Ultima Sports - a legacy of excellence

Posted by John Mellberg September 15, 2020

Ultima Sports - a legacy of excellence

The Ultima RS

Inspired by the construction and design of Group C racing cars, the Ultima was originally developed by Lee Noble, of Noble Motorsports Ltd., beginning in 1983 for Group K racing, in which it was very effective. Noble developed the car until 1989, with the final model being the MK3, but in 1992 the project was bought by Ted and Richard Marlow. Thus Ultima Sports Limited was born.

Lee Noble and the Ultima MK1

Ultima Sports Ltd. currently operates from a neat modern unit in Hinckley, where its showroom is within the research and development department.

The combined experience of Ted Marlow and design engineer Steve Smith add up to over 30 years in the building and racing of specialist cars. The Ultima Sports staff pride themselves on being able to tailor both of their models to customers' specific requirements.

The Ultima Sports had already proved its track superiority beyond doubt in the Super Sports category of the kit car racing series and against all comers in the six-hour relay events. With the experience gained from the Mk3, the Sports (Mk4) was developed as a serious, fully refined road car, including all the creature comforts normally associated with the road without losing the speed and agility of the race car.

The Ultima RS

Indeed, one road car has been officially timed at 0-100mph in 6.8 seconds, 0-150 in 10.9 seconds and 0-180 in 14.4 seconds, which puts the Ultima firmly into McLaren F1 territory. It is little wonder that when McLaren wanted to develop its F1 supercar the company chose two examples of the Ultima Sports in which to test its own version of the BMW v12 engine transaxle and other components. The Ultima Spyder is a totally outstanding modern design including all the high spec dynamics of the Sports but offering all the added attraction that comes with open top motoring.

As Ultima makes its own multi-tubular spaceframe chassis, wishbones and uprights, the only donor parts used are the hub assemblies from the Granada Scorpio (which are included in the kit) plus an engine and transaxle package (typical combinations include Rover, Renault, Cosworth, Porsche or Chevrolet VW/Porsche. Ultima Sports can supply every component to complete either car (many other engine transaxle combinations can be utilized). All Ultima cars share the same race-proven, German TUV-approved spaceframe chassis with a choice of wishbone bearing to suit any application starting from £2500. The trimmed GRP body kit is reinforced with carbon fiber in key areas and costs £3350. Rolling chassis can be supplied to any specifications and complete kits, comprising of all new pans, can be purchased from the company. Ultima Sports offers a wide range of options for its cars, with various wing designs, body weights and materials, brakes, heating systems etc.

Ted Marlow's Ultima MK3

Since 1992 the Ultima Sports (MK4) refined in a series of incarnations with ever increasing power and sophistication.

Launched in 1993, the Ultima Spyder effectively opened many enthusiasts’ eyes to the idea that Ultima could offer a road car, where the existing Sports was often mistaken for being purely a track car. With its sleek styling, wrap around windscreen and obvious performance potential, the Spyder was instrumental in propelling the company into the consciousness of supercar fans around the world.

Launched in 1999, the world renowned GTR was a supercar in every sense of the word, with official performance records that humbled every mainstream car on the planet bar none - Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari Enzo and McLaren F1, none could match the GTR’s array of world speed, acceleration, and deceleration records.

The car’s talent weren’t just limited to a straight line either. The Ultima GTR was independently timed around the Top Gear test track and found to be a blistering 6.2 seconds per lap faster than the £450,000 Ferrari Enzo and 4.0 seconds per lap faster than the £1.5million Bugatti Veyron SS!

The Ultima GTR

In developing the GTR, Ultima concentrated on aerodynamic efficiency and overall balance, two critical elements for any 200+mph supercar. The car's aerodynamics were comprehensively tested at MIRA (the Motor Industry Research Association) where the group was so impressed by the results that it sought an Ultima GTR as the centerpiece for many exhibition appearances publicizing the extensive facilities that MIRA has available for car manufacturers.

Launched in 2001, the Ultima Can-Am is a sensational convertible road car that boasted exactly the same level of world beating performance as the Ultima GTR, but in an exhilarating wind in the hair experience. Power was provided by a mid-mounted Chevrolet V8 engine mated to a Porsche transaxle. In standard 300bhp tune it was enough to propel the Can-Am from 0-60mph in under four seconds.

The preferred engine supplier for Ultima is currently American Speed of Moline, Illinois USA, a company which specializes in re-engineering Chevrolet V8s for racing and high-output applications.

It was with a 640hp version of the Chevrolet small-block V8 built by American Speed, that company director Richard Marlow was able to set a number of performance records in an Ultima GTR during 2005, this combination was known as the Ultima GTR640. The latest Evolution variant is being marketed with an American Speed 1,020hp motor as the most powerful available from the factory.

In 2006 Ultima beat their own 0–100 mph-0 record set in the GTR640 with the GTR720, again using an American Speed SBC engine but now with 720hp. The new record shaved 0.4 seconds off the time completing 0–100–0 mph in 9.4 seconds, a new world record for a production road car with street legal tires and exhaust.

The Ultima EVO

In 2015, Ultima introduced the "Evolution" coupe and convertible which superseded the GTR and Can-Am and brought a number of key improvements, not least of which was the availability of an American Speed Chevrolet V8 with over 1000hp! Other enhancements included; Satnav system, iPod connectivity, Bluetooth hands free phone system, Alpine car stereo and speaker system, Zircotec ceramic exhaust coating for improved cooling, and a completely upgraded and redesigned fuel system option delivering greater fuel flow to cope with very high engine power levels of 725bhp through to 1200bhp.

Ultima Sports Ltd may have pushed the Ultima concept to its zenith with the launch of the new Ultima RS for 2020. This new flagship model is a supercar that is overwhelmingly capable, delivering the fastest, most sophisticated, stylish and most advanced performance package yet. The Ultima RS is the crowning glory of 35 years of successful Ultima history and the finest expression of Ultima’s core DNA.

Ultima continues their run as one of the UK kit car industry's true survivors and has set a benchmark few can touch. Quite a legacy indeed.

Photo Credits:
Ultima Sports Ltd.
Noble Motorsports Ltd.