The Heldo small custom sportscars never been made into production

Compact SPORTS - We just got an old concept car that has a quite unique shape when traveling in cyberspace. We felt like we had never seen it before, and according to the information we got, that it was Heldo, short for 'Heldorado'. Strangely enough, isn't? It sounds like Eldorado.

The AAT Heldorado is a prototype compact-sized (in pictured coupe style) built for design studies around a Cadillac Northstar done  by Advanced Automotive Technologies (AAT). (Picture from: ConceptCarz)

As we can see it is a prototype compact-sized sportscar built for design studies around a Cadillac Northstar powertrain called Heldo or Heldorado by Advanced Automotive Technologies (AAT), an American design and specialist prototype company back in 2000. This company based in Rochester Hills, Michigan founded by Steve Pasteiner (a former Buick and Chevrolet designer) after he left the GM in 1989, nowaday seems to be inactive.

The AAT Heldorado (in pictured coupe style) has a carbon composite bodywork built based on steel-tube space frame. (Picture from: AdvancedAutomotiveTechnologies)

The carbon composite bodywork of the 2,200 lbs (997.903 kg) sportscar is built on steel-tube space frame, as the result finished vehicle has the size approximately similar to the MINI 3-Doors model (with 3,876 mm long, 1,727 mm wide, 1,414 mm high and a wheelbase of 2,495 mm), that's a fairly small overall package of sportscar.

The AAT Heldorado has the size approximately similar to the MINI 3-Doors model (with 3,876 mm long, 1,727 mm wide, 1,414 mm high and a wheelbase of 2,495 mm), that's a fairly small overall package of sportscar. (Picture from: MotorAuthority)

No wonder when it showcased at the Woodward Dream Cruise 2008 event, along with many of small custom sportscars out there, the AAT Heldo sportscar has drawn a lot of attention as an example of some of the quirky and occasionally bizarre results of those companies' machinations.

Only two cars were ever created by Advanced Automotive Technologies (AAT), one coupe and other was roadster such in the picture. (Picture from: MotorAuthority)

Then the compact-sized sportscar prototype was powered by a transverse, rear mid-mounted Cadillac Northstar Polaris 4,565 cc DOHC V8 engine offering 350 horsepower, so that it can accelerate from rest to 100 kph in just 4.2 seconds and reach a distance of approximately a quarter mile (0.402 km) in 12.2 seconds. That's a pretty impressive number for a compact-sized sportscar.

Inside the cabin, there's race-style seats with harnesses, a tall centrally-mounted tachometer, very closely-spaced pedals, Momo steering wheel and an otherwise spartan cockpit combine to give a distinct race-oriented car. (Picture from: MotorAuthority)

Only two cars were ever created, one coupe and other was roadster. The coupe is still on the road today known belong to its creator, Steve Pasteiner, but the convertible/roadster was never fully commissioned. 

The AAT Heldorado (in pictured roadster style) is powered by a transverse, rear mid-mounted Cadillac Northstar Polaris 4,565 cc DOHC V8 engine offering 350 horsepower. (Picture from: MotorAuthority)

The compact-sized sportscar sharing similar styling to the 1990s German sports car the Lotec C1000, which was a one-off supercar created in 1995 for an oil sheikh in the UAE by Lotec. And in particular the appearance of this car at first glance reminds us of the design proposal for the Bugatti EB110 submitted by Paulo Martin to Bugatti back in 1989. As You can see the pull of the design line on the side to bring up the hanging spoiler shapes at rear looks similar to the one on the Heldo.

The AAT Heldorado compact-sized sportscar (in pictured roadster style) sharing similar styling to the 1990s German sportscar the Lotec C1000. (Picture from: MotorAuthority)

Meanwhile inside its cabin, there's race-style seats with harnesses, a tall centrally-mounted tachometer, very closely-spaced pedals, Momo steering wheel and an otherwise spartan cockpit combine to give a distinct race-oriented car. Unfortunetely, there's no word about production or price tags, therefore the AAT Heldo stopped at this point only a concept.

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In the end, the AAT Heldo or Heldorado stands as a testament to the creativity and ambition of its makers, even if its time in the spotlight was brief. As rare as it is today, it continues to intrigue automotive enthusiasts who appreciate its daring design, innovative features, and the story of how it tried to carve its place in the history of compact sports cars. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ADVANCED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES | CONCEPTCARZ | MOTORAUTHORITY | CLASSICANDRECREATIONSPORTSCARS | CARTEFACTS ]

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