Everything Else is For Pansies: 'Busa V8 Powered Ariel Atom


The problem with most of today’s supercars is that they’re mostly watered down track cars, used as grand tourers. As general-purpose cars they pretty much suck, and while rather impressive as track cars they get schooled by something like this Atom that costs a fraction of the Italian jobs. By the way, this is no run-of-the-mill shed Atom. This one’s powered by the blog commenter’s wet: The 2.8L Hartley H1 Hayabusa-derived V8. Oh yes…


The seller claims this is the only H1 V8 powered Atom in existence (Ariel’s working on their own version), and the build up is documented on his blog, which we really ought to start reading. It’s got a power-to-weight ratio on par with 70s F1 cars and runs lap times similar to those from the CanAm days.

Unfortunately, the car’s set up to be basically track-only, and the combination of oddball title and oddball engine might back it nearly impossible to register in your local commonwealth. Our suggestion? Just start racing for pinks at the local track, eventually you’ll have a nice collection of wannabe track cars to drive around town.

Bidding’s at $60k on eBay Motors, via Webrides.tv
We got the pictures from the eBay auction, but the watermark suggests you should go check out Xqsme Photography

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  1. ptmeyer84 Avatar

    Hartley needs to mass market this engine. I want one in my Fusion! Or my Volvo 745. Fuck, I would just buy one to put in my living room so I could stare at it.

    1. Tomsk Avatar

      I was thinking the Scoobie 360 from yesterday.

      1. soo΄pәr-bādd75 Avatar

        I was thinking the Scoobie Van from a month or so ago.

        1. Tim Odell Avatar
          Tim Odell

          I heard an interesting rumor about that van.
          The kind of rumor we'll need to do a post on if it's true.

          1. soo΄pәr-bādd75 Avatar

            Dammit! Now you have piqued my interest! Need moar info!Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

          2. Tim Odell Avatar
            Tim Odell

            I see someone's making use of the Intense Debate email response function.
            …from their Verizon Wireless BlackBerry.

          3. soo΄pәr-bādd75 Avatar

            Yes, and believe me, I feel like a total douche! Why does it have to let everyone know \”Hey everyone, I'm using my CrackBerry!\”? Stupid. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

          4. joshuman Avatar

            Since RIM pays me, I enjoy seeing that signature. You can adjust it to your liking by doing the following: Go to your inbox on your BlackBerry. Press the berry button to open up the menu and select Options. Select Email Settings. Scroll down to the Use Auto Signature line and toggle it to No or change the default text to proudly let everyone know about the Hooniverse.

          5. soo΄pәr-bādd75 Avatar

            For some reason I'm not able to find that setting. I'll have to ask the BlackBerry genius at home how this shit works!Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

          6. soo΄pәr-bādd75 Avatar

            Yes, and believe me, I feel like a total douche! Why does it have to let everyone know \”Hey everyone, I'm using my CrackBerry!\”? Stupid. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

    2. smokyburnout Avatar

      It costs about as much as a new Viper engine, so I'm not sure how much mass there would be to the market for this engine. http://www.bouchillonperformance.com/BPEVIPERGEN4

  2. teehee Avatar
    teehee

    Its for sale and so is one Cossie which can be found on his site.
    http://www.palatov.com/cars/showroom.html

    1. Tiller188 Avatar

      There's also lots of construction/modification details about how that V-8 got shoehorned in there, plus some plans for a small (SCCA D-sports-ish), AWD track-only car using that motor at:
      http://dpcars.net/
      Interesting read.

  3. muthalovin Avatar

    I would stretch it out and put more chrome bits on it. Maybe yellow tires too. Also, paint it like a dragon with Japanese characters all over it.

    1. Greg Newman Avatar

      do you mean yellow – or pu$$y magnet yellow?

  4. rocketrodeo Avatar
    rocketrodeo

    Two wheels too many, but it's on the right track.

  5. scroggzilla Avatar

    Do you suppose we could get a 'busa V8 for one of these?
    <img src="http://www.f1-67.com/gallery.html#"&gt;

    1. soo΄pәr-bādd75 Avatar

      I think that's just lovely the way it is.

  6. Tripl3fast Avatar

    Fenders? Really.

    1. highmileage_v1 Avatar

      An enclosed body is so passe'.

  7. cyclopticgaze Avatar

    Let's get a Hayabusa for that 2002 in the background!