Evanta Barchetta

Posted on February 15, 2017 by classiccarweekly

2015 Evanta Barchetta

Offered by Silverstone Auctions | Stoneleigh Park, U.K. | February 25, 2017

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

The Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato is one of the all-time great automotive designs. But it isn’t one that has ever really been produced in replica form. The Evanta Motor Company of Hertfordshire never really built replicas of it either. Instead, they built a car that took the Aston’s classic looks and updated them for the 21st century.

And what a splendid job they did. Other Evantas resembled other Astons, but all the cars were “original” designs. Founded in 2008, Evanta put cars on the market shortly thereafter and in 2013 they presented the “Barchetta” – an open top roadster that incorporates the DB4GT’s overall aesthetic as well as its “Double Bubble” roof in the form of the twin headrests behind the cockpit.

The engine is a 6.2-liter V-8 from Chrysler that makes 470 horsepower. The one piece body shell is made of fiberglass and Kevlar and is incredibly light. This car sports just five miles since completion. Production was supposed to be limited to 49 examples but Silverstone Auctions points out that Evanta is in administration and is essentially being liquidated. The company’s owner, Ant Anstead, will warranty this new example through his new company. It will sell at no reserve. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $47,560.

McLaren P1

Posted on January 6, 2016 by classiccarweekly

2015 McLaren P1

Offered by Bonhams | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 28, 2016

Photo – Bonhams

The McLaren F1 has a legendary status in the automobile world. It was so good that McLaren took about 10 years off from road car production before returning with the “mid-market” (in supercar terms) MP4-12C. Then they tried to top themselves with this, the P1 – one of the most advanced cars ever built.

It’s a hybrid supercar. It uses a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 and an electric motor for a combined output of 903 horsepower. Just about everything you see is carbon fiber, so it weighs nothing. The sprint to 60 mph takes only 2.7 seconds and the top speed is 217 mph. Active aerodynamics keep it suckered to the ground.

The car went into production in October of 2013 for the 2014 model year and the last one was built in December 2015. Only 375 were made and this was #371 – the last U.S. market car produced. Sold new to a Florida collector via Chicago, this is an easy way to pick up one of these rare machines while they are still new and available. Supercars are often bought when they first come out, used and they quickly resold where they will sit in collections for years or decades. Get ’em while they’re hot. The price should be between $1,900,000-$2,200,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $2,090,000.

Porsche 918 Spyder

Posted on December 21, 2015 by classiccarweekly

2015 Porsche 918 Spyder

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Phoenix, Arizona | January 28-29, 2016

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

Supercars are changing. With a shift to environmentally-friendly cars and ever-tightening emission regulations, automakers are having to adapt. To build wild, desirable cars, they’re having to go hybrid. But it’s not all bad, as an electric motor adds power.

In this case, there is a 4.6-liter V-8 engine making 608 horsepower mounted behind the driver. Additionally, there are two electric motors – one of them (that makes 154 horsepower) drives the rear wheels in conjunction with the gas engine and 7-speed transmission. The other electric motor drives the front wheels directly with another 125 horsepower. That is a total of 887 horsepower. Not too shabby.

The 918 Spyder launched for the 2014 model year and 918 units were built through June of 2015. This car has a lot of options, including the insanely-priced $80,000 Weissach package that adds a lot of carbon fiber in place of other trim, reducing the car’s weight by 99 pounds. That’s almost $809 per pound. If Colin Chapman worked off of that pricing scheme, he would’ve been the richest person alive.

This 1,500 mile example is an instant classic. It will always be collectible and they aren’t impossible to come by right now. But that won’t always be the case. Get it while you can. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale. (Also, Barrett-Jackson has an identical car for auction across town).

Update: Sold $1,595,000.