A V8-powered Ariel Atom is up for grabs in the US, months before the official factory version goes on sale. Ariel is planning to build just 25 examples of its 500bhp Ariel Atom 500 (of which 20 have already been sold) at an eye-watering price of between £110k and £120k apiece.
Oregon-based Palatov Motorsport has just one V8 Atom, but you could be the proud owner of it for $65,000 (£43k).
The Palatov Atom uses the same Hartley H1 V8 as the Ariel Atom 500 will get, but with a displacement of 2.8 litres rather than 3.0 litres, and without the extensive internal modifications that Ariel makes to its engines. There's also the small matter of 100bhp or so - the 'factory' V8 makes 500bhp, while the Palatov car can muster 'just' 396bhp.
Still, if you can't wait for the 500bhp version, can't stretch to that lofty price tag, or are merely impatient, the Palatov Atom V8 could be a fine option.
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=21871