Two automotive minds have joined forces to form the latest British specialty automotive brand. Afzal Kahn and Ant Anstead have each made some interesting contributions to the automotive world, and together they plan to recreate some of the iconic vehicles of UK history.
Car designer Ant Anstead is founder and managing director of Evanta Motor Company. His work with Evanta has included designing cars inspired by classic British race cars, coupes and roadsters, such as the stunning take on the Le Mans-winning Aston Martin DBR1.
Anstead will continue this style of work with help from Kahn in their new joint venture. Kahn is an automotive fashion designer who offers customized body kits and interiors for a wide range of off-roaders, luxury cars and exotics. At this year's Geneva Motor Show, we got a look at some of the work Kahn has done on the Land Rover Defender (below).
"Together, we are dedicated to continuing and building upon the historical excellence of British vehicle manufacture and the traditions of hand finished coach building are at the heart of the company's ethos," says Anstead.
Indeed, its first three designs will be directly inspired by some of the biggest names in British motoring. These include a take on the classic Land Rover Defender called the "Flying Huntsman," a retro-styled barchetta and a "completely restyled Aston Martin WB12."
The Flying Huntsman Defender will launch sometime this Northern Hemisphere summer, and the barchetta will roll into this year's Goodwood Revival in September. The WB12 car's debut is planned before the end of 2014.
While the body work will be Union Jack, motivation will be all Old Glory. According to Autoblog, the Flying Huntsman and the barchetta will employ GM's 6.2-liter LS3 V8, with respective tunes of 550 hp and 450 hp.
Ant-Kahn will operate from UK-based design and production centers. It plans to combine modern prototyping and manufacturing techniques with the care and attention to detail of classic coach building.
"We are already working on exciting future plans that extend from coach-built special editions to series manufacture of motor vehicles, and you will see a number of models come to fruition in the coming weeks and months," teases Kahn.
Source: Kahn Design, Ant-Kahn
Though with only 1800lbs and 300hp Electric drive it won't quite be stock, just the shape.