Ariel Nomad
I think what we love most about the Ariel Nomad is not its mad appearance, certifiable performance (in supercharged form) or backto-basics approach to absolutely everything, it is that it’s a car no normal car company would ever have created. Imagine the pitch: a totally impractical car that will never set a decent lap time and whose off-road performance is entirely compromised because it drives its rear wheels alone. Where’s the fun in that?
Everywhere, as it turns out. Even in its least entertaining environment – the public road – the Nomad is one relentless hoot to drive. On a track, you’ll be too busy going sideways to worry about the fact you’re not quite the quickest thing out there while on the loose. Well, here it is out on its own. Literally. There is nothing road legal you can buy from a recognised car manufacturer that can perform like this. There may not be many places in the UK where you can legally and easily drive the Nomad in the environment it was designed for, but they do exist and people happily travel across Europe to do track days at which they won’t have half the fun you’ll be having in the Nomad.
Which is all very good, but its value would still be limited if the car was less than entirely robust and suited to the spectacularly hostile environment in which it begs to be driven. But we know from our own experience that a properly maintained Nomad is pretty much the funniest thing on wheels, but just about unbustable too. Which is why they also cling to values better than any other new car save limitededition supercars.
So not only is it a car you can buy for less than 50 grand, it’s one you can enjoy for years, and so long as it’s maintained properly, when you come to sell, you should get almost all your money back too.
The Nomad is pretty much the funniest thing on wheels, but just about unbustable too