To the casual onlooker, Shelby Super Cars (SSC) initially appeared to be no more than the latest in a long line of cottage (garage?) supercar ventures, and apparently exhibited a number of attributes typical of them: self made millionaire boss who reckons he can take on the established players? Check. Outrageous, er.., I mean optimistic claims, usually related to sales, power output, or in this case, top speed? Check. Finished article (if it gets that far...) has the faint whiff of homebuilt special / kitcar? Check.
Jerod Shelby (no relation) made his money in medical equipment, which made parallels with Arash (whose fortune was made in pharmaceuticals) almost irresistible. However, whilst the world's still waiting for the AF-10, not only have a number of SSC Ultimate Aero's been sold, in 2007 he did set a new record for world's fastest production car: 256mph (on a public road no less...)
This last is testament to the quality of engineering that had gone into the car, largely executed by Shelby himself. Unfortunately for him - and the credibility of SSC - the standard of engineering is not matched by that of the interior and exterior design.
I don't condone plagiarism, but mimicry a key part of the learning process, and it's clear that the Lamborghini Diablo was a key influence on the Ultimate Aero. It's also the reason why it displays another attribute common in low volume cars – it looks a little bit dated. Commonly operating in isolation, the design is more likely to be informed by production items contemporary during the design process, so by the time it actually reaches market it's a little dated. Designers working in the mainstream industry are not only more aware of, and contributing to, to emerging trends their job description by definition means they're designing for 12, 24 sometimes more months into the future.
Aesthetic considerations tend to get short shrift from engineers (indeed, Mr Shelby has admitted that looks weren't a priority first time around). Here again, Shelby differs from many who've gone before him by not only identifying and acknowledging this weakness, but getting professional help in...
...In the shape of Jason Castriota. Doubtless a perfectly nice chap, but to be honest I find a lot of his stuff overrated. He's designer of record for the Pininfarina P4/5, Bertone Mantide, neo Maserati Birdcage and Rolls-Royce Hyperion. I would honestly rather have the donor / namesake in all cases, really – especially in the Mantides'.
But the new SSC concept?..... in a word: WOW
This is what the future used to look like and of the moment - at the same time: part Angel Interceptor, part post-apocalytic, manga Lambo - shown off to perfection in white with the black glasshouse. At a stroke, the Reventon and Sesto Elemento seem to be trying just a little too hard which, as anyone knows, just isn't cool.
It's also one those few occasions where the importance of exterior design can be examined. Though it will have a new chassis, the wheelbase and basic dimensions will be carried over, as well as the transmission, suspension, brakes, engine block – even the doors; but the difference is night and day.
As well as owing a particular debt to the Diablo, the original obeyed a number of the supercar design clichés rules that Castriota has dispensed with. Whilst Lotus & Ferrari show that there's mileage yet in the bullseye taillight, unless they're bespoke or used in interesting way, they scream 'kitcar' (in a pejorative sense). Along with round taillights, flying buttresses have become a sportscar staple. Similarly, the original was liberally peppered with inlets and vents, many of whose purpose could only be guessed at, all of these needs have been met with a streamlined (in all senses) set of dramatic features. The glasshouse is an evolution of that seen on the P4/5 (is it just me or are there echoes of a '72 Riviera there too?)
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