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A very warm welcome to totalkitcar online … I was doing some research for an Ultima history feature going right back to 1983, when Lee Noble founded the marque via his Kitdeal/Noble Motorsport operation going right through the Marlow family’s takeover in 1992 to the current day. Watch out for that in the next issue of TKC MAG!
Back to the eighties – An Ultima Mk2 of 1987
While I was at it I thought I’d list their current model range, which can be quite confusing to work out so here is the current line up for both Evolution Coupé/Convertible.
| EVOLUTION COUPÉ/CONVERTIBLE | ||
| EVO480 | GM LS3 | 480bhp |
| EVO700 | GM LS7 | 700bhp |
| EVO1020 | GM LS7 Supercharged | 1020bhp |
| RS COUPÉ | ||
| RS 430 | GM LS3 | 430bhp |
| RS 500 | GM LT1 | 480bhp |
| RS 650 | GM LT4 | 650bhp |
| RS 800 | GM LT5 Supercharged | 800bhp |
| RS 1200 | GM LT5 Supercharged | 1200bhp |
There are lot more engine options available and if you are building an Ultima from a kit I believe you can go your own way as long as you use a specified engine, although Ultima Sports’ Richard Marlow will advise.
ULTIMA EVOLUTION COUPÉ
People often ask how much an Ultima costs in kit form as the company builds to order and no two are the same in terms of final specification, but you won’t get much change out 55K for a kit in basic specification (using the word ‘basic’ in connection with an Ultima seems a bit silly because they are anything but basic!).
ULTIMA EVOLUTION CONVERTIBLE
I think the fact that they are still proud to offer their products in kit form is great, and I still shudder at the bright spark mainstream journalist who piped up one day: “Crikey, an Ultima is an expensive kitcar,” to which I replied, “No, it is a bargain-priced supercar,” which it really is. The top-of-the-range versions cost a fraction of other supercars, while giving more performance in many cases. You can find out what you need to know via www.ultimasports.co.uk.
ULTIMA RS COUPÉ
SHOW BUSINESS – yet more discounted show tickets. TWO WEEKS TO GO – Simon Bennie, organiser of the new Replica and Self Build Festival taking place at Stoneleigh Park on July 18-19 has kindly offered TKC MAG/totalkitcar.com readers a 30 per cent discount on admission tickets. Make sure you order before the end of February 2026.
Just go the bookings page – link below – and enter ‘TKC30’ to get your discounted tickets.
Just go to the website https://carshowco.com/replica/replica-self-build-festival-tickets/
AVAILABLE NOW – TKC MAG JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
We’ve kicked off 2026 with the JAN/FEB issue and we have plenty of features to entertain, inform and highlight.
MINPREZA – Jason MacDonald of Scoobybits is a proper automotive Frankenstein and his latest creation – MinPreza – mixes Classic Mini and Subaru Impreza to create a complete monster.
Sneak peek of my new book. Scheduled for May 2026 release. I’ll keep you updated as to the definitive publication date.
WESTFIELD SE.NA FIRST DRIVE – We were invited to the official launch of the Se.NA back in October and what a beautiful machine it is.
JBA FALCON – IN PROFILE – A classic kitcar if ever there was one. We look at the car’s history, the different variants and the men behind the project.
STANBURY TT – An all but forgotten kit car from the eighties that probably deserved to do better that deserved a little feature in the mag. However, we then spotted a rare survivor with a great back story at a car show and … well, the feature ended up bigger than originally intended.
INTRODUCING HUMBLE NOMAD AUTOMOTIVE – Taking over the excellent Vortex V2 project is more than newsworthy but newcomers Humble Nomad have a very ambitious ten-year plan …
INDUSTRY GREATS – ANTHONY TAYLOR AND AUTOTUNE – We are absolutely delighted to be featuring the amazing career of Anthony Taylor, co-founder of Autotune. If that wasn’t enough, Anthony is a very handy driver in historic motorsport, he was also on the grid of the first ever kitcar race in 1984, is a world expert on McLaren’s Can-Am Group 7 cars and a well-respected racing car restorer.
CATERHAM SEVEN SUPERSPRINT 2000 – Another heritage Seven, but this one has real attitude! Normally powered by 660cc three-pot Suzuki engines, this one has a 2-litre Duratec. A welcome fusion or just plain confusion?
NEW RELEASE – TKC MAG – JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 AVAILABLE NOW
IF YOU LIKE CLASSIC KIT CARS & SPECIALS you are in luck. Clicking that button will take you back in time with features on old kitcars, personalities and generally interesting companies who worked within the specialist car and sixties motorsport movements. I really hope you are enjoying them. Not all of them are kitcar-related per se but they all celebrate the underdog and often feature the wonderful world of sixties motorsport.
Classic Kit Cars & Specials has a new home at totalkitcar.com.
A lot of classic clubman motorsport features highlight underdog artisans that we hope will appeal to you dear reader, the sort of companies that we’ve often all heard of but on whom detailed information is often hard to find. Shorrock, Wade Turbochargers, Jack Knight Developments, Cannon Cars, Tom Killeen, David Ogle the list goes on and on. The sort of companies and individuals that our specialist and kitcar forebears from the sixties would have been very familiar with. You’ll find these subjects contained in CLASSIC KIT CARS & SPECIALS.
This week in CLASSIC KIT CARS & SPECIALS we look at a very rare kitcar from Scotland called the Autocult Tigress (1983-1985) CLICK HERE to go there.
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We are getting a lot of new subscribers on the totalkitcar YouTube channel. If you like this website, you are sure to find something you like on the ‘totalkitcar YouTube channel’? In addition to our usual monthly video upload, we now have a weekly series called the ‘totalkitcar History Files Series. The latter isn’t rocket science. We verbally look at old kitcars with photos added, but we seem to be capturing peoples’ imaginations.
As the name suggests we look at some of the classic marques, great cars, not so great cars, plus the personalities, events and designers who have graced this wonderful industry over the last 75 years.
If you don’t already subscribe to our channel (just search ‘totalkitcar YouTube Channel’ on YouTube) please do, as it’s free and if you click ‘all’ you’ll be notified every time a new video drops. Finally, may I ask you to hit the thumbs up button please as that helps the channel greatly. THANK YOU, dear reader.
totalkitcar History File Series (in association with the Enwin Motors channel). Don’t miss out, subscribe for FREE now.
Search YouTube for the ‘totalkitcar YouTube Channel’ or follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/@tkcmag.
Our popular TRACKDAY CALENDAR is where you can find out where, when and how much by CLICKING HERE. Now updated to cover FEBRUARY-MARCH 2026.
SNIPPETS 1 ……. Caterham Cars has unveiled the latest prototype developed and manufactured for mass production of their electric sportscar ‘Project V’ at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2026.
About Project V
In 2023, Caterham unveiled the concept car for Project V, a completely new-generation, all-electric sportscar, at Goodwood in the UK. Project V represents Caterham’s answer for the electrification era. While an EV, it strongly inherits the “PURE.SIMPLE.FUN” DNA cultivated over many years.
Development of Project V is now progressing steadily towards commercialisation and mass production. The e-axle, a key component of the EV powertrain, is supplied by Yamaha Motor, while the battery utilises the liquid-cooled ‘IMMERSIO™ Cell-to-Pack’ developed by Taiwan’s XING Mobility. Prototype vehicle development and construction are being advanced in collaboration with Tokyo R&D, with completion scheduled for autumn 2025; test drives have already commenced.
This latest prototype, unveiled globally for the first time, features specifications closer to a production vehicle, strongly focused on mass production readiness. Alongside verifying driving performance and safety features, production design considerations are being advanced concurrently.
Design
The interior and exterior design of Project V was handled by Anthony Jannarelly, a designer who is also a Seven owner and deeply understands its philosophy. The front face, inspired by the Seven’s nose cone, and the minimalist form stripped of all excess clearly express Caterham’s signature ‘PURE’ and ‘SIMPLE’.
While the fundamental exterior design remains faithful to the original concept, this update modifies elements such as the rear combination lamp design to comply with regulatory requirements in various markets. Nevertheless, the overall design identity remains intact.
The interior has been further evolved, featuring a flat-panel instrument cluster reminiscent of the Seven, now incorporating a circular digital display. This blends a classical ambience with modern functionality. Its presence retains the strong aura of a classic sportscar.
A significant change is the refresh of the seating layout from a three-seater to a ‘2+2’ configuration. By evolving towards a more orthodox packaging, it retains Caterham’s purity while also possessing the qualities to enjoy grand touring for a wider range of uses.
The e-axle fitted to Project V is a highly efficient system integrating the motor, inverter and gearbox. Developed by Yamaha Motor specifically for Project V, Caterham is the first announced customer. With its sharp response and linear power delivery, it pursues that quintessential Caterham ‘fun-to-drive’ character, despite being an EV.
The battery employs the liquid-immersed cooling battery ‘IMMERSIO™ Cell-to-Pack’, developed by Taiwan’s XING Mobility. This world-leading cooling technology for automotive batteries directly immerses the battery cells in a conductive coolant, enabling rapid and uniform thermal management. It ensures high safety and reliability even under severe operating conditions.By balancing high power output, thermal management, and safety at a high level, Project V embodies Caterham’s essence of ‘PURE.SIMPLE.FUN’ in the new format of an EV.
The latest Project V prototype vehicle, developed and manufactured in collaboration with Tokyo R&D, employs Caterham’s traditional tubular spaceframe structure . Used since the company’s founding, including on the Seven, this structure achieves both high rigidity and lightweight construction, supporting the direct handling and excellent dynamic performance essential for a pure sports car. While adopting a new package as an EV, Project V’s design incorporates the latest powertrain and battery installation, leveraging the inherently simple and flexible nature of the steel tube spaceframe. Combined with the low centre of gravity and linear acceleration characteristic of EVs, it delivers the cohesive driving feel synonymous with Caterham Cars, even in the era of electrification.
More from www.caterhamcars.com.
SNIPPETS 2 …….OSRAM’s LEDinspect TWIST 450, has been awarded 4 out of 5 stars in the Auto Express workshop lamps test, coming third in the test and being awarded Recommended by the magazine.
The LEDinspect TWIST 450 has a light output of up to 450 lumens and a colour temperature of up to 6000K. Lightweight, robust and, as its name suggests, the lamp has a 360° twist and 180° pivot function, to get the light exactly where it is needed.
The test commented: “OSRAM’s more powerful lamp does most things well, and an IP65 rating for water resistance makes it the most suitable for damp conditions.
“It has a bright 450-lumen main lamp with two settings, and a torch. There are strong magnets on the base and back plus a hook, but it’s not the most stable when standing on its own. An indicator shows the battery level, but it was flat in just under three hours.”
Marketing Manager for OSRAM, Terri Clark, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised by Auto Express, this inspection lamp has been an incredibly popular product in our newly launched range, so we’re pleased Auto Express agrees and gave it ‘Recommended’ in this test.”
For more information on the full OSRAM range of inspection lamps visit: www.osram.co.uk/inspectionlamps
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So, that’s about it from me for this week, so I’ll bid you a great seven days, with plenty of enjoyable driving and I look forward to welcoming you once again next Friday – FEBRUARY 20, 2026
Best regards
Steve