that there is nothing wrong in trying to save money with your build and does not necessarily mean a 'cheap Ultima' is the end result.
Brian
One of the important points to me in building an Ultima is to get good value for money. Hence for example I could go and spend £7K (or what ever on an American speed engine) unpack it out of the box and fit it.(I know its not that simple really)
I have sourced a 2 year old zz4 355hp engine which was in an Ultima and I am adding a Hot cam Kit and 1.6 rockers to increase power to about 400hp. I am also dressing the engine and polishing the inlet manifold. The engine will look like new when finnished.
The engine cost me £1650 I will prob add another £1k of parts so saved some money. And had some fun doing the work.
I know the best bit of the Ultima for me will be the build so I am in no rush.
The most I ever spent on a car befor my Ferrari 355 was £20K the Ferrari cost £50K and I hated spending that sort of money on a car and did not enjoy the Ferrari because of this added also the fact you have to keep up servicing and there is nothing really to tinker with.
So really do not want to spend anymore the 40K ish on the Ultima.
I am also building in a single garage, but I do have 2 single garages next to each other.
What I am trying to say is that there is nothing wrong in trying to save money with your build and does not necessarily mean a 'cheap Ultima' is the end result.
Brian
Well it is possible to build a Canam in a single Garage. Did it last year. I did spend a fair bit of time modifying the Garage to ultilise space also body clips spent most of the time stored in a summer house.Also very understanding wife as many bits crept into the house.
Suggest as others you carefully go though the budget and options and just total how much it will cost and how much you are prepared to spend.
Its often difficult to extract the truth from most builders on exactly how much they did part with.
Good luck
Suggest as others you carefully go though the budget and options and just total how much it will cost and how much you are prepared to spend.
Its often difficult to extract the truth from most builders on exactly how much they did part with.
Good luck
I built my GTR in a single garage, using the dining room as my "storage area" The body propped up against the walls was a good topic of conversation when friends came to dinner and the smell of fresh GRP did wonders for the wife's cooking. It has been on the road for nearly 4 years (second MoT due soon!) and was much easier to build than my other car, a Mini based Scamp. I own the two extremes of the kit car industry!!
Forgotten when I actually got stage 1 of my MK4 Sports, but it must be 5 years ago (outlasted 2 girlfriends...). Hoping to get it sprayed in the next month or two. I suppose you could say I have worked to a budget, spending what ever money I can each month on the bits I need, sometimes pausing the build until I collect enough cash for the next big stage. I suspect it will be a bit of an anti-climax when its finished as I suspect I am one of those people that enjoys the building phase rather too much...
My spyder took 3 years, but in fact it has been on the road for 3 years and its still not fully finished. Always adding bits, as time goes on. It isnt a cheap car, but it is unique, and we (my son and I) created it - so has a special value to us.
You do need a decent garage to build it though, and somewhere to take it to bits every winter to polish/play with it!
You do need a decent garage to build it though, and somewhere to take it to bits every winter to polish/play with it!
Looks like I'm going to have my work cut out. I presently have only two thirds of a single garage (previous owners wanted a ult room, so stole the back of the garage!) I'm busy getting quotes to extend the garage out about fifteen foot to give me space to work behind the car!!! (No we're not moving)I need to get to a rolling chassis quick as I also have a gravel drive which does'nt allow me to push anything on it as it just digs a hole for itself (thinking about the dolly wheels here)Guess I'll be down the gym for a while......
As for the money side I'm (sort of) ok there as an aunt left us some money, just waiting for the cheque to hit the mat, but it will not cover all of it as my wife wants a conservatory (how selfish) etc.... so I'll be selling my Escort Cosworth later to finance the engine, gearbox ......... you get the idea.....
Thinking of buying a Toyota pickup meanwhile to do my own collections from the factory.
Mike where abouts are you in the SEast?
Not sure my wife would agree to the body work in the house, justs about puts up with me!!!!
Graham
As for the money side I'm (sort of) ok there as an aunt left us some money, just waiting for the cheque to hit the mat, but it will not cover all of it as my wife wants a conservatory (how selfish) etc.... so I'll be selling my Escort Cosworth later to finance the engine, gearbox ......... you get the idea.....
Thinking of buying a Toyota pickup meanwhile to do my own collections from the factory.
Mike where abouts are you in the SEast?
Not sure my wife would agree to the body work in the house, justs about puts up with me!!!!
Graham
Let me be one of many to welcome you to the forum. I purchased my kit back in September of 98', and have been building it since Feb. of 99'. I am finally at the point of registering it. Not that it is something that requires 5 years to assemble. A lot of the time was spent waiting for the funds to purchase the bits, waiting for the bits to be fabricated or made, or going off in my own direction with the creation and design of "one off" components. I would consider myself an average "Joe" when it comes to finances, inteligence, and mechanical abalities, etc... I'd never worked on any cars before I started my build. The majority of it was built in a one car garage, but here in the US our one car garages might be a little larger. Still, I was able to store the body and chassis inside the garage while I was building it. As someone who's had a car, and been working on it for 5 years I'd like to offer a few bits of advice. First, keep a checklist so that you always know where you stand and to keep you organized. Its real easy to work on 10 things at the same time with something like this. Your in the UK, so its a bit of a different situation for you than someone in the US, but I would recommend that you place your emphasis on building up a rolling chassis first. In fact, I'd be inclined to purchase and fit my engine and transaxle before the purchase of my bodywork, lights, and windscreens. Who knows, in 3-4 years, there may be another variation of the bodywork anyway. You really don't want to risk scratching the gelcoat of the body while your assembling the car. Once the rollers done, then you can take it to Ultima and let them prefit the body when you decide to purchase it. The other thing your going to run up against, that is never really discussed too much in the build manual or on this site, is how to preserve the appearance of the chassis. There is quite a bit of uncoated raw metal on this car. You guys in the UK have a lot of the same problems that I have with all of your wet rainy months. Here in a coastal city in Texas, we don't have the rain but we have a ton of humidity and salt in the air. I built my car in a garage, and even though my Ultima has never seen rain, I still have a problem with stuff rusting and corrosion. When you go to assemble the car, specifically the suspension, steering, aluminum panels, and anything else that's not powder coated, painted, or stainless...then take some time to either prime and paint raw steel and aluminum bits or find a way to coat them with something that prevents corrosion. I wish my car looked as nice as the factory demo photos, but after 5 years exposure, I'm afraid that this is just not the case. I'm readdressing this issue by pulling off the suspension, steering, seats, etc... and giving the car a thorough cleaning and rust proofing. Not willing to pull out the engine and G50, but will clean it up as best I can. It may look bright and shiny at first, but chances are it won't stay that way. For aluminum, a lot of the ultima guys used to recommend a rubber coating called Nyalic. I'll probably prime and paint a lot of the bare metal components(uprights, hubs, ball joints, etc..., and then try to polish the aluminum panels up as best I can. I have a coarse and fine aluminum polishing wheel and assorted polishing bars, but I've never been able to truly get the appearance to as nice a luster as before without any swirl marks. The factory have done an excellent job with powder coating the chassis, but it can chip or scratch when installing parts and you need to be sure to cover up the bare metal again with primer and paint. When it comes to fasteners I only purchase stainless steel, aluminum, or CAD plated unless its some odd bolt. You'll also want to use anti-seize on all the suspension bolts and anywhere steel threads into aluminum(several fittings on the gearbox). Your going to be real tempted to rip everything out of the boxes when you first get the bits. Spend some time inventorying everything, but be sure to put it all back into the boxes until your ready to assemble. For your single car garage, wall shelving helps tremendously, and is a great way to store all the bits and get them off the precious floor space. If the piece is shiny or can scratch easily, then you'll definitely want to leave it in the box for as long as possible. These are really fun cars to build, but you don't want to have to build them twice. Let us know how it goes and keep us all posted on your progress.
Cheers!
-Mack
Cheers!
-Mack
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