SORRY NOW SOLD – SIMILAR WANTED
A stunning and the last Ascari Ecosse Supercar made with perfect provenance.
MODEL HISTORY
Ascari Cars Ltd was incorporated on the 2 December 1994 and founded by wealthy Dutch businessman and racing driver, Mr Klaas Johannes Zwart. His fortune was made in the oil industry where he founded Petroline in 1980 and on selling the company to Weatherford in 1993 he indulged his passion of building racing cars to compete in. The company was named after Alberto Ascari (1918–1955), the first double winner of the World Championship of Drivers and was initially based in Blandford Forum, Dorset before relocating to Banbury, Oxfordshire. Such was Zwarts ambition to be the best, he employed leading experts in the industry including Lee Antony Noble, car designer, engineer and founder of Noble Automotive Ltd. With the cost of producing such automotive driving perfection reputedly far exceeding the selling price, only 17 Ecosse cars were produced. Many believe Mr Zwarts motive was more an automotive indulgence which even included building his own racetrack, the Ascari Race Resort in Spain, as playground for the ultra-rich to take their Ascari super/hypercar around a bespoke track which mimicked some of the most famous racetracks around the world!
EQUIPMENT
Ultra lightweight composite body, steel-tune spaceframe chassis, double unequal length tubular wishbones, anti-roll bars, front and rear co-axial spring/damper units, variable power steering, alloy spherical shift-knob, alloy handbrake lever, floor mounted Tilton racing pedalbox, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, air conditioning, electric windows, electric mirrors, 12v power outlet, hazard lights, fire extinguisher, Kenwood radio/CD, 6-disc changer, remote central locking, Thatcham Cat1 immobiliser and alarm, NavTrak system. Factory Options; Multi-spoke two piece alloy wheels, multi-coloured leather.
EXTERIOR
The design and ingenuity from the pen of a prolific designer Lee Noble, the Ascari Ecosse was a pioneering 200mph supercar. The beautiful composite body finished in cost optional Burgundy Red metallic sits atop a steel-tube spaceframe weighing just 1250kg. The slippery lines flow from nose to the tail with necessary scoops and a purposeful wing creating downforce at the rear and just 0.31Cd. A few minor stone chips to the front do not detract from the factory original colour. This is a hand built rare UK supercar that was hailed as a cut-price McLaren when new, allure and exclusivity is guaranteed!
INTERIOR
A road-legal racing car with added luxury. You immediately feel part of the car, perfectly encapsulated in a forward, low mounted driving position safeguarded in a full FIA-specification roll-cage hidden in the A-pillar trims and from the Ascari FGT parentage. Recaro seats are supportive finished in optional upgraded multi-coloured Grey leather. The drivers bolster has minor wear but all other trim is perfect including the perforated alcantara headlining, leather stitched console and thick pile Grey carpeting protected by Ascari over mats. All white-on-black Ascari logo dials function as do all switches and controls with ice cold air conditioning thanks to a recent regas. Top quality engineering throughout, the connectors in the wiring loom for example are straight from the aviation industry. Special.
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Pumping life into the Ecosse is an all-aluminium, quad-cam BMW V8 engine. This example was commissioned by Hartge, the highly respected German tuning company. The first thing they did was bore and stroke it, increasing capacity to 5 litres, then developed new camshaft profiles with higher lift and longer duration. The development of a new computerised management system to optimise power and efficiency results in an awesome 400bhp and 520Nm at 3500rpm. This will propel the car from 0-60mph in 4.1 sec and a top speed breaking 200mph while emitting a glorious sound through the hand-made ceramic-coated exhaust system. All this power is delivered to the rear wheels via a 5-speed ZF dog leg gearbox.
WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
Immaculate and cost optional multi-spoke two piece alloy wheels are shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 225/40 ZR18 upfront and 275/35 ZR18 to the rear with mases of tread. Immensely powerful six-piston AP Racing calipers cling to massive grooved ventilated discs upfront with PBR-calipered vented discs to the rear.
HISTORY FILE
What an incredible history file. This example is the last ever Ecosse and the very last Ascari to be built at Blandford Forum in 2004 before production of the Ascari KZ1 at the new facility in Banbury, now home to the Haas F1 Team. Registered new by Ascari Cars Ltd on the 25th June 2004, the car was subsequently sold to Tom Moriaty in October 2004 before the second private collector, Mr Black purchased the car in August 2018. Comprehensive records exist with history directly with Ascari Cars before being placed in storage in 2011 with the London Car Storage Company. With a busy social calendar in the entertainment world and storage charges amounting to thousands, Mr Moriaty sold the car and Mr Black has pampered this exclusive machine ever since. Both purchase invoices are included for these transactions. On acquiring the car, Mr Black paid £14,492 recommissioning the vehicle with the invoice to prove and subsequently tracked down the Engineer responsible for working on the Ecosse when new asking him to meticulously check everything from front to back. Again, invoices and all works carried out are contained in the history file for this. With over 3,000 trouble free miles Mr Black now wants to experience a Tesla Roadster and has sold this rare supercar in preparation for the new arrival.
Absolutely all literature, brochures, road test reports and even exclusive Ascari Ecosse Owners invitations are included with both sets of keys and remotes.
HPI Clear.