DIY Ariel Atom Cost Just $8K and a Whole Lot of Time

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Winterhalter has a well-deserved reputation in DIY automobile circles; he once built a replica Lotus 7 for $2500. His take on the Ariel Atom, however, was a little more ambitious.

The 57-year-old maker designed the frame by scaling photographs and the component makeup by studying manufacturer specifications. Then he set to work, 1,900 man hours of it spread over 28 months to create an exact replica.

Rear, mid-mounted transverse engine and five-speed transaxle
Engine: D17A2 SOHC, VTEC, 127 HP, 114 lb-ft
Steel round tube drawn over mandrel space frame
Wheelbase: 89 inches
Weight: 1,100 pounds
Acceleration: 0-60 mph, 5.0 seconds

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It has cleared pre-inspection and is set to be street legal in the not too distant future. [Riding Eagle via Bornrich]

About the author: C. S. Magor

C.S. Magor is the editor-in-chief and reporter at large for Uberreview and We Interrupt. He currently resides in the Japanese countryside, approximately two hours from Tokyo - where both his bank balance and the lack of space in his home are testament to his addiction to all things shiny.

Website: http://www.uberreview.com