One of my friends and I are out to ride Angeles Crest on our motorcycles this morning (FYI, still closed near Wrightwood). We're gassing up at "the" Shell Station at the LA end when I see an Ariel Atom and an unrecognized 3-wheeler pull in (2 wheels in front, motorcycle engine) for gas. I didn't get a chance to say boo to the driver since he's mobbed by everyone hanging out there. He's got CA registered plates and I can see a K20A marking on his engine. This is the RSX-S motor, not on the list for future sales. His double-seat is also the one-piece design.

A while later we pull into the Mt. Wilson Observatory and who is a couple of minutes behind us? Mr. Atom. This time I get to talk to the driver (he's got a passenger too). He asks if we've seen the 3-wheeler since they got separated. Anyway, he says this particular car is about a year old and belongs to a friend of his. They're not wearing helmets and seemingly not driving it hard.

I need new friends! Who let me drive their Atom!

Looks better in person than the photos I've seen. I looked over all the welds and workmanship looks really good to me. The K20A's exhaust was a funky curl with muffler on top.

Later in the day we say a flat-bed tow truck and an ambulance going for a "pick up." Didn't see the wreck but I hope it wasn't him. Bad day out there. Saw a bike down (guy flat on his back, surrounded by help, a bunch of dirt dragged onto the road, bike piled into a hillside, and Forestry Service aid passed us 60 seconds later).

Anyway, real Atom sighting in So Cal! Too cool. Sorry, my camera is in for repairs (ugh!) or I'd have been all over it.

 

Wow, I didn't even know these things were street legal in the US. I mean airbags, offset and side impact crashworthiness etc. are pretty much out the window I expect.

Pics would have been good

 

Doesn't apply if it is purchased as a kit car.

 

Didnt know waht an tome was. Just saw the top gear episode with the supercharged atom. 300HP, 1200lb, 0-60 in 2.9secs. Awesome

 

Exactly. At first I thought they had taken an F20C and stuffed it in there...then they said it was the Civic Type R motor supercharged.

All I have to say is I would drive anything that can out run the Honda CBR 600RR.

 

I was watching topgear too....

That Jeremy Clarkson.... was funny with his face flapping in the wind....

Ariel web

and it has a SC Honda

 

I want the opportunity to say his line, "I am... an Alien!"

 

Did the 3-wheeler look like this?:



That would be a T-Rex

 

No, the three wheeler was much more enclosed with squared-off bare metal panels and a taller tail. Had huge "YAMAHA" letters on the tail. Seemed a lot rougher around the edges than the T-Rex.

 

uhhh... an atom doesn't have 3 wheels , are you sure it wasn't a Campagna T-Rex?