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      03-08-2019, 04:46 AM   #1
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Anyone driven an Ariel Atom?

I've watched most of Jay Leno's Garages and most of the Top Gears...

1 of the cars (more like go cart) that always stood out as incredibly fun was the Aerial Atom. I've never driven one but would love to track one sometime. I reckon someone here has though. So what was it like?
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Sounds pizzagatey.
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      03-08-2019, 04:56 AM   #2
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This...Is better !
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      03-08-2019, 05:30 AM   #3
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Ever since I saw it on Top Gear I've really wanted to take one out for a spin, in fact I actually looked into trying to buy one but they weren't road legal in Canada when they first came out. I'm a bit too old now for one but would still love to have a spin in one.

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      03-08-2019, 05:36 AM   #4
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Oh Canada — Well one day! Thanks for finding the video that's the one!

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This...Is better !

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Originally Posted by GrussGott View Post
Sounds pizzagatey.
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      03-08-2019, 06:25 AM   #5
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Also on Jay Leno was this Ariel Atom based car

http://www.rezvanimotors.com/beast-models

http://www.thedrive.com/a-list/2109/...beast-supercar
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      03-08-2019, 07:44 AM   #6
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I've never driven an Atom, but I have had the opportunity to drive the BAC Mono at length and that thing was insane. I was out of the country at the time when I drove it, but if it was available in the USA, I think I would have had a hard time not putting down my checkbook right there on the spot.

It was nothing short of amazing, and I imagine that the Atom is right there with it.

For reference, this is the BAC Mono:

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      03-08-2019, 10:45 AM   #7
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I've known about the Ariel Atom prior to the Top Gear test (saw it on the cover of a European car magazine and it was love at first sight!).

I've never driven one, but sat in one at NJMP. A group of guys from NYC have a "car share" program where you sign up to drive other people's cars from the club. One of the members was driving a spec Miata on the track and told us about the Atom in the garage, so we went to see it.
The guy that showed us wasn't "allowed" to drive the Atom on the track without his comp license. It's mind blowing fast on the track (he had a ride along in it).
I have run into a few people who've raced in the Atom series and they said the rear end is VERY tail happy. Of course, the cars are super fast as well.
You can try them here:
https://atlantamotorsportspark.com/drive-ariel-atom/
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      03-08-2019, 10:59 AM   #8
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^^^drool
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GrussGott View Post
Sounds pizzagatey.
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      03-08-2019, 11:19 AM   #9
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This is a pretty popular video (7M views), I just came across it the other week. It was impressive.

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      03-08-2019, 11:32 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Run Silent View Post
I have had the opportunity to drive the BAC Mono... but if it was available in the USA, I think I would have had a hard time not putting down my checkbook right there on the spot.
Looks like they are in the US:
California: http://us.bac-mono.com/newsArchive.php?newsID=140
Arizona: http://us.bac-mono.com/newsArchive.php?newsID=165
New York: http://us.bac-mono.com/news.php?newsID=181

My checkbook couldn't handle it, but here is one that "fully street legal, licensed and registered in California, and smog exempt forever":
https://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/results/bac/mono
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      03-08-2019, 11:37 AM   #11
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Seen one last year's at C&C In Minnesota, looks really good, would love to have one, the owner really likes it.
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      03-08-2019, 11:58 AM   #12
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I've debated one a few times, but always come back to a Caterham instead.
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      03-08-2019, 12:13 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jkoral View Post

[QUOTE=jkoral;24487880]This is a pretty popular video (7M views), I just came across it the other week. It was impressive.

That's the video that reminded me of my forgotten love affair with the Atom.
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Originally Posted by GrussGott View Post
Sounds pizzagatey.
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      03-08-2019, 01:17 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grumpy Old Man View Post
Ever since I saw it on Top Gear I've really wanted to take one out for a spin, in fact I actually looked into trying to buy one but they weren't road legal in Canada when they first came out. I'm a bit too old now for one but would still love to have a spin in one.

There's an orthopaedic surgeon who lives in Toronto who has an atom. He's had it for a while too. One of the local papers even wrote an article about it in their auto section. This was around 2003-2005.
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      03-08-2019, 01:40 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xander_g View Post
There's an orthopaedic surgeon who lives in Toronto who has an atom. He's had it for a while too. One of the local papers even wrote an article about it in their auto section. This was around 2003-2005.
I know Ariel has made a lot of inroads and I know you can get one certified for the road in Canada now.....I think my very tolerant and understanding wife might be less tolerant and understanding with that little toy though.
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      03-08-2019, 01:52 PM   #16
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DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT, look at the Ariel Nomad. The US builder is TMI Motorsports, a 3 hour drive from home.

Only if I wanted to part with $80K of retirement funds...
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      03-08-2019, 01:55 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT, look at the Ariel Nomad. The US builder is TMI Motorsports, a 3 hour drive from home.

Only if I wanted to part with $80K of retirement funds...
I know, I had a Factory Five Cobra a few years ago.....what a damn ride (similar in some respects to the Atom) but I'm too old for it, and I needed Advil every time I took it out. I miss it sometimes but then I come to my senses.
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      03-08-2019, 02:01 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grumpy Old Man View Post
I know, I had a Factory Five Cobra a few years ago.....what a damn ride (similar in some respects to the Atom) but I'm too old for it, and I needed Advil every time I took it out. I miss it sometimes but then I come to my senses.
In 2004, a close friend of mine built a FF5 Corbra from my sister's '87 5.0L Mustang. What a frickin beast it is. Phil has since left this Earth, I probably could buy it from his widow, but I'm afraid of the tickets I'd get...
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      03-08-2019, 02:10 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
In 2004, a close friend of mine built a FF5 Corbra from my sister's '87 5.0L Mustang. What a frickin beast it is. Phil has since left this Earth, I probably could buy it from his widow, but I'm afraid of the tickets I'd get...
The car gets tons of looks, and is a ball to drive. You don't want to sit in traffic on a hot day....shit, you just don't want to sit in traffic in the thing.
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      03-08-2019, 06:40 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT, look at the Ariel Nomad. The US builder is TMI Motorsports, a 3 hour drive from home.

Only if I wanted to part with $80K of retirement funds...
Crap I looked

I was warned too... my heart is a little less full after seeing it and not acquiring it on the spot 😂
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GrussGott View Post
Sounds pizzagatey.
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      03-08-2019, 06:57 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT, look at the Ariel Nomad. The US builder is TMI Motorsports, a 3 hour drive from home.

Only if I wanted to part with $80K of retirement funds...
Damn you!

https://www.arielna.com
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      03-08-2019, 07:16 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Run Silent View Post
I've never driven an Atom, but I have had the opportunity to drive the BAC Mono at length and that thing was insane. I was out of the country at the time when I drove it, but if it was available in the USA, I think I would have had a hard time not putting down my checkbook right there on the spot.

It was nothing short of amazing, and I imagine that the Atom is right there with it.

For reference, this is the BAC Mono:

I thought BAC mono was significantly better isnt it.
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