Can the Americans build Supercars?

"djmt1" (djmt1) 05/31/2014 at 11:44 • Filed to: America, Supercars, Top Gear US, This isn't shit stirring

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Good, now that I have your attention, I bring this up after watching the 'American Supercars' episode of Top Gear US (Yes, I like it). In which these three cars highlighted were from left: 2003 Saleen S7, The 2013 Lucra LC470 and 2011 Rossion Q1.

What bugs me is the car choices.

Firstly the S7. In a showcase of American cars, why did they choose a decade old car which the highest praise I personally have seen for it, is an 'unstable Ford GT'. (If they can use 10 year old cars, why not use the GT).

The Lucra, I like it and is a good choice, highlighting a new unknown manufacturer, so fair enough.

However the QI, come on it's AMERICAN supercars, buying the rights and putting in some leather doesn't make the Noble M400 American. At least the Venom changed more than 25% of it's base car. (Also why not use the Venom).

Now I don't really follow American car news because I have enough to follow here in Britain, but I swear there were better cars available. Examples include the cars previously mentioned and what about SSC, didn't they briefly build the fastest car in the world.

So people of the United States of Americaland, let me know of other Supercars (Sports car are fine) you lot build as there are over 350 million of you people so there should be a few. Also no concept bullshit like that 300 Mph Dagger GT.

CAcoalminer > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 11:50

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Dodge Viper:

Also, I would have loved to hear their opinions of the Ford GT.

djmt1 > CAcoalminer 05/31/2014 at 11:52

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A bit, too mainstream but I accept it. Also they already did the Viper against the 12C and Lambo, so I guess they were looking to avoid doubles.

feather-throttle-not-hair > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 11:57

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I think part of the problem for top gear USA was that it was probably hard for them to get their hands on stuff like a venom or an SSC. There aren't very many of them out there, and even if you did find someone who'd be willing to let you borrow it for a week, there's a good chance it's on the other side of the country. Here in the colonies, that's a pretty damn long way.

Honestly, i feel like you guys have a much longer and more storied history of grassroots car manufacturing than we do. Our legacy is mass production. Your legacy is men in shops going up against the big boys.

American grassroots engineering tends to be more focused on racing and modifying cars than creating whole new works from the ground up (though there are obviously exceptions.)

CAcoalminer > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 12:06

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Oh well I'll think of something else.

djmt1 > feather-throttle-not-hair 05/31/2014 at 12:07

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Would a small manufacturer really turn down the chance for that kind of publicity though? People may have their views about Top Gear US but it is popular. Small European car makers still gallop across the continent for press and publicity and it is a pain in the arse here. You guys don't have to worry about borders and regulations as much.

Tuning culture does seem to be the thing in the US, but like I said you have a lot more people in the US then here in the UK and we have a lot of sport car makers, so I guess I'm just surprised there aren't more.

benn454 > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 12:09

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This would've decimated all three of those cars around a track.

djmt1 > benn454 05/31/2014 at 12:12

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True but I believe there are less than a dozen road legal models out there.

benn454 > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 12:14

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In the words of Ferrari/Lamborghini owners, "Exclusivity."

djmt1 > benn454 05/31/2014 at 12:15

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I was referring to getting their hands on one.

feather-throttle-not-hair > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 12:26

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Yeah, its really a bummer we dont have more small scale car manufacturers here. Maybe after the success of Tesla, people will be less scared to throw their hat into the arena.

I definitely dont claim to know how supercar manufacturers work, but I think with things like the Venom, they're so rare that Henessey doesn't just have a press car on hand. I know the tests ive seen of that car were performed on customer cars that were lent by their owners to magazines/youtube shows.

Then again, Zenvo provided a car to TG UK and the ST1 has to be at least as rare as the Venom.

djmt1 > feather-throttle-not-hair 05/31/2014 at 12:28

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Interesting and brave of the owners. I'm glad there are bunch of supercar owners who are happy to have their cars driven to extremes.

feather-throttle-not-hair > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 12:34

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Panoz maybe? I feel like i'm dredging the bottom of the barrel here.

djmt1 > feather-throttle-not-hair 05/31/2014 at 12:45

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But it's still in the barrel, I forgot they even existed.

feather-throttle-not-hair > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 12:45

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Yeah me too! If you ever read Evo magazine (side note: one thing i'm SURE of is that you guys do car magazines better over there) they often talk about people lending them stuff, though that's usually older cars such as F40's and Maclaren F1s.

Axial > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 12:55

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Shelby Ultimate Aero:

djmt1 > Axial 05/31/2014 at 12:58

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I mentioned that in the post and wondered why one of the world's fastest cars wasn't there.

Axial > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 13:19

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I guess that's the "SSC" reference I didn't catch because "SSC" usually means "Supersonic Car" a la "Thrust SSC."

djmt1 > Axial 05/31/2014 at 13:22

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I couldn't remember what it stood for or the car's name.

Axial > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 13:24

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Shelby Super Cars. :D

Axial > feather-throttle-not-hair 05/31/2014 at 13:26

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Shoot, even the USA's most famous WWII plane (P-51) is based on British design parameters.

America: Home of the Hotrod.

djmt1 > Axial 05/31/2014 at 13:26

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Not Carol Shelby, I'm guessing.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Axial 05/31/2014 at 13:27

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Rec! Though i am more partial to the P-38 Dat fork tail!!

Axial > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 13:29

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Nope, Jerod Shelby. No relation whatsoever other than the fact that they share the same last name and are into cars.

Axial > feather-throttle-not-hair 05/31/2014 at 13:30

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Yeah, the Brits didn't care much for the P-38. The USA loved it, though, especially over the Pacific.

I like the fact that it's still using the Allison engine, which many people incorrectly assume was a PoS.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Axial 05/31/2014 at 13:42

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I think they're one of the coolest machines ever built, though admittedly part of that is just a love for how they look.

benn454 > djmt1 05/31/2014 at 14:05

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That could be a problem.

wiffleballtony > djmt1 06/01/2014 at 01:44

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Mosler Automotive?

djmt1 > wiffleballtony 06/01/2014 at 02:24

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I don't know if there are any road legal versions in the US though all of them to my knowledge were built in the UK and there weren't that many built.

wiffleballtony > djmt1 06/01/2014 at 03:32

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I don't know, Wikipedia said the HQ was in Florida so I put it in here. It says George Lucas has one.

djmt1 > wiffleballtony 06/01/2014 at 07:24

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it's an American company but there is an assembly plant in the UK it is a really popular car for race teams here

RotaryLove > djmt1 08/07/2014 at 22:23

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This, I haven't seen one (online!) in years!