RE: Tell Me I'm Wrong: Aston Martin V8 Zagato

[rohrl]

Zagato seem to have a lot more misses than hits in my eyes, many more than Pinifarina anyway. I wouldn't describe this car as one of their better efforts; it's too bitty, not well enough resolved as a whole.

[LongLiveTazio]

The problem is that you never look at a car like these 'stanced' photos show it, hence it looks proportionally strange through a lens. I totally agree that it is a lot more lithe and forward-looking in real life. By the end of the production run the V8 Vantage was full of unnatural lips and curves and bulges and wasn't at all cohesive to these eyes. Then again I also like the Towns Lagonda...

As an aside, was this not the issue where Car said that the F40 wasn't very good?

[Davey S2]

Am I glad it exists? Yes.

Do I want one? No

[VCat]

My favourite Aston.

[LotusOmega375D]

That's not a bonnet bulge!

Does anyone remember the original red press car? Now THAT one had a bonnet mountain!

Edited by LotusOmega375D on Wednesday 16th January 12:28

[Krikkit]

Ali2202 said:

It's an icon! Like the Espada, a total marmite car. I love it and meh to how it drives.

That bit about you not talking for weeks Chris......... ....

Me too! Love this, the Espada and the SZ - all interesting designs to my eye.

[Lowtimer]

I love it, and providing the example on sale at £135K is in good order, I think it's a conspicuous bargain in today's market. I am not a great fan of Zagato's later works but always thought this one was a fine effort, much as I love the standard William Towns DBS shape, and its derivatives.

That said, I think an early DBS V8, with the four headlamp front and chrome grille, would be my personal favourite of all the cars on this platform.

[havoc]

Nope - ruination of a classic design, if you ask me. Typical 80s abomination that even 25 years of perspective can't soften.

Oh - and I rather like the SZ.

[Rollcage]

Didn't Rowan Atkinson have one of these? Wonder if he still has it?

[Chicane-UK]

Absolutely horrendous. I would be ashamed to own one.

[Paperboy]

My dad has one, it goes about as well as it looks, 'orrible.

[George29]

Lunablack said:

Has to be one of the worst looking Astons ever... Nothing about that shape makes me want to own one...

Rollcage said:

Didn't Rowan Atkinson have one of these? Wonder if he still has it?

Yes and he used to race it I think. Fairly sure it's for sale at the moment too, for something ridiculous like £300k.

[365daytonafan]

Rollcage said:

Didn't Rowan Atkinson have one of these? Wonder if he still has it?

He may have owned more than one. His blue one in the Car test v the 288 that Chris referred too and also appeared in a movie he was in. In the nineties he raced a red one in AMOC events (and crashed it IIRC). Have no idea if this was a different car to the blue one or just resprayed?

As to the article, Chris is spot on here, considering current 288GTO and F40 values the Vantage Zagato is a bit of a bargain at the moment.

Edit the Rowan Atkinson red car is for sale http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C114672

[Chicane-UK]

365daytonafan said:

As to the article, Chris is spot on here, considering current 288GTO and F40 values the Vantage Zagato is a bit of a bargain at the moment.

The difference is that the 288GTO and the F40 look amazing - this Zagato is as ugly as sin.

[williamp]

I believe he has owned two. The blue one, which was used in the fil "The tall guy" with jeff Goldbloom, and a red one which was fettled at the factory and sold at auction a while back

[LongLiveTazio]

Chicane-UK said:

The difference is that the 288GTO and the F40 look amazing - this Zagato is as ugly as sin.

But once upon a time you could buy a 288 GTO for less than a new optioned 575...

[markCSC]

I too have an irrational love of these

I remember reading an article (in EVO I think) where the then new CEO Dr Ulrich Bez was asked to drive some classic Astons. He hated the standard V8 but loved the Zagato as it was a much better drive.

[365daytonafan]

Chicane-UK said:

365daytonafan said:

As to the article, Chris is spot on here, considering current 288GTO and F40 values the Vantage Zagato is a bit of a bargain at the moment.

The difference is that the 288GTO and the F40 look amazing - this Zagato is as ugly as sin.

True but drive a 288GTO as stunning as at is the man in the street might think you're in a 308. The Zagato is not going be mistaken for anything else. It's also much rarer than either car.

[legalknievel]

Personally my favourite was with the gullwing and rocket launcher conversion.

[IDrinkPetrol]

Bit on the fence with these, neither love nor hate. It does, however, make me look at 928s again and think...
And an early one of them fits my "no cars younger than yourself" rule quite neatly.