Photo: xqsmephotography.com
If you’re the buyer of the world’s first drivable V8 Ariel Atom, the answer is very fast. Scary fast, on par with the Can-Am cars of the early 1970s. If you’re looking for the ultimate track toy and you’ve got 60 large to spend on it, you’ll find this particular Atom on eBay.
The car was built by Palatov Motorsport, who shoehorned a Hartley H1 2.8 liter V8 in the Atom’s chassis. The motor is dyno tested at 400hp at 10,000 rpm, pretty damn lofty for a V8. Palatov stiffened the rear uprights and braced the chassis to accommodate the car’s horsepower. Despite sporting a V8 motor, the car weighs in at 1,250 pounds, less than the stock 4 cylinder models.
I’ve never driven a car that truly scared me, but I’d be willing to bet that this would fit the bill. All that power in a rear engined car with no downforce leaves no margin for error; one mistake at speed and it’s over, Johnny.
Source: eBay, via Two Seats Or Less