For those of you who don't know what the Atom is, its a UK built car, basically, a street legal Go-cart or Indy Car. Thwy're relatively inexpensive in the UK (around 20K pounds, or $41K), but they're going for around $70K on this side of the pond. Pic:



Top Gear tested one on this episode:



Anyway, I just found out about an American Company, called Race Car Replicas making a very similar vehicle, Called the "Superlite Roadster", Pic:



For $16K you get:

2007 RCR Superlite Roadster Spec Sheet


17 inch wheels - no tyres
4 piston Wilwood calipers
12 1/5 inch drilled rotors
Quick disconnect steering wheel
D.O.M. CNC bent steel chassis tubing - Tig welded
DOM tubing suspension steel - Tig welded
Chromoly/teflon rod ends suspension
Powdercoated chassis
Aluminum radiator
Labeled/color coded wiring harness
Choice of nose cones and fenders - design.to be announced (TBA)
Adjustable bucket seats
Pair race harness seat belts
Collapsible steering column
Stainless steel. triple pedal assembly with master cylinder and brake bias.
Aluminum fuel tank
Engine bay brace
CNC billet uprights
Corvette wheel bearings
CV joint stub axles
Digidashlite digital gauge package.(datalogger optional extra.)
Engine bay to accept almost any FWD drivetrain - custom mounts available extra cost.
1150LBS ready to run
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Pretty Cool...

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 10-04-2007).]

ive been thinking of doing something like that in 5 or 10 years when i have the cash and skills with a geo metro drivetrain, possibly a 3-wheeler. 47 hp ought to be enough to be fun.

[This message has been edited by lurker (edited 10-04-2007).]

Check this out.
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/085674.html

Nice!!

And I see someone else already mentioned the Superlite. Guess I need to stray out of T/OT every now and then..

speaking of the Ariel Atom...I just saw one a couple hours ago...he was going to the gas station and I was on the other side of the road, if I could, I'd have had a quick talk with him. pretty cool Karts they are...now this other kart...it doesn't have the same effect the atom does...

I didn't realize they were street legal. Now where is that penny jar?

Jim

Atom is the ultimate but you could easily do up that amercan verson for like $25,000. Is it street legal? I know the atom is, but is the Roadster?

quote Originally posted by Mr.PBody: Atom is the ultimate but you could easily do up that amercan verson for like $25,000. Is it street legal? I know the atom is, but is the Roadster?

Someone on the Superlite Forums asked whether these were street legal, this was the reply from the manufactuer:

"If you can title a Lotus Seven style car in your state you will be able to put the roadster on the road....production car will have fender front and rear and also a nose cone ."

Well I might be in line when the body panels come out.
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.oh yeah and I need $25,000, anyone want to spot me?

Well, they've finally come up with a body design for the SLR:

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 09-21-2008).]

quote Originally posted by OKflyboy: Someone on the Superlite Forums asked whether these were street legal, this was the reply from the manufactuer: "If you can title a Lotus Seven style car in your state you will be able to put the roadster on the road....production car will have fender front and rear and also a nose cone ."

Prowlers barely have anything up front and they are legal so i don't see why not.

i still have yet to find the rules on titling/plating a car built *completely* from scratch . ( not to mention insurance... ) that is one advantage of a kit " well, its just a vw bug with a new body, engine and suspension... here is the title right here "

quote Originally posted by User00013170: Prowlers barely have anything up front and they are legal so i don't see why not. i still have yet to find the rules on titling/plating a car built *completely* from scratch . ( not to mention insurance... ) that is one advantage of a kit " well, its just a vw bug with a new body, engine and suspension... here is the title right here "

same way as sand rails, you just have to be able to prove where you got everything for it.. atleast here anyway. and ofcourse turn signals/etc.. then you apply for a vin.

[This message has been edited by AJ7 (edited 09-21-2008).]

I am building a Lotus Seven clone from scratch here in Kentucky, and the DMV will title it as a constructed 1962 Seven. State Farm will insure it at a declared value of 10,000 for 700.00 a year full coverage.
easier to title than a kit.. well not easier because the kit has a MSO, but the kit will be titled as the year of the MSO. My friends Cobra clone is titled as a 2005 and when it was in Louisville, he had to keep it titled at his moms in Tenn due to KY emission testing. Mine titled as a 62, avoids all kinds of rules.

Gene

[This message has been edited by scrabblegod (edited 09-22-2008).]

quote Originally posted by scrabblegod: I am building a Lotus Seven clone from scratch here in Kentucky, and the DMV will title it as a constructed 1962 Seven. State Farm will insure it at a declared value of 10,000 for 700.00 a year full coverage. Gene

Check with Grundy. They will insure it full-coverage, no deductable, unlimited mileage for about $500 less.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

If you haven't seen the future, you're not going fast enough! (Christian Von Coenigsegg)

quote Originally posted by OKflyboy: Well, they've finally come up with a body design for the SLR:

Cram a 3.8SC or even an LS1, 2, or better yet......7

quote Originally posted by OKflyboy:

Gotta say it. Now that is one fugly car. I think the Atom looks much better. Just my .02

Arn

quote Originally posted by kyunderdawg: Cram a 3.8SC or even an LS1, 2, or better yet......7

How about an all iron BBC?

c'mon, it needs a screaming 4 banger, and anything more is just dead weight.

Even my die hard 3800 attittue would really make me consider putting in a GSR honda motor, or something.

i have been realy thinking hard (filled up the room full of brain smoke ) about making my own little thing like these. but i was thinking about taking an old go-cart frame and making it stronger. then adding possibly adding a ninja motorcycle motor to it passibly a zx 11 motor. it would not be street legal but i would have it so i could change out the sprockets that way i could have it do drifting one time then turn around and take it out racing.or i could put some off road tires on and take it muding once i change out the sprockets.

Light weight is a primary goal for one of these, so lots of power is not really necessary. In fact, a bigger engine requires a stronger chassis, bigger brakes, etc., which is counterproductive. The idea is to have a car where nothing stands in the way of responsiveness.

Lots of info about similar homebuilts can be found here: http://locostusa.com/

These cars make me want to see a naked Fiero.

quote Originally posted by WhiteDevil88: These cars make me want to see a naked Fiero.

THere were some posted on here a while back.. i think i saved them. If so ill put them up on photobucket

Along the same lines are there any free chassis designs out there to use? Sure one can design their own but wouldn't hurt to have a model ( with measurements ) to go with.

[This message has been edited by User00013170 (edited 01-17-2009).]

User00013170, you have a pm.

Hmm... not my taste,

http://www.factoryfive.com/rdsterhome.html
Thats more like it, gimme the IRS option, some quality rubber, and anything but a big block, and ill go to the track any day.
EDIT: this thing looks awesome without a body!!!
http://www.factoryfive.com/...agokart/MOV02614.MPG

If you ask me the only advantage that RCR would have would be in a parking lot, (AutoX)

To each his own, I would gladly drive either one

EDIT: That KTM Crossbow looks mean!

[This message has been edited by 4-mulaGT (edited 01-17-2009).]

quote Originally posted by 4-mulaGT: Hmm... not my taste, http://www.factoryfive.com/rdsterhome.html Thats more like it, gimme the IRS option, some quality rubber, and anything but a big block, and ill go to the track any day.

I'm a big Kit Car fan but the Cobra is just done to death, IMHO. Not saying I would pass one up if a sweet deal came along, but if I'm going to build something, it definitely ain't gunna be "just another Cobra". Now the TV show Gearz is building a V8 Miata. I'd go for that (same concept, big engine - small car) over a Cobra.

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 01-17-2009).]

quote Originally posted by kyunderdawg: Cram a 3.8SC or even an LS1, 2, or better yet......7

... Or how bout that light of a frame with some lithium ion packs & an electric motor?

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Journal of a concept: http://southeastfieros.com >>> Build Thread >>> Parts thread (for project funding)

quote Originally posted by ryan.hess: How about an all iron BBC? c'mon, it needs a screaming 4 banger, and anything more is just dead weight.

Too much is never enough when it comes to cars..