If you liked the look of Aston Martin's DB4 GT Zagato Continuation – a reborn version of the 1960s model built to race against the might of Ferrari – when it was unveiled in June, then you were in for a shock. Not only are a mere 19 available (as per the number in the original run), but they can only be bought as part of a pair – £6 million for the duo plus local taxes.
The Aston Martin DBZ Centenary Collection is designed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the famed Italian coachbuilding company Zagato and a partnership between the two firms that reaches back nearly 60 years. The British luxury car maker chose the Audrain's Newport Concours in Rhode Island, in America, in October to reveal the second element of the pairing – the Continuation's modern twin, the DBS GT Zagato.
Together the DBS+DB4 represent the most valuable new sports cars yet built by Aston Martin.
ASTON MARTIN DBS GT ZAGATO
The modern car is powered by a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine, capable of delivering 760bhp and high performance for the occasion. But it stands out above all for the finishes and style choices that hint of the DB4 in more ways than one. The level of care dedicated to the DBS is apparent in details such as the special 3D-printed pattern on the front mask on the grille and the Zagato logos on the seats. Meanwhile some finishes, such as the Aston Martin badges on the body, are made in solid 18-carat gold. The exquisite 20-inch five-spoke wheels fit specific Pirelli P Zero tyres.
ASTON MARTIN DB4 GT ZAGATO CONTINUATION
The DBS's vintage-style soulmate, on the other hand, precisely replicates the DB4 of the 1960s, when Zagato successfully managed to create a lighter all-new body. The original car is highly sought after by collectors and the last time one went up for auction it reached in excess of £10 million. The engine under the bonnet of the Continuation is a 4.7-litre six-cylinder delivering over 380hp and is paired with a four-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive. In the driver's seat, the long gear lever, wooden steering wheel, dial instruments and chrome-plated accents evoke a bygone era, while two carbon-fibre monocoque seats bring us back to the present day.
Between them, the two cars deliver on Aston Martin's promise to “pay tribute to an icon of the past and create a classic of the future”, and provide a powerful way to mark Zagato's centenary.
