Only eight of these supercars were ever made and a guy found one in most unlikely barn find
- Sam of ‘Hard Up Garage’ finally got his hands on a supercar
- The abandoned vehicle sat idle for 13 years
- Now he plans to reunite Ultima Sports with the OG owner’s son
Published on Sep 17, 2024 at 4:27 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Sep 17, 2024 at 9:22 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Most of us dream of owning a supercar, and Sam Hard – from Hard Up Garage – is no different, but even he probably never expected to acquire one from a barn find.
The abandoned vehicle has sat idle for 13 years.
However, this isn’t any old supercar.
The Ultima Sports is one of only eight in the world – and its yellow finish makes it even more rare.
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The supercar barn find
Fans of HardUp Garage will know all about Sam’s lifelong dream of owning a supercar.
After several kit cars and replicas, he finally managed to get his hands on an abandoned supercar that was untouched for 13 years.
Sam discovers the car in a neglected state and, despite originally mistaking it for a kit car, its real carbon fiber components help him realize that it’s a genuine supercar – the Ultima Sports.
After verifying the car’s VIN number, Sam confirms it’s in good shape financially and structurally and has been off the road for 13 years.
However, rather than keeping it for himself, he’s hoping for a heartwarming reunion with the original owner’s son before Christmas.
Speaking of reunions, this man managed to track down his granddad’s lost Lamborghini Countach and got emotional recounting the story.
Meanwhile, this 85-year-old driver tracked down his old 1967 Chevrolet Camaro after 40 years and things got emotional.
Last, but not least, this dad who sold his beloved Chevy Impala 20 years ago to make ends meet receives the surprise of his life.
The Ultima Sports
This Ultima Sports (not its better-known successor, the Ultima GTR, as initially thought) is a rare and high-performance vehicle – and not what you’d expect from a barn find.
It was produced between the years of 1992-2000.
While it’s no longer in production – luckily for Sam – spare parts are still available.
The Ultima Sports can trace its roots back to the original Ultima Mk3 of 1989.
Per the website: “The Sports took what was previously a track-focused race car and completely redeveloped it.
“The result was a car that was far easier to assemble, benefitted from vastly improved fit and finish, and was redesigned under the skin to create a machine that, while still hugely effective on track, could now be used with ease on the road. It was the start of the Ultima story as we know it.”
Only eight were ever made – some of these came with a V6 and some with a Chevrolet 5.7 liter V8 355HP 405lb-ft of torque.
However, it’s thought that there are only two in the UK – and no yellow examples like this one are actually recorded.
Sam plans to restore its engine, brakes, and aesthetics while keeping it true to its supercar origins.
The extensive cleaning and mechanical work required includes replacing brakes, fluids, and other parts.
He estimates the car’s value at around $60-95,000 (£50,000 to £80,000).
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
