Like a lot of readers, I have to admit Iām addicted to speed. Motorcycles and EVs that make absurd amounts of power have also ruined me, making cars that are objectively quick feel normal and sometimes slow, even. If I want to get my fix, I need to be behind the wheel of something seriously fast and preferably lightweight. And yet, even I know better than to go near the 2008 Ultima GTR on Cars & Bids thatās also allegedly street-legal. I just got done almost dying and have no intention of trying that again.
If youāve never heard of the Ultima GTR, it probably looks like the kind of kit car youād build with your cousin in a garage. Legally, youāre right, but itās a little more serious than that. These things were designed to be absolute track monsters. It doesnāt weigh much more than 2,000 pounds, and yet thereās a Chevrolet-sourced, American Speedābuilt 7.0-liter V8 under the hood that sends more than 800 horsepower to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.
Yes, you read that correctly. The Ultima GTRās naturally aspirated V8 makes more power than a Hellcat in a car that weighs less than an ND Miata. Thatās 403 hp per powered wheel. Thatās less than three pounds per horsepower. Doing some quick back-of-the-napkin math, it has a better power-to-weight ratio than the Bugatti Chiron, and again, itās only rear-wheel drive. Also, did I mention that itās reportedly street-legal? Yeah, I did, but I have to bring it up again because itās important that you donāt miss the part where you should be able to drive it to the track if you want. Heck, it even has air conditioning and a rear-view camera.
Call me a coward all you want, but Iām almost certain driving this car would end in a massive explosion that I wouldnāt walk away from. No, cars donāt explode in real life like they do in movies, but with that much power in such a light car, I guarantee Iād find a way to cause an explosion anyway. It would be worth a few million clicks, but at what cost? You, though? I bet youāre built different. You could totally buy this car and not die. Probably. Maybe.