The "Ultimate" Sacrifice

[jay28]

god there are alot of old grumpy men on this site, alot of threads now end up in arguments, one trying to get the better of the other............

sad really


Anyway, that custom dash looks the business, thats the only thing I didn't like about the Ultima's, was the interior, The interior let it down big time.

Jay

 

[ZHead]

Andy, was this the second love of your life before you met the MD and had a ride ? In fact, you love S30s so much, you want to completly change it, including the engine type ? !

Grow up Sean I actually only spoke to Steve Kiddell about an Ultima on the Thursday, went to see one on the Friday and the rest is history ....... I rang Ultima at 4.30pm, had a test drive the following day at 11 and was frankly astounded.

I love the S30 shape - not the technology under the skin. So what if I wanted a V8 in there ?

If you don't like the thread don't read it - you are coming over as very bitter and poking for the sake of it Have another St Emilion, or maybe a nice Barolo (I know it's not French) and chill out

 

[ZHead]

Anyway, that custom dash looks the business, thats the only thing I didn't like about the Ultima's, was the interior, The interior let it down big time.

Couldn't agree more Jay, it makes a car that looks every inch a supercar on the outside look like a home made go kart on the inside. The standard clock needles "bounce" which I hate and worst of all, the centre binnacle is too short so you can permantly see reflections of the clocks in the windscreen. Very shoddy compared to the rest of the car.

The custom dash, including ALL manufacture, new binnacle, wiring changes, switches, fitting and configuring the digital dash and sat nav, trimming, materials, bucket loads of custom CNC stuff, all carbon fibre water jet cut THE LOT, is less than 5 grand. Now I know that is a lot of money but very very good value for what you get and it totally transforms the car. I was quoted more than that to trim the Z totally in leather.

PS : I SH*T YOU NOT !!!!!! The guy at Autobionics is called Steve Austin How cool is that ?????????

 

[zedhead260]

Note any more off topic posts on here will be deleted in fact almost feel like deleting all the posts from no 8 onwards to get it back on track

I agree Steve - pity you don't apply the same rule to the other bullshit we have to sift through on this site.

 

[Dale]

The sneaky ones among you may notice that the gear lever is not in the same place

Just how much room is there in there?

From the original dash photos it looks a tight squeeze, but in the custom one (with the gear lever in the centre), just where do you put your legs?

I realise you'd be pretty much lying down, but the seats in this photo seem to be whole lot higher!

 

[SeanDezart]

Grow up Sean I actually only spoke to Steve Kiddell about an Ultima on the Thursday, went to see one on the Friday and the rest is history ....... I rang Ultima at 4.30pm, had a test drive the following day at 11 and was frankly astounded.

I love the S30 shape - not the technology under the skin. So what if I wanted a V8 in there ?

If you don't like the thread don't read it - you are coming over as very bitter and poking for the sake of it Have another St Emilion, or maybe a nice Barolo (I know it's not French) and chill out

just banter mate - it started when you announced your S30 V8 project - must I stop now ?

 

[ZHead]

Just how much room is there in there?

From the original dash photos it looks a tight squeeze, but in the custom one (with the gear lever in the centre), just where do you put your legs?

I realise you'd be pretty much lying down, but the seats in this photo seem to be whole lot higher!

You are right it is tight, but I am 6' 2" and nearly 17 stones and I am ok in there, snug but ok, definitely useable and driveable. The right hand gear change is a "rod" type change and therefore clunky, the centre mount is a cable change and much smoother which is what I want for a ROAD car - if you notice, the centre console they are designing for me is tall and narrow to maximise legroom.

It is actually remarkably civilised in a GTR, not unlike an S30 I guess, bit sparse, bit of a squeeze but definitely OK and "do-able".

This photo is of the Can Am which is a convertible - it is a few years old. The new models now, both convertible and hard top, have a "dropped floor" by over an inch to give more room.

just banter mate - it started when you announced your S30 V8 project - must I stop now ?

suppose not

 

[JakTheRuby]

PS : I SH*T YOU NOT !!!!!! The guy at Autobionics is called Steve Austin. How cool is that?

The (auto)bionic man is called Steve Austin? Awesome! That's excuse enough.

It may be just me but doesn't the original interior on the Ultima look like bondage gear? All leather and studs and submission! The CF one looks better I'll admit but I still think there is room there for some actual design. At the moment it's very functional with a bit of flair but with a real designer (and obviously some cash to back it up to prototype level) it could be so very much more. Sod all the leather and CF and have brush aluminium with a matt varnished faux wood in black stain (not real wood obviously because of the weight but maybe a veneer would give this unsung supercar and actual supercar feel from both ends). And this is not a dis so don't everyone get all upset. Just because it's a kit car doesn't mean that it should look like one.

 

[ZHead]

.

The (auto)bionic man is called Steve Austin? Awesome! That's excuse enough.

I joked with him about this and they chose the comapny name based on the fact he has the same name as the bionic man.

It may be just me but doesn't the original interior on the Ultima look like bondage gear? All leather and studs and submission!

No it's not just you - I think it looks crap However bondage gear works for me

Just because it's a kit car doesn't mean that it should look like one.

My thoughts exactly, hence looking for a "special" interior, however, as Ultima sell factory built cars (yes with that nasty dash) they are actually classified as production cars. Therefore they prefer the tag line "self assembly supercars".

That'll be a kit car then to you and I :lol:

 

[racer]

Andy I don't wish to be negative about your thread but, I rather hoped that we would be seeing pictures of the actual build by yourself. Not just pictures lifted from websites of other peoples work.
I think explanation of your own spanner work would be much more interesting to other members.

 

[samuri-240]

Andy I don't wish to be negative about your thread but, I rather hoped that we would be seeing pictures of the actual build by yourself. Not just pictures lifted from websites of other peoples work.
I think explanation of your own spanner work would be much more interesting to other members.

He ain't even had the space frame delivered yet it was me who encouraged Andy to start this thread, am sure there will be plenty of pics & info on the progress of the project, looking forward to it myself, may even pop over to Telford from time to time to see it in the flesh if that would be ok with Andy.

 

[SeanDezart]

4) Have a kit car that would allow me to do the majority of work myself.

Following on from your painful Z lessons, what work are you planning to do yourself on this kit-car and what not ?

Can you live with such a spartan interior - it is after all the part you view the most ?

 

[ZHead]

Andy I don't wish to be negative about your thread but, I rather hoped that we would be seeing pictures of the actual build by yourself. Not just pictures lifted from websites of other peoples work.
I think explanation of your own spanner work would be much more interesting to other members.

I agree, however, the spaceframe (as previously mentioned) is not being delivered until 12th. These pictures are to show the thought process behind changing the interior and to show preliminary designs for the way forward. I have neither claimed or implied it is my work - I have even given links to the sites and included the engineers name ! There will be pleanty of my own work once the frame is delivered

He ain't even had the space frame delivered yet it was me who encouraged Andy to start this thread, am sure there will be plenty of pics & info on the progress of the project, looking forward to it myself, may even pop over to Telford from time to time to see it in the flesh if that would be ok with Andy./

You would be MOST welcome However, at the moment, the workshop is a little further away from us than you think

Following on from your painful Z lessons, what work are you planning to do yourself on this kit-car and what not ?

Can you live with such a spartan interior - it is after all the part you view the most ?

VERY good question Sean.

The spaceframe has ALL bracketry pre welded to fit EVERYTHING so it is a "bolt together" excercise. The biggest and most difficult areas are
:
1) The very first stage which is to fettle and fit all of the aluminium floors, double skins and bulkheads - this is the single most time consuming job of the build. I reckon there will be 80 hours work at least in this for someone like me, taking it slowly, checking, doing a bit etc.

2) Fitting the body - I will have the factory do this to ensure all of the lines are perfect and there are no squeaks or rattles.

3)Mapping the engine - I will have someone else do this

4) Autobionics will build the interior for me.- You are bang on right Sean, I could not live with the standard nasty interior.

Other than that, I will fit all cooling, suspension, wiring, brakes, fuel systems, pedals, steering etc etc myself.

 

[SeanDezart]

What the regs. regarding registering a 'built-up' car ? What's the process ? If you had bought a box of bits off another blokes' unfinished project, would the Ultima factory support your reg. request with paper back-up ?

Who's gonna trim the interior, with what and how ?

 

[ZHead]

In order to get it registered AT ALL, it has to comply to SVA regulations, designed to ensure safety. For example, they are hot on such things as the radius of a curve inside the cabin, switch design etc to ensure no one gets inadvertantly spiked by a nasty corner or long pointy switch stalk.

Fairly simple process, you book a date with the SVA centre, take the car along and it simply passes or fails, just like an MOT. Any remedial work is carried out and you go for a "re test". The beauty of this particular kit / project is that everything has been designed as SVA compliant so you occasionally get the odd niggle from a bad tempered jobsworth examiner but that's all.

Once you have the SVA certificate, you then register the vehicle. If a kit is of indeterminate age, ie made up of second hand, old donor parts from different vehicles, it is given a "Q" plate and I do not believe you are subsequently allowed to change the reg.

If the factory supply you with a "certificate of newness" stating that the vehicle has been assembled from new parts, you are able to get a brand new registration number. This is sometimes backed up by invoices stating "new xyz" if you have bought parts elsewhere. This goes for ALL kit cars. (They are pretty good about the certificates provided you do not take the pee)

No problem buying a half built kit then finishing and registering it, provided it is made of new parts.

I did not want to get into using grubby second hand parts from a scrap yard. I will be using a few parts that are "as new" but that's it. There are very very few used parts available anyway as they are bespoke to Ultima who have either had their own parts designed and manufactured or keep the exact source (of oem parts used) a closely guarded secret.

The entire interior will be built and trimmed by autobionics in leather but that is 18 months away. My current thought is a bright yellow gel coat outside and black leather inside - not sure yet whether just black or whether to have yellow detailing inside too.

First BIG step is to fit all the aluminium panelling.

 

[SeanDezart]

INHO, no interior piping of any colour - it looks tarty and cheap ! Black interior always looks purposeful !

Yellow ? No accounting for taste.......

 

[ZHead]

INHO, no interior piping of any colour - it looks tarty and cheap ! Black interior always looks purposeful !

Yellow ? No accounting for taste......

Agreed on the piping, THIS yellow is less baby sick like yours and more radioactive banana - VERY bright gel coat, not very subtle but hey ho. Saves a lot of money on paint on the initial build.

Bought the front and rear billet hubs today, out of sync with the build plan but they came up at a steal.

 

[vpulsar]

Bought some of these today :

Can you tell me what these wheels are called please ?.




Rob

 

[ZHead]

These are 18" wheels made specially for the Ultima. 95% of all Ultimas have exactly the same everything as they are normally track cars so although they look great, they are very "ordinary" in Ultima circles, being stock factory items.

The centres are machined from billet (can get you some as I know the guy who makes them) and the rims are supplied by OZ.

If you wanted some for the Z you would have no choice but to go for 18s, but you could buy the appropriate inner and outer rims from OZ to get the offset right. Personally I think 18" is too big for an S30 because of the steering geometry but they would look absolutely fantastic.

 

[SeanDezart]

I think 18" ......for an S30........... would look absolutely fantastic.

No....unless one is going for a specific Jap. street style (as Jay) I think that 15"s look best. You don't have to compromise look and comfort.

Baby-sick ? La difference mon ami, c'est la ou je suis subtle, you want to make a statement !