Aston Martin V8 Zagato
| Aston Martin V8 Zagato | |
|---|---|
Aston Martin DB7 Zagato |
The V8 Zagato model
The decision to build the later convertible was controversial – all 52 coupés had already been purchased at the height of the supercar speculation market and owners felt that producing additional cars would lower the value of the coupés. The convertibles consistently fetch higher prices than the roofed versions.
As the name suggests, the V8 Zagato was based on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage but with a body by the coachbuilder Zagato.[2]
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The design was an angular modern interpretation of the
It was a luxurious car with a price tag of $156,600 at the time, but with the high rarity, and being released at the supercar price boom of 1987 to 1990, and by the end of the decade, the car was changing hands for £450,000. The later convertible sold for $171,000.
The comedian Rowan Atkinson purchased the first right-hand-drive car produced in 1998 and had it converted to Aston Martin Owners' Club racing series C2 specifications. He crashed it in July 2001 whilst competing at an enthusiasts' meeting, but walked away unhurt.[3] The conversion was undertaken by Aston Martin Works Service with a total rebuild cost of around £220,000. The Tadek Marek 5.3 V8 engine was reworked to produce an estimated 482 bhp (359 kW; 489 PS), carrying the unique designation 580XR. The car retired from racing in 2007 and Atkinson sold it in 2008 for £122,500.[4]
References
- ISBN 1-84425-014-8.
- ^ "Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato". astonmartinzagato.com. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "Atkinson unharmed after car crash". BBC News. 9 July 2001. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- ^ Pagnell, Newport (17 May 2008). "The Rowan Atkinson 1986 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato Coupé". Bonhams. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- Menon, Sujatha, ed. (2004). Super Cars, Classics of Their Time. Quintet Publishing. ISBN 0-7607-6228-7.