Almost 80 years ago, the Spitfire fighter protected England, and freedom, in the air. Today, a new legend will protect you from automotive boredom on the ground, providing the unique freedom of a world-class sports car.
A finely crafted tribute to the Cobra, created by automotive great Carroll Shelby in the early 1960s, this Spitfire is the first of a series of limited-edition high-performance sports cars produced by Ogden, Utah-based Ornata Motors.
“Ornata” is Latin for “beautiful,” explains its founder, Alan E. Hall. “As a company, we build the most elegant and perfectly made custom classic sports cars with contemporary automotive parts and glorious interiors,” he says, noting that the Alan and Jeanne Hall Foundation will contribute the profits from Spitfire sales to charities that serve the needy.
In the Valley of the Sun, these unique cars can be seen and ordered at Canyon State Classics, 329 South Rockford Drive, #105, near Rio Salado Drive in the Tempe Marketplace neighborhood –– just minutes from most of the January car auctions.
Following his Le Mans-winning performance in 1959, Shelby transformed the race and road world by combining the lightness and sinuous design of the British AC roadster with American Ford 260-, 289- and, finally 427-cid V-8s. The car was instantly famous.
Specifically based on the 1965 Cobra, the Spitfire follows this tradition of innovation, combining the legacy of a classic muscle-era sports car with the advancements in automotive technology during the last 50 years. The result is a motoring experience missing even from the best of today’s sports cars, says Jon Morley, the owner and president of Canyon State Classics
As an owner, you select the powertrain, such as a computer-controlled fuel injected Coyote 5.0-liter, the interior and technology for your Spitfire. Choose small-block or big-block power, pick the suspension, transmission, including the convenience of a multi-speed automatic, as well as custom tires, shocks and wheels. Incorporate amenities such as GPS and Bluetooth, safety features such as back-up and side-view cameras and the color combinations. And, your dream car is delivered in just 120 days.
“Every Ornata Spitfire is built to your exact specifications, from drive train, to transmission, to brake setup, to interior and exterior colors and stitching designs,” Morley explains. “We are also going to be offering air-conditioning, which would be a first for a roadster of this size.”
Educated at Arizona State University with a degree in Management and Marketing from the WP Carey School of Business, Morley began Canyon State Classics in 2007 to offer the finest examples of well-documented vintage and collectible vehicles, from ’60s-era icons such as Cadillac Deville and Lincoln Continentals through European masterpieces such as the Porsche 911 and Mercedes SL series to the new Spitfire.
Morley has the most recently crafted Spitfire, with the Coyote 5.0-liter engine and Ford automatic transmission, at the Tempe showroom available for demonstration. “We prefer that our customers build their cars to their specifications, but if you don’t want to wait even a short 120 days, three other Spitfires have been completed and can be purchased, the first just under $99,000 and the other higher-optioned ones priced in the low 100s,” he says. “Whatever your choice, I look forward to meeting you and establishing a prosperous business relationship.”
For more information on the Spitfire, see ornatamotors.com. For Canyon State Classics, visit canyonstateclassics.com, call 480.703.2337 or email azclassics1@gmail.com.
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