An Ariel Atom ride with Eddie Hill

FourFather · « **Reply #20 on:** 18 Aug 2012, 10:03 pm »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 18 Aug 2012, 09:01 pm

Hi Eddie!
It's an honor to (virtually) meet you Sir.

Bob

Hi, Bob, good to meet you, too.

Eddie

FourFather · « **Reply #21 on:** 18 Aug 2012, 10:12 pm »

Quote from: HAL on 18 Aug 2012, 09:12 pm

I have a question for Eddie.

Is the Ford GT in the picture with you and Danny one of the originals from the 60's or the new production cars from Ford? Either way that is one cool car!

Mine is the 2006 Ford GT, the production car. Mine is the Heritage edition, only ~300 or so built with the blue and orange Gulf colors, and one of the few modern crs that is appreciating.

Eddie

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #22 on:** 18 Aug 2012, 10:13 pm »

I thought they can be street legal?
I watched a video of Jay Leno driving around city streets with one.

Bob

Mike B. · « **Reply #23 on:** 18 Aug 2012, 11:37 pm »

I remember seeing a short video piece on Eddie when he was still racing. He enjoyed listening to classical music.

thunderbrick · « **Reply #24 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 01:16 am »

To heck with the cars, is Eddie analogue or digital, tube or SS, DBT or ?

Danny Richie · « **Reply #25 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 01:26 am »

Hey guys, the Atom is street legal.

SoCalWJS · « **Reply #26 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 01:28 am »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 18 Aug 2012, 10:13 pm

I thought they can be street legal?
I watched a video of Jay Leno driving around city streets with one.

Bob

All the research I did said not street leagal in the US. (admittedly I was focusing on California)

What Jay Leno can get away with is a different story................

SoCalWJS · « **Reply #27 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 01:29 am »

Quote from: Danny Richie on 19 Aug 2012, 01:26 am

Hey guys, the Atom is street legal.

Texas?

...or nationwide? (I could really get in trouble with this answer)

gprro · « **Reply #28 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 01:40 am »

if you're in socal, I used to see one all the time when I lived just off the sunset strip. Had tags on it too. Never know with la though, people seem to get away with some crazy things car wise, at least for a little...

Danny Richie · « **Reply #29 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 02:00 am »

I bet Eddie could answer the are they legal in all states question. I think they are. The one I went for a ride in was tagged and did have brake lights, but I think Eddie removed the front lights for its track use.

Here are a few pics of a couple showing lights front and rear.

And the one that Eddie had in the shop on the jack (pics posted of that one) had a full set of lights on it.

doug s. · « **Reply #30 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 03:30 am »

it is possible to certify the atom for legal street use, in some states, after going thru a lot of hurdles...

doug s.

gooberdude · « **Reply #31 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 03:39 am »

I'm all about the Atom and have been for several years. This is a great thread!

Even though they are or can be street legal, I have to imagine that drivers/owners would get pulled over often so the cop can verify and to take a peek at such a rad vehicle.

And what a garage! To have a Ford GT, Ultima Can Am and a horde of Atoms under 1 roof? I'd never leave!

persisting1 · « **Reply #32 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 08:22 am »

The Atom is a beast. Like many have stated, my introduction to them was from Mr. Clarkson.

Danny, did you get a new Vette?

Danny Richie · « **Reply #33 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 01:26 pm »

Quote

Danny, did you get a new Vette?

It is several years old and I did not buy it new. I have had it about 10 months now.

FourFather · « **Reply #34 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 01:51 pm »

Almost every one of the Atoms I am aware of, in many different states, have them registered for street use. In most places, they do not register like a Ford or Chevy, more like a Cobra replica, or an "assembled" vehicle, like a kit car or hot rod. Every state seems to have their own ideas about how to register them.

HAL · « **Reply #35 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 02:18 pm »

Quote from: FourFather on 18 Aug 2012, 10:12 pm

Mine is the 2006 Ford GT, the production car. Mine is the Heritage edition, only ~300 or so built with the blue and orange Gulf colors, and one of the few modern crs that is appreciating.

Eddie

Eddie,
Thanks for the feedback. They are all great looking cars!

Ok, I will stop drooling on the keyboard now!

SoCalWJS · « **Reply #36 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 02:58 pm »

The first time I saw one on Top Gear, I started drooling. Went to their US website, and it looked like they were definitely not street legal - I may have given up too soon and should have looked into whether they could be made legal with a few minor modifications or, as suggested, getting them registered as a kit car.

....but I also thought "What if you took the same basic concept/frame, and mated it to a Subaru STi/Mitsubishi Evo engine/transmission, and turned it into an all-wheel drive?"

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #37 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 03:33 pm »

Quote from: FourFather on 18 Aug 2012, 10:02 pm

I'm afraid I do not know what a yellow Super V is--?

Photo Link....

doug s. · « **Reply #38 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 03:47 pm »

Quote from: SoCalWJS on 19 Aug 2012, 02:58 pm

....but I also thought "What if you took the same basic concept/frame, and mated it to a Subaru STi/Mitsubishi Evo engine/transmission, and turned it into an all-wheel drive?"

i would choose the rwd over awd every time. the only time i would choose awd is if the only other choice is fwd. unless you are driving in rain or snow, (unlikely w/the atom), awd's added weight, added driveline losses, and added mechanical complexity offers no positives over rwd, only negatives. mebbe when f1 starts using awd, i will reconsider...

doug s.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #39 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 04:41 pm »

Or like the Volvo inline 6 turbo AWD with some racing slicks............