Once you’ve seen an Ascari

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📍 ‘Once you’ve seen an Ascari Cars whizz past, it’s hard to forget — not least because there aren’t many to forget.’
 
Founded in Oxfordshire in 1995, the boutique supercar maker went bankrupt in 2010, but its cars and legacy still resonate with anyone who values low-volume ambition and high-revving engines.
 
From the mid-engine Ecosse to the belting KZ1 and its A10 evolution.
 
Ascari delivered exotic rarity over flash longevity — and left behind a private racetrack in Spain that still bears its name.
 

◼︎ Origins: Founded in 1995 by Dutch racing driver/businessman Klaas Zwart in Banbury, England, Ascari Cars was named in homage to double F1 World Champion Alberto Ascari.

◼︎ First steps:

The journey began with the Ascari Ecosse (1998), a rare mid-engined sports car with BMW V8 power, blending continental flair with British craft. Only around a couple of dozen were built.

◼︎ The mid-oughts flagship:

The Ascari KZ1 debuted in 2005 — a BMW-derived V8, a bespoke chassis, 340 hours of handcrafting, and a £235k price tag. Just 50 were made before production ceased.

◼︎ A10 & track lore:

The KZ1’s evolution, the A10, was brief but blistering, even clipping a Top Gear lap leaderboard back in the day.

◼︎ Race resort legacy:

Even as the company folded in 2010, the Circuito Ascari lives on near Ronda, a private playground that once hosted exotic launches and privateer testing.

♔ Why it matters
 
Ascari never sold in the tens of thousands — but in the world of bespoke sports cars, legacy isn’t measured in volume.
 
📍 ‘It’s in reverence: craft, rarity, a howl from a V8 you only hear in dreams, and an imprint so distinctive that even a defunct brand still gets hearts racing.’