# this \> the ariel atom clone **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [September 26, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518 "2008-09-26T03:02:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HotRodKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hotrodkid/32/7609_2.png) [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/1 "2008-09-26T03:02:22Z")
cross post from [metalmeet.com](http://metalmeet.com) I wasn’t sure I was going to create an on-going thread of my new build but due to requests by Joefish and others I’ve decided to at least do a streamline version for the record (more photos and less text than was done on the McBearen project). That will probably please everyone.😃 To get caught up and to insure continuity I’ve copied the first post I made on another thread so that we start at the beginning. "…. after a weekend driving course last June (with the McBearen) at VIR I fell in love with the idea of driving on the great road courses of the SE so I shifted gears began to design my new build … It is another personal interpretation of a previous racing vehicle only this time it will be made more specifically for the track and although I plan to once again make it street legal I’m really excited about rounding the corners of VIR as soon as possible. I started fabrication (measure, cut, weld) last weekend and already have the frame nearly 3/4 complete. Prior to assembling the steel I worked on the plans, drawings and other basic stuff. I’m building an Indy car … ![http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/mabaan20color20draw.jpg](http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/mabaan20color20draw.jpg) Once I got the main center or backbone together I mocked-up a full profile shot and then super-imposed that image with the profile of the sheet metal I plan to create to see what and if I was heading in the right direction … ![http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/frame-body20ovlay.jpg](http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/frame-body20ovlay.jpg) Yesterday I completed the left side pod frame and although the steel is almost the same color as the shop floor I think you can see the beginning shapes taking form … ![http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/IMG_1.jpg](http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/IMG_1.jpg) Today I built something I’v always wanted which will make the application of the aluminum skin easier when I get to that stage. Using some material I had around the shop I fabricated a rotisserie for this and future vehicles that may be in my future. Here is a shot of the frame standing proud and ready to be rotated with ease. ![http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/IMG_3.jpg](http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/IMG_3.jpg) I purchased the clutch, flywheel and pressure plate needed to size and fit the custom adaptor for attaching the transaxle to the engine and and sent the parts to the machinist for completion. While that is being fabed-up I got a start on making a few of the aluminum panels of the car. ![http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/IMG_4.jpg](http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/IMG_4.jpg) ![http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/IMG_5.jpg](http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/IMG_5.jpg) ![http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/IMG_6.jpg](http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/hotrodkid2/dick%20bear/IMG_6.jpg) Dick Bear ---
**Author:** ![Darksyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@Darksyde](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Darksyde)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/2 "2008-09-26T04:29:29Z")
Looks great so far. What is gonna power this thing? ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 5:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/3 "2008-09-26T05:32:04Z")
There’s a LT1 motor sitting in the foreground in the one picture… ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 5:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/4 "2008-09-26T05:40:23Z")
Looks very cool, but the Atom clone looked road legal, at least as a homebuilt. ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 5:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/5 "2008-09-26T05:56:09Z")
meh… looks heavy ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 5:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/6 "2008-09-26T05:58:27Z")
Mehhh It has a LT1 which already means epic fail… ---
**Author:** ![Mike93](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mike93/32/7325_2.png) [@Mike93](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mike93)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 6:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/7 "2008-09-26T06:34:46Z")
I disagree. This thing looks like it was drawn up and built in 1981…the Atom is much more visually appealing. Plus, the Atom was done in a small garage with limited tools at his disposal, which I think make the Atom build more impressive. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 8:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/8 "2008-09-26T08:14:21Z")
dp1\>atom ![http://dpcars.net/dp1/topviews.jpg](http://dpcars.net/dp1/topviews.jpg) [http://dpcars.net/dp1/index.htm](http://dpcars.net/dp1/index.htm) ---
**Author:** ![King](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/king/32/7329_2.png) [@King](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/King)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 8:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/9 "2008-09-26T08:25:08Z")
i dont think indy cars necessarily use "lo pros " on motegis ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 8:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/10 "2008-09-26T08:26:45Z")
> [@K Cuv](#): > > i dont think indy cars necessarily use "lo pros " on motegis :lol: ---
**Author:** ![HotRodKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hotrodkid/32/7609_2.png) [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 10:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/11 "2008-09-26T10:05:49Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > Looks very cool, but the Atom clone looked road legal, at least as a homebuilt. this would be no more or less road legal with the proper equipment. and it wont look like crap when its done either ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 10:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/12 "2008-09-26T10:06:35Z")
the frame looks REALLY heavy ---
**Author:** ![MPD47](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mpd47/32/7383_2.png) [@MPD47](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MPD47)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 10:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/13 "2008-09-26T10:08:17Z")
> [@HotRodKid](#): > > and it wont look like crap when its done either Yes it will. I’ve never seen a home built formula car that didnt look like crap. Hell, I’m not even a fan of the FFord/F2000 stuff really. (atleast the way they look). ---
**Author:** ![TORQDSS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/torqdss/32/5125_2.png) [@TORQDSS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TORQDSS)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 10:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/14 "2008-09-26T10:16:51Z")
> [@MPD47](#): > > Yes it will. I’ve never seen a home built formula car that didnt look like crap. Hell, I’m not even a fan of the FFord/F2000 stuff really. (atleast the way they look). never heard of it ---
**Author:** ![jt76](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jt76/32/5100_2.png) [@jt76](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jt76)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 10:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/15 "2008-09-26T10:19:02Z")
> [@LZ](#): > > Mehhh > > It has a LT1 which already means epic fail… 👏 ---
**Author:** ![TRP951](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@TRP951](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TRP951)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 12:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/16 "2008-09-26T12:06:16Z")
No carbon monocoque ☹ thats where most of the safety and performance comes from ---
**Author:** ![HotRodKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hotrodkid/32/7609_2.png) [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 1:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-the-ariel-atom-clone/55518/17 "2008-09-26T13:08:56Z")
> [@MPD47](#): > > Yes it will. I’ve never seen a home built formula car that didnt look like crap. Hell, I’m not even a fan of the FFord/F2000 stuff really. (atleast the way they look). fine, ill rephrase it wont look like a talentless drunk built it. weather you like the style or not is a different matter