Epic Aston DBZ Centenary Collection for sale
Just 19 pairs of DBS and DB4 were made by Aston Martin - here's a very rare chance to acquire one
Those with good memories might remember an incredible collection of Aston Martins being sold by Nicholas Mee on PH. Back in 2021 it offered up a trio of DB5s - a Silver Birch Vantage, a Caribbean Blue Pearl Volante and a stunning Shooting Brake - for £4m. What an addition to any collection they would have made. Now it’s at it again, the Aston specialist listing for sale a DBZ Centenary Collection. For a little less than the DB5s, too.
A quick refresher of the DBZ duo, because five years is a long time in any context - and right now 2019 may as well be a two hundred years ago. The Centenary Collection launched in Zagato’s 100th year, the idea being to celebrate Aston’s enduring relationship with the Milanese coachbuilder. So the collection - customers had to buy both cars together - was a DB4 GT Continuation and a DBS GT Zagato. For £6.1m plus local taxes. Just 19 couples were produced.
You can read what the DB4 was like here (hint: wonderful); if anything it’s the DBS that makes for the more intriguing car now because little was known about it. The resurrection of perhaps the most famous Aston-Zagato collaboration (and one of the most beautiful cars ever) in the old DB inevitably hogged a lot of the headlines, especially as a few people got to drive it. The mystery of the DBS makes it really intriguing.
Based on the Superleggera, it not only had more power than standard (at 770hp) but would also have been lighter thanks to an all-new carbon body. Including, of course, the double-bubble roof. There was active aero at the front, too, plus a redone (if recognisable) Zagato-spec interior. Today the GTZ is described as ‘the modern zenith of the classic Zagato recipe’, which it feels hard to contest. Remember just 19 were (and will be) ever made - compare that to 150 Valkyries…
So the chance to acquire one of the Zagato pairs is a huge opportunity for Aston collectors of the world. There were very few, and neither car was ever sold individually. The Collection offered up by Nicholas Mee is in the US at the moment and registered over there; both DB4 and DBS are left-hand drive, finished in Caribbean Pearl (just like that old DB5 Volante) over Dark Blue interiors. Both are said to have covered ‘nominal’ mileage since 2019, and have been professionally stored for the only owner since purchase. Good as new, basically.
And with a discount of sorts, too. This must be the first time that almost £4m has represented a saving, but at £3.75m (presumably excluding any transport costs) the asking price is a fair bit less than the original six-mil outlay. Good things come to those who wait, as the saying goes. At any rate, it's unlikely another Centenary Collection will be available any time soon. So for all the Aston collectors out there, if not now, when? And for everyone else, this Saturday’s rollover is just in time - it leaves another £3.5m spare for somewhere nice to keep them…
I know this is two cars, but I feel like car manufacturers have got far too comfortable charging millions. The McLaren F1 was about £650K about 30 years ago - the equivalent of about £1.3M now. That car was an absolute masterpiece and was streets ahead of anything else at the time (in ability and in cost). For some of these company's to think they're deserving of that plus million(s) is ridiculous. I know if someone will pay it then it's apparently worth it, but come on!
I know this is two cars, but I feel like car manufacturers have got far too comfortable charging millions. The McLaren F1 was about £650K about 30 years ago - the equivalent of about £1.3M now. That car was an absolute masterpiece and was streets ahead of anything else at the time (in ability and in cost). For some of these company's to think they're deserving of that plus million(s) is ridiculous. I know if someone will pay it then it's apparently worth it, but come on!
I know this is two cars, but I feel like car manufacturers have got far too comfortable charging millions. The McLaren F1 was about £650K about 30 years ago - the equivalent of about £1.3M now. That car was an absolute masterpiece and was streets ahead of anything else at the time (in ability and in cost). For some of these company's to think they're deserving of that plus million(s) is ridiculous. I know if someone will pay it then it's apparently worth it, but come on!
The seats are different as the DB4GT Zagato Continuation car is technically a 'track only' car and cannot be used on the road as it is.
Regards
Tim
https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/aston-martin/...
I know this is two cars, but I feel like car manufacturers have got far too comfortable charging millions. The McLaren F1 was about £650K about 30 years ago - the equivalent of about £1.3M now. That car was an absolute masterpiece and was streets ahead of anything else at the time (in ability and in cost). For some of these company's to think they're deserving of that plus million(s) is ridiculous. I know if someone will pay it then it's apparently worth it, but come on!
As a business model I would rather make the most I could, and then sell for what's going to keep demand high. That way there's always room to increase prices and you shouldn't struggle for investment if needed.
But then again, Zagato have been doing fine for over 100 years so maybe I'll just shut my face.
I believe they weren't able to be registered in EU/UK for use on the road (as it is effectively a 'new car' and doesn't meet current requirements), but as the article says the DB4 is registered for the road in the US - so provided you only use it for a small amount of time in the UK/EU then I think yu could.
An alternative would be to register it in Guernsey, and have it transported to where ever you plan to use it when you wish.
Remember normal rules don't apply when you have the cash to spend £3.75m on a pai of cars
I believe they weren't able to be registered in EU/UK for use on the road (as it is effectively a 'new car' and doesn't meet current requirements), but as the article says the DB4 is registered for the road in the US - so provided you only use it for a small amount of time in the UK/EU then I think yu could.
An alternative would be to register it in Guernsey, and have it transported to where ever you plan to use it when you wish.
Remember normal rules don't apply when you have the cash to spend £3.75m on a pai of cars
"Due to legislative restrictions, all 19 GTZ Continuations were marketed, built and sold for track use only. That said, for those who wish to drive their Zagatos on the road, Ray Mallock Limited (RML) helpfully developed a post-registration compliance kit that will pass the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test. It’s almost like it was planned…"
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