2007 Ariel Atom 3 Supercharged

A 2007 Ariel Atom 3 in Viola Parsifae, a rare purple-red shade, and one of the more distinctive colours to come out of Ariel's paint options. It carries the supercharged Honda K20 two-litre four, and has been fitted with Ariel's own 3.5 Light Upgrade, carried out by the factory itself, which is the sort of provenance that matters on a car where weight is the whole point.

The Atom's appeal is its stripped-back exposed tubular chassis, with nothing between driver and road beyond a seat and a very short windscreen. This example has the Ariel windscreen, a factory extra originally priced at around £1,000, which takes the edge off wind blast without compromising the car's raw character. Covered in 18,000 miles from new, it is a 57-plate car that has seen use but not abuse, and it is described as carefully maintained.

Only two seats, no roof and no driver aids to speak of: the Atom 3 remains one of the most intense road-legal experiences available at this price. Offered at £31,990 from VVS UK in Kent.