Today

Aston V8 Vantage Zagato | Spotted

Ever wondered what a factory fresh Zagato might have been like 40 years ago? Now's your chance

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Zagato and Aston Martin go back an awfully long way now, with an incredible history to draw upon. Everything from DB4 to DB7 has enjoyed a transformation courtesy of the illustrious Italian coachbuilders; indeed it makes you wonder whether it might be time to resume the relationship - what could be better for boosting the bottom line than a bubble roofed V12 special edition? A Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake worked once before… 

Whatever happens in the future, all classic Aston Zags are rare, distinctive, and very collectable. One stands out above the rest, however, for an assortment of reasons. The Vantage Zagato of the mid-80s was intended as successor to the DB4 equivalent of 20 years before, though the overhaul from the base car was much more drastic: a quarter of a tonne lighter, significantly shorter and packed with much more attitude, it was a new beast entirely. It wasn’t subtle in any sense of the word, as befitted the time. Yet with an X-Packed V8, the weight loss and the wheelbase chop, the Vantage Zagato was extreme even by the standards of the 1980s. 

It was hugely rare by the standards of the 1980s, too, with just 52 coupes ever made. By comparison, the Porsche 959 and Ferrari 288 GTO were made in the low hundreds. Even when there wasn’t a new supercar every month, the Zagato was exclusive. And if it’s an Aston Martin good enough for Rowan Atkinson, then it must be pretty special. 

This one might be the most special of the lot. Having spent 30 years in climate controlled storage, it’s recently had a fortune spent on bringing it to better-than-new condition. At Aston specialists Nicholas Mee, no less - ‘a forensic, money-no-object recommissioning programme’ is how they put it. On a car that had only ever covered 600 miles. So if you’re thinking that it looks absolutely flipping exquisite, that’s probably because it is. 

Work undertaken during this year has included a total rebuild of the suspension and brakes, all rubbers replaced, a renewal of all fluids as well as a few useful upgrades: a sports exhaust, better air-con, and contemporary Michelin Pilot Sports. The Zag has been signed off over 250 miles of road testing, too, so ought to go just as well as it looks. ‘Every drive will be an event’ is hackneyed these days, but really ought to apply here. 

The Vantage is being sold with its original bits that have come off, a stack of history and even a 12-month warranty. So, in theory, there’d be nothing to stop the next owner adding a few miles to that meagre total. And having an absolute blast in the process. The price? Not disclosed for now, though certainly more than the £250k or so most are found at. Still, rather less than a DB4 would cost - not to mention so many others of the 80s.

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SPECIFICATION | ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE ZAGATO

Engine: 5,340cc V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): c. 430@6,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 392@5,100rpm
MPG: Few
CO2: Many
Year registered: 1990
Recorded mileage: 600
Price new: £87,000
Yours for: POA

See the original advert

[GT4P]

My word that is a styling disaster it s fugly.
Reminds me of a cross between the Ford Probe and some Japanese motor I can’t remember the name of

Edited by GT4P on Wednesday 19th August 13:09

[el romeral]

Yikes, still as awkward looking as I remember them. Time has not helped to improve things.

[richinlondon]

Maybe someone could just use the damn thing instead of replacing non-worn components because they don’t know what to do with their money!

[soad]

I don’t like it, at all.

They have this in stock too:
https://www.nicholasmee.co.uk/aston-martin-car-sal...

[Rusty Old-Banger]

Looks like a Renault Alpine kit car. And the red is too much, the roof should have been painted black.

Oh, and POA, fk off.

[Turbobanana]

GT4P said:

My word that is a styling disaster it s fugly.
Reminds me of a cross between the Ford Probe and some Japanese motor I can t remember the name of

Edited by GT4P on Wednesday 19th August 13:09

Do you mean the Nissan Autech Stelvio Zagato AZ1?

[GeniusOfLove]

Between this and the dog egg that was the Virage they really were circling the drain fast when this was made. I seem to recall it has the bonnet bulge because they couldn't get fuel injection working for the higher power output engines so had to stick with carburettors in their extremely expensive "supercar". In the late 80s / 1990.

Edited by GeniusOfLove on Wednesday 19th August 13:35

[baconsarney]

Reminds me of the third gen Mustang

[username_checksout]

600 miles in this is 598 too many. It was featured in the hallowed ‘Dream Cars’ book of the mid-80s and alongside the Strosek Porsches, Peugeot Quasar and Sbarro jacked-up Mk1 Golf with the 928 engine, this looked awful. Time has not been a healer and it still looks like the buck-toothed wang-eyed inbred cousin of the supercar world.

Have Zagato made anything that is even okay to look at?

[hurstg01]

Going against the grain here, but I love these, although those wheels don't help my cause. I cant get my head round the convertible ones and those with the shutters that go over the headlights when not in use.

I'd have one in my garage if I could.

In POW Green

With a light coloured interior

Please start a gofundme page

[Bluehorseshoe]

Zagato Astons while expensive and rare seem to stay in the classifieds a long time at 2x the price of the car they are based on.

Were it my mythical money Aston do a V600 without the LM nose, a V8 Virage X pack with a wide body a Vanquish S with a manual etc so many options that this just would get over looked

[Robertb]

username_checksout said:

600 miles in this is 598 too many. It was featured in the hallowed Dream Cars book of the mid-80s and alongside the Strosek Porsches, Peugeot Quasar and Sbarro jacked-up Mk1 Golf with the 928 engine, this looked awful. Time has not been a healer and it still looks like the buck-toothed wang-eyed inbred cousin of the supercar world.

Have Zagato made anything that is even okay to look at?

DB4GT Zagato is lovely.
https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/aston-m...

[thegreenhell]

Zagato haven't made a good-looking car for about sixty years, but I'd still have this in my fantasy lottery win garage alongside an Alfa SZ and Lancia Zagato Hyena.

[Sulphur Man]

Munter.

[scrapped]

What a wonderful thing. I'd definitely switch the wheels though, I've never been a fan of this BBS-style cross spoke design.

As for the comments here deriding Zagato, dear me. It's a test, and you've all failed.

[mjspencer348]

Apparently, Rowan Atkinson owned the first customer car which he used in AMOC racing events, as you do! The only thing I remember about these was the fevered speculation, with demand outstripping supply and coupe buyers being displeased when Aston Martin subsequently introduced a Volante version. A striking looking car, but definitely one 'of its time', very Eighties.

[AmyRichardson]

thegreenhell said:

Zagato haven't made a good-looking car for about sixty years, but I'd still have this in my fantasy lottery win garage alongside an Alfa SZ and Lancia Zagato Hyena.

The DB4 above was probably the last!

Since then it's been a trade-on-name affair; take an attractive car, make it "visually challenging" and reap exclusivity's dues.

[DefinitelyDan]

There aren’t many of us here, but I love this type of blocky, stocky take. I’m a fan of the Alfa SZ, too. I remember them coming in out and they were so unusual at the time, that I could t help but like them.

[Deranged Rover]

username_checksout said:

Have Zagato made anything that is even okay to look at?

No. Pretty much everything Zagato has ever made is hideous.

I still reckon car manufacturers only let them loose on their models so that they can have a damn good laugh at what they do to them.

[BigChiefmuffinAgain]

One of these haven't been thru an auction in quite a long time - 4 or 5 years for a regular one. Not sure I would pay any premium for this low mileage as, as ever with these things, you couldn't drive it.