Bugatti vs Man from Wolverhampton

ranjan united · 18th October 2006, 08:39

Are you a big Bugatti Veyron fan? Are you convinced that it is the world's fastest accelerating street legal car? Annoyed of others claiming of faster cars "may" exist but don't show proof? Don't worry. Here to put an end to your misery is a .... Vauxhall !!!!

Ah, but not just any ordinary Vauxhall... its a 1993 Vauxhall Calibra !!!
Oh wait, it is an ordinary Vauxhall.
Not this baby, though.

Its got a twin turbo-charged Chevy 11.5L V8 and a nitrous injection system.
End result as of 2006:
0-60 = 1.0 second
Top Speed = 186 MPH

And now as you slowly lift your lower jaw back up to close you mouth... let it drop again. The entire car was built by Steve Pateman, a transmission repair guy, from Hitchin in Hertfordshire (close to Bedord, though I think he has now moved to Wolverhampton) and he built the car single-handedly in his work-shed, including the nitrous injection system, from scratch. As he becomes more and more famous, a few more people have jumped in to help him maintain and continue development on this mean machine. As of 2007, who knows how fast it will be accelerating. It did the 1/4 mile early this year in a earth-shaking 7.8 seconds and yet, there is scope for more improvement.

Over the years, the car cost Steve close to 100,000 pounds. So this car actually out-accelerates the Veyron and costs a quarter of the price.
And heres the real killer:
Veyron: 4 MPG
Steve's Vauxhall Calibra: 5 MPG !!!

The car is completely street legal, which means it is registered, has a license plate and is insured. Steve's best deal - since his car falls in the 1993 and pre-1993 era, its TAX-EXEMPT !!!

courtesy: Fifth Gear for featuring this car and enlightning me...
and BBC UK and MSN Auto UK for the pictures

P.S. If you liked (or disliked) the article I typed up, leave a reply with comments and suggestions. Your thoughts to a budding car journalist.

adya33 · 18th October 2006, 09:03

Nicely written article ranjan united.

And definitely a great job by Steve Pateman.

It might be fastest car but it won't be quick car around track. That is something I just so very much love about Veyron.
Plus then we get to the reliability part.
Nevertheless a great find.

Gordon · 18th October 2006, 09:15

Impressive work that is.

Its not a production car.
The Bugatti Veyron is claimed as the fastest production car in the world.
Of course, there are other cars that may have faster top speeds, better acceleration figures - but I doubt you'll be able to live with it everyday, drive it around everyday OR most importantly enjoy the luxuries and fame that the Bugatti offers.

Boom Shiva · 18th October 2006, 10:11

Looks like some kind of supertaxi. Brilliant if you're in a hurry eh?

v1p3r · 18th October 2006, 14:38

Old news. Car's floating around elsewhere on the forum.

I don't mean to be a sceptic, but did you actually type all of that out, or cut-paste it? Because it's all miles, and you seem awfully familiar with the local geography of England.

aniguchisan · 18th October 2006, 19:01

Lol @ Viper.

Since when did Veyrons start costing around £400k?

Anyway, informative article, but it's atleast a year old one these forums itself.

naveendhyani · 19th October 2006, 10:18

good to see workshop guys in the west taking big names head on, be it any industry, they are not afraid, surely not like us

v1p3r · 19th October 2006, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by naveendhyani

they are not afraid, surely not like us

What makes you think we are afraid? All our engine-swap dragsters are way quicker than the quickest Indian production cars. It's a start...

naveendhyani · 19th October 2006, 15:04

i was simply pointing out that the developments in the cottage industries in the west is way too high compared to india. did not want to offend nybody or nypractice.

ranjan united · 22nd October 2006, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1p3r

I don't mean to be a sceptic, but did you actually type all of that out, or cut-paste it? Because it's all miles, and you seem awfully familiar with the local geography of England.

Wow!!! That has to be the best compliment anyone has ever given me. So I did convince someone that perhaps the article is the work of a professional.

I personally wrote out the entire article and find it awesome that somebody thought of it as a pro-job. As for England's geography; I have been to England twice every year since 1987 to 2005 (had to stop for studies sake, since I am in University now). When you have to travel that much, its best to know a bit about the place you frequent so much.

Hope to come up with more articles soon...
stay tuned for my F1 season wrap-up article featuring a Schumacher special.

v1p3r · 22nd October 2006, 14:45

My apologies, and my compliments.

ajinkya · 22nd October 2006, 20:24

@ Ranjan United

The Vauxhall Calibra may have better acceleration, but the veyron has a higher top end speed (250+ mph according to howstuffworks.com).

@adya33

If you're talking about going around a track faster, I'm pretty sure a Ferrari Enzo or a McLaren F1 (maybe with a turbo) will beat even the Veyron.

On the whole, I agree with Tiff Needell that the McLaren F1 is the most practical, supercar, with a 6 litre V-12 delivering 627 bhp.

One question: If 550 McLaren F1's were produced, does it count as a production car??? They had an output of 3 cars a month. Does that count as an assembly line??? (or production line???)

ranjan united · 23rd October 2006, 01:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajinkya

One question: If 550 McLaren F1's were produced, does it count as a production car??? They had an output of 3 cars a month. Does that count as an assembly line??? (or production line???)

Only 100 McLarens were ever built, but it was enough to qualfy the F1 for GT (Gran Tourismo) racing championships. Any car that makes it to the GT championship can be defined as a production car, since the rules of GT states that only production cars will qualify and be allowed to enter the GT championship. I believe the current number for a car to qualify is 25 "for sale" models. As for assembly line, even with 100, it qualifies for having an assembly line.

Shan2nu · 26th October 2006, 11:20

Quote:

The Bugatti Veyron is claimed as the fastest production car in the world.

Yup, thats how it is.

I know there are many that are faster than the Veyron but none of them are stock production cars.

And then, the Vaux couldn't turn for nuts and it maxes out at 186mph.

Shan2nu

ajinkya · 29th October 2006, 22:28

According to a Top Gear video I saw of the McLaren F1, 550 engines were ordered from BMW for the F1. That is why I assumed 550 cars were built.
If only 100 were ever made, what happened to the remaining 450 6.1 litre non-turbo V-12's? Any idea?

18th October 2006, 08:39	#1
ranjan united BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Windsor, Canada... But still a Bombay-Boy at heart !!! Posts: 409 Thanked: 3 Times	Bugatti vs Man from Wolverhampton Are you a big Bugatti Veyron fan? Are you convinced that it is the world's fastest accelerating street legal car? Annoyed of others claiming of faster cars "may" exist but don't show proof? Don't worry. Here to put an end to your misery is a .... Vauxhall !!!! Ah, but not just any ordinary Vauxhall... its a 1993 Vauxhall Calibra !!! Oh wait, it is an ordinary Vauxhall. Not this baby, though. Its got a twin turbo-charged Chevy 11.5L V8 and a nitrous injection system. End result as of 2006: 0-60 = 1.0 second Top Speed = 186 MPH And now as you slowly lift your lower jaw back up to close you mouth... let it drop again. The entire car was built by Steve Pateman, a transmission repair guy, from Hitchin in Hertfordshire (close to Bedord, though I think he has now moved to Wolverhampton) and he built the car single-handedly in his work-shed, including the nitrous injection system, from scratch. As he becomes more and more famous, a few more people have jumped in to help him maintain and continue development on this mean machine. As of 2007, who knows how fast it will be accelerating. It did the 1/4 mile early this year in a earth-shaking 7.8 seconds and yet, there is scope for more improvement. Over the years, the car cost Steve close to 100,000 pounds. So this car actually out-accelerates the Veyron and costs a quarter of the price. And heres the real killer: Veyron: 4 MPG Steve's Vauxhall Calibra: 5 MPG !!! The car is completely street legal, which means it is registered, has a license plate and is insured. Steve's best deal - since his car falls in the 1993 and pre-1993 era, its TAX-EXEMPT !!! courtesy: Fifth Gear for featuring this car and enlightning me... and BBC UK and MSN Auto UK for the pictures P.S. If you liked (or disliked) the article I typed up, leave a reply with comments and suggestions. Your thoughts to a budding car journalist.
	() Thanks

18th October 2006, 09:03	#2
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,834 Thanked: 185 Times	Nicely written article ranjan united. And definitely a great job by Steve Pateman. It might be fastest car but it won't be quick car around track. That is something I just so very much love about Veyron. Plus then we get to the reliability part. Nevertheless a great find.
	() Thanks

18th October 2006, 09:15	#3
Gordon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,549 Thanked: 508 Times View My Garage	Impressive work that is. Its not a production car. The Bugatti Veyron is claimed as the fastest production car in the world. Of course, there are other cars that may have faster top speeds, better acceleration figures - but I doubt you'll be able to live with it everyday, drive it around everyday OR most importantly enjoy the luxuries and fame that the Bugatti offers.
	() Thanks

18th October 2006, 10:11	#4
Boom Shiva BANNED Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,044 Thanked: 19 Times	Looks like some kind of supertaxi. Brilliant if you're in a hurry eh?
	() Thanks

18th October 2006, 14:38	#5
v1p3r Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR / DXB / LON Posts: 5,365 Thanked: 7,507 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (7)	Old news. Car's floating around elsewhere on the forum. I don't mean to be a sceptic, but did you actually type all of that out, or cut-paste it? Because it's all miles, and you seem awfully familiar with the local geography of England.
	() Thanks

18th October 2006, 19:01	#6
aniguchisan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 2,022 Thanked: 125 Times View My Garage	Lol @ Viper. Since when did Veyrons start costing around £400k? Anyway, informative article, but it's atleast a year old one these forums itself.
	() Thanks

19th October 2006, 10:18	#7
naveendhyani BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Melbourne Posts: 542 Thanked: 9 Times	good to see workshop guys in the west taking big names head on, be it any industry, they are not afraid, surely not like us
	() Thanks

19th October 2006, 15:04	#9
naveendhyani BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Melbourne Posts: 542 Thanked: 9 Times	i was simply pointing out that the developments in the cottage industries in the west is way too high compared to india. did not want to offend nybody or nypractice.
	() Thanks

22nd October 2006, 14:45	#11
v1p3r Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR / DXB / LON Posts: 5,365 Thanked: 7,507 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (7)	My apologies, and my compliments.
	() Thanks

22nd October 2006, 20:24	#12
ajinkya BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 30 Thanked: Once	@ Ranjan United The Vauxhall Calibra may have better acceleration, but the veyron has a higher top end speed (250+ mph according to howstuffworks.com). @adya33 If you're talking about going around a track faster, I'm pretty sure a Ferrari Enzo or a McLaren F1 (maybe with a turbo) will beat even the Veyron. On the whole, I agree with Tiff Needell that the McLaren F1 is the most practical, supercar, with a 6 litre V-12 delivering 627 bhp. One question: If 550 McLaren F1's were produced, does it count as a production car??? They had an output of 3 cars a month. Does that count as an assembly line??? (or production line???)
	() Thanks

29th October 2006, 22:28	#15
ajinkya BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 30 Thanked: Once	Only 100 McLaren F1's??? According to a Top Gear video I saw of the McLaren F1, 550 engines were ordered from BMW for the F1. That is why I assumed 550 cars were built. If only 100 were ever made, what happened to the remaining 450 6.1 litre non-turbo V-12's? Any idea?
	() Thanks