1998 Ultima Sports

[ETD14]

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/20771689

[Smokin Donut]

Does the Ultima have A/C?
What is the date stamp on the tyres?
What’s the switch hanging down under the dash?
Thanks, Ben

[Brother D]

Technically a classic that could be imported into the USA...

[dave_white1977]

Smokin Donut said:

Does the Ultima have A/C?
What is the date stamp on the tyres?
What s the switch hanging down under the dash?
Thanks, Ben

Hi Ben

Thank you for the interest and your questions.

The seller is selling as the car used to belong to her late husband, so there will be some things that we just don't know.

She understand the car does not have A/C but does have a little fan attached the dash to help push the air around to give some light relief, but we assume the thrill would be too much for you to notice the temperature in the car

There is nothing known about the switch under the dash i'm afraid

Good luck with your bidding and thank you again

[Arnold Cunningham]

1. The switch. Wiring on these was super simple, so it'll be easy to work out. I suspect it's an addon related to the dash.
2. It was common for the Sports to not have AC.
3. Tyres do look like the originals that a lovely chap call Andy Wyatt was bringing in to the country for a few of us, and even the factory, I think "back then".

Looks like a car that has sat for quite a while, but with a bit of love again it'll be great

(I have a 1999 Spyder)

Edited by Arnold Cunningham on Tuesday 28th July 22:02

[PaalBrataas]

Do you know if the rear wing and pylons need to be removed for MOT? Or is the car road legal the way it sits?

[Familyguy1982]

So it's a non-runner then?
I also assume it won't have a fresh MOT put on it prior to sale?

[dave_white1977]

Familyguy1982 said:

So it's a non-runner then?
I also assume it won't have a fresh MOT put on it prior to sale?

Thank you for your comment

due to the the circumstances of sale the seller was unable to complete the water pump and battery replacement which would enable the car to be taken for an MOT to be made road legal... everything else on the car is as it should be and in working order.

The reserve has been set in accordance with this so that any would be buyer is able to complete the replacements and have a great Ultima for road and track use if they chose.

Good luck with you bidding

[dave_white1977]

PaalBrataas said:

Do you know if the rear wing and pylons need to be removed for MOT? Or is the car road legal the way it sits?

Good question

According to the DVLA (website) no you do not need to remove the rear wing for MOT, so long as it meets safety and security standards, i.e is not wobbly doesn't have jagged edges and any lights mounted work ok.

Hope this helps

Good luck with your bidding

[Arnold Cunningham]

Trying to remember from back then - I don't recall hearing of people having to remove the wing on any, but it's just nuts & bolts even if you do.
(e.g visibility of the rear number plate)

For general use, the sports and spyder do require a rear wing aerodynamically, so if temporarily removed, do put it back on!

Edited by Arnold Cunningham on Friday 31st July 11:22

[Paul_77]

Zero MOT advisories ever. Clearly a very well loved car! That must be great fun to drive.

[simonpieman]

Hi, Firstly, may I offer my condolences to the seller and her family. It is clear from the photographs and history that this has been a much-loved car and I wish her every success with the sale. I am a genuinely interested potential bidder and wondered whether any further information is available regarding the car's current mechanical condition. In particular:

- Has the engine been started or run at all since 2021?

- Does the engine currently start and run, or is the flat battery preventing this from being established?

- How was the water pump fault diagnosed? Is it known to be leaking, noisy, seized, or otherwise defective? Was the fault identified by a garage and, if so, is there any invoice or report available?

- Has the cooling system been pressure-tested?

- Has the fuel system been checked for leaks or deterioration following the period of storage?

I completely appreciate that the seller may not have detailed technical knowledge of the vehicle, and these questions are intended only to help prospective bidders understand the likely scope of recommissioning after a number of years off the road. Thank you in advance for any information that can be provided.

[dave_white1977]

simonpieman said:

Hi, Firstly, may I offer my condolences to the seller and her family. It is clear from the photographs and history that this has been a much-loved car and I wish her every success with the sale. I am a genuinely interested potential bidder and wondered whether any further information is available regarding the car's current mechanical condition. In particular:

- Has the engine been started or run at all since 2021?

- Does the engine currently start and run, or is the flat battery preventing this from being established?

- How was the water pump fault diagnosed? Is it known to be leaking, noisy, seized, or otherwise defective? Was the fault identified by a garage and, if so, is there any invoice or report available?

- Has the cooling system been pressure-tested?

- Has the fuel system been checked for leaks or deterioration following the period of storage?

I completely appreciate that the seller may not have detailed technical knowledge of the vehicle, and these questions are intended only to help prospective bidders understand the likely scope of recommissioning after a number of years off the road. Thank you in advance for any information that can be provided.

Thank you for your kind words and questions.

The seller informs us that, The car was last started and running Aug 2023 just before her husband became ill.
he was a competing rally driver and an engineer by trade so has worked on high performance cars most of his life so no it wasn't diagnosed at a garage or have an invoice for it.

Unfortunately the seller does not have answers for the other queries you have, as sadly her husband was in a coma for the last 6 mths of his life.

We fully appreciate there are particular questions that many interested buyers will have, but the reserve has been set at a level knowing there will be re-commissioning required but it is believed not to be a substantial level of work.

Hopefully this is helpful and please do keep asking questions, if answers are the known the seller will respond

Once again thank you for the understanding and good luck with you bidding

[RSRallySport]

Is there anyway of finding out what the true mileage of this is? The MOT history is showing up errors and the mileage in the advertisement doesn’t seem correct given the wear and tear on the vehicle (for example holes being present in the seats).

I’m interested in bidding but it seems a bit of a mine field determining what the vehicle really needs and trying to gauge a value on it. I appreciate it’s a no reserve sale, but I’m looking at the price it’s reached now, verses cost to get back running, verses similar ones already road worthy. Is it known if the engine still turns over given the coolant issue and it been standing?

[bourne169]

It looks like ultima have just sold up to a US firm as well so I wonder what parts availability will be like?
https://www.peregrynmotors.us/

[Arnold Cunningham]

On a sports, the windscreen is a bit special, am unsure it might be the same as later models. Most other bits would be easy to source or fabricate. Any body damage for example - it’s just simple GRP.

I do think the car needs a little work, but it’ll be epic once done.

I’d be interested myself if I didn’t already have a Spyder. I’d argue the prettiest one of them all.

[Hans_Gruber]

Gut feeling this was a well loved toy and because of the uncertainty someone will pick up a bargain.
Very sad circumstances for the sale and I hope the bidding winner enjoys it as much as I’m sure the original owner did.

[Arnold Cunningham]

Hans_Gruber said:

Gut feeling this was a well loved toy and because of the uncertainty someone will pick up a bargain.
Very sad circumstances for the sale and I hope the bidding winner enjoys it as much as I m sure the original owner did.

I don't think I remember this one being built, there was a bunch of us at about that time, although I vaguely remember talking to a builder who was going to put a stack dash in back then - who knows, could have been this one.

There's a few variations from factory - the stack dash & headlights are the most obvious. The coolant pipes in the sidepods do tend to corrode and look a bit crusty on this one, I've just built new stainless steel ones for my spyder. It does have the factory wheels, which are nice. Seats are not the genuine ultima mold, but IIRC the ultima shell was derived from a sparco one - probably the same as this has fitted.

If you wanted to put new wheels on it to fit more common rubber sizes, image wheels can still make new rims, or you would have to work out how to ship some tyres from the US. It's not hard, but would require a few phone calls.

Think is has the Chevrolet 350 HO ZZ4 engine - this was the recommended spec from Ted@Ultima at the time.

Based on current price, it'll be a bargain for someone and IMVHO, as mental as anyone will ever need. I always noticed there was a large number of builders who were always going to build bigger, better, faster, more expensive. And then they'd end up for sale soon after being finished. The ones that people held on to, like this one, were a bit more conservatively powered and rigged, and that brought them to just the right side of usability.

Edited by Arnold Cunningham on Tuesday 4th August 07:07

[PaalBrataas]

Water pump question: Anyone with knowledge regarding space in the engine bay, can this job be done while the engine sits in the car or must the engine be lifted out to get access to the pump?

Thanks.

[Arnold Cunningham]

I had a different engine in mine, so I don't know definitively, but I do recall it is a tight fit.
If it were me, I'd have the engine out anyway, it's easy, and give the whole thing a good fettle and sort out to bring it back to top spec.