American "Exotics"

[Tanarg]

Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Pagini, Maclaren, Lotus, Morgan, Caterham, Ariel, Noble (and of course Audi ) plus loads more are all European. Why don't the USA, who are after all the biggest petrolheads of the planet, produce more ? You'd think there would be all sorts, am I missing something? Do they exist but we just don't see them over here?

[ianerrid]

An oxymoron surely ;-)

Seriously, those quoted (apart from Maclaren which will soon be extinct if it continues to chop off it's patrons fingers) are part of an automotive natural selection from very small beginnings. The US guys have a much harder job due to excessive regulation. I suspect soon we will be in the same boat though as EU regs gradually choke the life out of the automotive entrepreneurs...

[Tanarg]

I guess the regs are tough out there (they are here too, ever tried getting a kit through an SVA test?) but then cars like the Viper and Prowler get through OK????
Penske, now there's a likely candidate for a road car....
I was prompted into this question on seeing pics of the fantastic looking Heffner turbo system

Andy M

[ianerrid]

Re Viper and Prowler, you make my point as these came out of (ex)mega corporations didn't they?

[Tanarg]

Agreed, but they're not really what I'd call exotic in the "exquisite" sense i.e. Zonda, Koenigsegg Maclaren type thing. From what I can see the biggest problem seems to be meeting the US emissions rules. However, there's plenty of good powerplants that meet these requirements, why are there then not more small US companies slotting these engines into wonderful exotic chassis/body combinations?

[randombloke]

dunno, the ssc ultimate aero is a us contender surely?

http://www.shelbysupercars.com/ultimate-aero.php

[smoothy]

Maybe its a mindset issue: for much of North America, cars are mandatory, there just isn't the public transit (either local or long distance) so many view cars as a utility item rather than a collectable. There are some US supercar makers (eg. Saleen S7) but I think most of the smaller companies get squished by the big 3, not that they are direct competitors but just on general principle.

[London Lad]

dunno, the ssc ultimate aero is a us contender surely?

http://www.shelbysupercars.com/ultimate-aero.php

Looks amazing, I'll have to get two!

[ianerrid]

Graham, stop it or you'll spawn another 23 page thread!! ;-)

[London Lad]

Sorry .......