The Ariel Atom is a vehicle much coveted by so many enthusiasts, yet seen in real life by so few. These vehicles have been on the market for some time in various configurations. It was only recently, however, that Virginia-based TMI AutoTech Inc. made the Ariel Atom 3 and Race Spec Atom more attainable to U.S. buyers. TMI makes the Ariel Atoms under license from Ariel Motor Company which is based in Crewkerne, England. With the Ace Performance in Tewksbury, MA recently becoming the first northeast dealership for Ariel Atoms, I just had to see the vehicle in person. Given a plethora of options, virtually no two Ariel Atom 3s are identical whereas Race Spec Atoms vary only in color of their front bonnets. All TMI-built Atoms are powered by the same Honda K24 230hp iVTEC engine, with the exception of the limited run of the Ariel Atom Honda Racing Edition. Rather than writing an excessively long essay about the Ariel Atom, I chose to let my pictures of the black Race Spec Atom and a privately owned street-legal Ariel Atom 3 do the talking. If each picture is worth a thousand words, below are fifty thousand of them. I am neither a professional photographer nor do I have a fancy camera, but I did attempt to capture the details that most enthusiasts would find interesting.

Race Spec Atom

 Spec Race Atom wheels and tires.

 Fiberglass siding comes on the Spec Race Atom but otherwise the conventional Ariel Atom 3 is nekkid. Siding and windshield are optional.

 Battery, fuses, and relays are located under the front top cover.

 Steering linkage, pedal box, and brake/clutch lines.

 Separate front and rear brake reservoirs, clutch reservoir.

Back of the data-logger.

 Adjustable front/rear brake bias.

 That’s not a cup-holder, but I guess it could be used as such.

 Six-speed Honda manual transmission from the Civic Si.

 Fuel tank is located in front of the engine, behind the seats.

 Engine and transmission as seen from the left side of the vehicle.

 Spec Race Atom on left, Ariel Atom 3 (roll bar raised for engine access) on right.

Street Legal Ariel Atom 3 (in for service)

Seats on this car consisted of a single-piece tub. Note the side mirror. Roll bar is lowered in this picture, in its typical position. Street tires, probably best on dry roads. Parking lights and blinkers up front, headlights are located further back. Optional roll bar is in its raised position for engine access. Front and rear wings are optional.

Conventional gauge cluster, hazard lights, and other things needed to make the Ariel Atom street legal.

[Photos: Copyright 2014 Hooniverse/Kamil Kaluski – please do not use these pictures without permission]