A rare 1997 Ascari Ecosse is up for auction at RM Sotheby’s. Based on the mid-engine Ascari FGT Concept that was unveiled at the 1995 British Motor Show, the Ecosse is arguably one of the rarest and least-known supercars from the 1990s. It’s currently listed at a fixed price of €165,000. That converts to around $200,000 based on current exchange rates.

You don’t often see a 1997 Ascari Ecosse out on the streets, so to see one that’s available at RM Sotheby’s is a treat. Only 19 units of the Ecosse were built, and of those 19 models, only two were made in left-hand drive configuration. The model that’s available is one of those two models.

RM Sotheby’s claims that this model, chassis no. SA9FGT1BNVT074008, is in excellent condition. It has had a few upgrades, including changing the original five-speed manual transmission to a six-speed manual. It’s also been repainted in a dark green metallic color.

The interior remains well-appointed, mostly through all the red leather that covers a significant chunk of the interior space. This model is also equipped with air-conditioning to go with a premium audio system. Parts of the dashboard are covered in carbon fiber. It’s a design element that remains relevant and sought-after even in today’s supercars.

This particular Ecosse is still powered by the same Hartge-tuned, BMW-sourced 4.4-liter V-8 engine that Ascari used on several of the 19 Ecosse models it built in the mid-1990s.

The automaker eventually added a 4.7-liter V-8 and a 5.0-liter V-8 to diversify the supercar’s engine lineup, but this model is part of the original batch of Ecosse models that were developed with the 4.4-liter unit. This engine produced 300 horsepower, and it was capable of helping the Ecosse sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just over four seconds before hitting a top speed of 205 mph.

Buying this 1997 Ascari Ecosse also means joining an ownership history that goes all the way back to company founder Klaas Zwart, who kept this car for himself before selling it in 2011. The supercar car was exported to the Netherlands where it has remained until it popped up at the RM Sotheby's auction in its current state.