Cantrac Ultima

Ultima Sports Ltd. is a sports car manufacturer currently based in Hinckley in Leicestershire. They were founded in 1992 by Ted and Richard Marlow and are best known for building and distributing worldwide the amazing Ultima Evolution which held the distinction of being the fastest production car in the world and, at one time, was famously quicker that any other supercar round the Top Gear track by seconds.

Offered here is the original prototype chassis made by Ultima which also formed the basis of the original Pro-Sport 3000 chassis designed by Lee Noble. It was subsequently modified to accept a Ferrari engine and ZF gearbox by Ryan Hodges for use in Thundersports. Its current specification was engineered by Gerry Cannon of Cantrac incorporating a Rover/Buick engine mated to a Renault Sport Alpine GTA gearbox. Front suspension and brakes are from an Arrows A8 Grand Prix car and rear uprights from a Lola Can-Am car. The bodywork is molded from Kevlar mat and the cockpit and doors are Carbon Fibre. The original chassis is mild steel spaceframe with aluminum panels on the floor and sides.The engine was purchased in 1995 and was originally built by Weslake Engineering to compete in British Leylands Rover P6 race program in the mid-1970s. It was subsequently bought by Victor Gauntlet at the closing down sale of BL's Competition Department in 1976. In 2009 the engine was overhauled by the respected J.E.Developments fitting a new crankshaft and two liners in the process. When rolling road tested at Peter Baldwins it produced 286bhp at the rear wheels running on Weber IDAs from a Formula 5000 car. A very comprehensive and lengthy specification sheet listing in detail all components will be available at the time of sale. This stunning Ultima weighs in at 820kgs which suggests a fairly serious power to weight ratio.It has been used by its owner at sprint events but would be quite at home on a circuit in a suitable championship. Lots of interesting history, incredible performance and, at this guide, it's difficult to imagine more "Bangs for your Buck".