Zagato and Aston Martin: a strong alliance that goes back to the 60s with the legendary DB4 GTZ, continued in the 80s with the Vantage and Volante, and is now stronger than ever with the DB7 Zagato and AR1.

At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Zagato is presenting the Roadster version of the Aston Martin Vanquish. For the first time, this Milan workshop is not giving an entirely new look to the production model, but is offering an interesting variation of the Vanquish, introducing new elements of style.

While the Aston Martin DB7 Zagato and AR1 were initially presented to customers in the form of a limited edition, immediately sold out, the Vanquish Roadster is a concept proposed by Zagato with the backing of Aston Martin itself.

Close cooperation between Nori Harada, Zagato’s Automotive Chief Designer, and Peter Hutchinson, Design Manager at Aston Martin, has resulted in this new car introducing elements that are a sharp break with the Roadster segment. A totally unique design of the rear introductes a functional modular cover system.

A hard top for winter, developed to not appear as an add-on but as an integral part that also takes in the rear. On warmer days of the year, its place is taken by a transparent hardened glass and an easily used soft cover. Developed by Zagato’s engineers, this soft top is easily and simply mounted and, when not in use, is held in the luggage compartment without taking up much space.

The car has a round rear light cluster, a tapered tail to best feature the wheelbox, a completely new rear bumper and a new transparent cover. The hardened glass, with its curvy ‘double bubble’ form, uniquely emphasises the relationship between the solid and void. It covers the luggage compartment immediately behind the seats which can be seen through the glass.

Chassis No. SVFAC13391850PP19 shown in the states under show and display purposes. Not sold at Gooding & Co’s Arizona Auction with a high bid of $420,000 USD.

Auction Description

This highly unusual Vanquish Roadster is the only example ever created and truly one of the rarest of the Zagato/Aston collaborative efforts. It is believed that this roadster originated as a late pre-production Vanquish that was used extensively for factory testing. Following the car’s modification by Zagato, it was widely featured in numerous motoring publications and on the show circuit, including non-competitive exhibitions at the 2004 Villa d’Este Concours d’Elegance and the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Most of this car’s 13,000 miles can be attributed to factory testing and journalist drives.

At the request of a prominent marque collector in Massachusetts, a reputable New England Aston Martin dealer imported the car directly from Zagato in May 2007. Now registered to be EPA and DOT-certified for show and display in the US, this arresting Aston Martin has received a major servicing to all of its mechanical components by a factory-certified dealership, ensuring the highest level of performance and reliability. This one-of-a-kind Vanquish Roadster possesses all of the athletic driving characteristics that have made Aston Martin legendary. Not merely a fragile show car, this Vanquish is an eminently drivable expression of Zagato styling and Aston technology. Its availability represents a rare opportunity to own a piece of the historical legacy of these two great companies.
Story by Aston Martin Lagonda Limited & Zagato, edited by Supercars.net
Story by Aston Martin Lagonda Limited & Zagato, edited by Supercars.net