![Bugatti Bird-gate Followup: Driver identity revealed <b>[*UPDATE:</b> Now with actual crash video!]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/bugatti-veyron-swim-1258147199_143x85.jpg)
Woodward 2008: Advance Automotive's Heldo
Click the image above for the Advance Automotive's Heldo high res gallery
We've seen everything from Challengers and Camaros to Vespas and Vipers today, but there was only one Heldo. Advanced Automotives' Heldo is a steel tube space frame concept with composite bodywork and a 350-horsepower 32V Cadillac Northstar engine. According to the Advance Automotive website, the rear engine Heldo can reach 60 mph in a mere 4.1 seconds, take 12.2 seconds to hit a quarter mile, and pull north of 1g on the skid pad. We have no way of verifying those lofty performance statistics, but we can tell you that it looks very cool in silver. Some of our favorite features are the gull-wingish doors, crazy thin LED tail lights, and the exposed carbon fiber hood, but the crazy aqua duct side pods may have to go. Will we ever see a production Heldo on public roads? No, but we wouldn't mind if we did. Click on the high resolution gallery below to see the Heldo in all its odd glory.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hakem 7:43PM (8/16/2008)
fugly
Reply
stealth 12:36AM (8/17/2008)
Northstar FTL
RITmusic2k 2:05PM (8/18/2008)
But cartoon chipmunks are usually so cute!
xpolarx 8:16PM (8/16/2008)
You know, I was wondering what an Ultimate Aero would look like if they molded in some Integra headlights, glued a F1 front diffuser to the bumper and beat the piss out of it with an ugly stick. Question answered.
Reply
xplode 12:16PM (8/17/2008)
f1 front diffuser?
MONTE 7:47PM (8/16/2008)
That thing better only cost about $20k tops being so ugly, steel tube frame and using a Northstar instead of a LSX engine.
Reply
Dave 9:12AM (8/17/2008)
Every engine can't always be a Chevy engine.
Cadillacs Northstar actually has a legendary reputation in racing starting with the Oldsmobile Aurora based Northstars in Indy cars. The Northstar was used successfully in Trans Am Lemans type races as well. Its a good light durable engine.
MONTE 12:46PM (8/17/2008)
So does the Gen I small block Chevy, do you want one of those in your brand new car? It is old technology now and has been well surpassed by the Gen III/IV.
why not the LS2LS7? 7:48PM (8/16/2008)
helno
Reply
3seriesisking 8:15PM (8/16/2008)
Hahahaha.....That's more like it.
ugg.tryptophan 7:59PM (8/16/2008)
ewww, get me a boot, i just wanna squish it
Reply
TwinTurboVR4 8:08PM (8/16/2008)
well it better be fast, 'cause it sure doesnt have looks on it's side.
Reply
BoxerFanatic-formerlyMK 9:04PM (8/16/2008)
At least it is original.
Some of the decisions are not ones I would have made, but at least it is different.
So many custom and kit cars are replicas of old, albeit good designs, at least this is something new, and something someone really wants.
There are some things I would not have done, though. Fog lights as headlights, and big pie plate fog lights right at the tarmac where they can get easily shattered and ripped off by road debris, is only a couple. It also looks REALLY cramped.
I do love butterfly doors, though.
Reply
dh 9:12PM (8/16/2008)
Don't think it is 0-60 in 4.1. Earlier this year my family with my 2 year old daughter in her car seat may have raced this car at three successive stop lights in my S63 - each run up to the legal speed limit was identical with Heldo driver even with the passenger door with my daughter waving. I know the Heldo owner and we had fun.
Reply
dh 9:16PM (8/16/2008)
I said may have because we all know racing is frowned upon
Reply
Matt 11:52PM (8/16/2008)
Thank you! I just saw this about an hour ago, and was wondering WTF it was.
Reply
Reader 1:17AM (8/17/2008)
I think it has some interesting design ideas that could be applied in smaller portions and not all at once to other cars... Aside from that, goddamn is that an ugly car.
Reply
RLQ 4:19AM (8/17/2008)
Someone was on LSD.
Reply
LloydChiro 11:57AM (8/17/2008)
I fell in love with this car as soon as I saw the cute bucked teeth.
Reply