Evanta Barchetta: A Modern Revival of 1950s Motorsport Elegance

Retro-Styled Escape - There’s something irresistibly magnetic about the way classic machines whisper stories of the past — the roar of their engines, the glint of their chrome, the unapologetic curves that once defined an era obsessed with speed and elegance. In today’s world of electric silence and digital dashboards, the idea of reviving that timeless spirit feels almost poetic. 

The Evanta Barchetta emerged as a hand-built celebration of 1950s motorsport design, fusing vintage aesthetics with modern precision. (Picture from: SupercarWorld)

That’s exactly what the Evanta Barchetta set out to do — not just to recreate a car, but to resurrect an attitude. Born from Britain’s enduring fascination with craftsmanship and motoring heritage, the Evanta Barchetta emerged as a hand-built celebration of 1950s motorsport design, fusing vintage aesthetics with modern precision.  

The Evanta Barchetta powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine capable of delivering 450 horsepower in its standard form — or an astonishing 780 when supercharged. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

Behind it stood Evanta Motors, a boutique British manufacturer founded by Ant Anstead, whose passion for classic design and mechanical authenticity gave the brand its soul. In collaboration with Kahn Design, a firm renowned for bespoke automotive styling, Evanta developed cars that married elegance with engineering rigor. Anstead, later known for his television work on Wheeler Dealers and For the Love of Cars, built Evanta around the idea of recreating the romance of classic motoring through modern craftsmanship — and the Barchetta became the purest embodiment of that dream. 

The Evanta Barchetta is wrapped within a lightweight Kevlar body, supported by a tubular steel chassis designed for strength and agility. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

Under its elegant skin, the Barchetta is anything but delicate. At its heart lies a 6.2-liter V8 engine capable of delivering 450 horsepower in its standard form — or an astonishing 780 when supercharged. This power is wrapped within a lightweight Kevlar body, supported by a tubular steel chassis designed for strength and agility. The result? A machine that moves with the precision of a scalpel and the soul of a vintage racer. For enthusiasts seeking even more exclusivity, an aluminium-bodied version was offered, pushing the craftsmanship — and the price — to new heights. 

The Evanta Barchetta envelops its driver in a time-capsule of luxury, where quilted leather, hand-stitched details, and subtle analog accents evoke an era when craftsmanship was true art. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

The numbers alone tell part of the story: less than 1000 kilograms of body weight and an available 800 bhp per ton power-to-weight ratio. But beyond the figures lies the philosophy of Evanta’s founder, Ant Anstead — a man driven by the romance of classic cars and the practicality of modern motoring. He envisioned a vehicle that could honor the charisma of the 1950s and 60s, yet spare its drivers the headaches of constant tinkering. “Today’s customer doesn’t want to open the bonnet,” he explained during the Barchetta’s debut at Goodwood Revival. “They want the thrill of the drive — the beauty, the connection — without the compromise.” 

The Evanta Barchetta conceals its modern engineering beneath nostalgic charm, combining adjustable suspension, advanced braking and cooling systems, and a choice of manual or automatic transmission to deliver a driving experience that is both tactile and refined. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

That balance between old and new became the Barchetta’s defining identity. Inside, the cabin feels like stepping into a time capsule wrapped in luxury. Quilted leather, hand-stitched detailing, and minimalist analog touches transport the driver back to an era when craftsmanship was an art form. Hidden beneath that nostalgic charm, however, lies a thoroughly modern setup — from adjustable suspension and bias-adjustable disc brakes to advanced cooling systems and a modern ECU. Whether paired with a manual gearbox for purists or an automatic for smooth cruisers, the Barchetta delivers an experience that’s both tactile and refined. 

The Evanta Barchetta was produced in a deliberately limited run of just 99 hand-built, individually tuned examples. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

Production of the Evanta Barchetta was intentionally limited — only 99 units were ever planned, each one hand-built and individually tuned. This wasn’t a car meant for the masses. It was for those who appreciated the rare blend of performance and artistry, who wanted to feel connected not just to a machine, but to a story — one that began in the golden age of racing and continues to resonate through modern engineering. | r8A7ffSTxRc | e26JU-4eAYs | x3AznJnwwpk |

Looking back now, the Evanta Barchetta feels even more significant than it did upon its 2015 debut. In a decade increasingly defined by electric mobility and autonomous technology, the Barchetta stands as a reminder of motoring’s emotional core. It’s not merely a nod to the past, but a statement that passion and craftsmanship will always have a place in the future of design. Every roar of its V8, every glint of its curved bodywork, and every mile driven becomes a tribute to the timeless pursuit of beauty in motion. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOIS SOURCES | AUTOCAR | MOTORAUTHORITY | SUPERCARWORLD | CLASSICDRIVER | CLASSICMOBILIA | WIKIPEDIA | MARKETRIDERS.IN ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.