Aston Martin V8 Zagato, 1985
Aston Martin V8 Zagato
Aston Martin V8 Zagato•
•31 مشاهدة
Chassis No.: 20011
Estimate: £300,000 - £340,000 GBP
The pre-production special and first production 1985 Aston Martin V8 Zagato Registration no. E625 KYH Chassis no. 20011
- Built on the last of the four prototype chassis to an exceptional specification.
- One of only four with the uprated 432bhp X Pack engine from new
- Present owner since 1999, magnificent provenance
- Professionally restored to concours standard between 2011 and 2013
- Concorso Eleganza Villa d'Este invitee in 2016 "On the road, the Zagato eats up the long straights. Once moving its progress is magnificently effortless. Like most very fast cars, it's as if it isn't constrained by the physical laws of gravity and air resistance.
Unlike most very fast cars, however, it fools its driver into thinking that its blistering, growling pace is normal, comfortable, undramatic." - Motor. The historic Aston Martin we offer, chassis number '20011', is one of the special group of four early Zagatos. Chassis numbers 20010 to 20013, all four cars finished in the striking Gladiator Red livery. '20011' was the last of the four chassis built and sent to Zagato Milano, and originally designated 20013 as confirmed by internal factory memos in the car's history file.
To ensure the car's identity as the first production car for its important customer, the Chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd, Victor Gauntlett, had the chassis number changed to 20011 and held back for its exclusive build. With the introduction of the V8 Vantage-based Zagato in 1986, Aston Martin renewed its association with one of Italy's most illustrious carrozzeria, which had been responsible for that most celebrated and desirable of all post-war Aston Martins: the DB4GT Zagato.
Neighbouring stands at the 1984 Geneva Salon facilitated the initial contact between Aston bosses Victor Gauntlett and Peter Livanos, and the Zagato brothers, Elio and Gianni, and by the following year the project had progressed sufficiently for Aston to accept deposits on the 50 production cars planned. By August 1985, all had been sold. Prospective customers were promised that this exclusive new Aston Martin would be capable of 300km/h (186mph) with a 0-60mph time of under five seconds.
In June 1986 the original prototype, '20010', successfully met its design target by achieving a maximum speed of 185.63mph while on test with the French magazine Sport Auto, eclipsing the previous record held by Ferrari's 288 GTO. Maintaining stability at these speeds had necessitated the fitting of an extended front air dam and a tail spoiler. Part of Zagato's brief had been to shed some of the standard Vantage's weight, and this was achieved by shortening the car by some 10" and deleting the rear seats, thus creating the first production two-seater since the DB4GT. The weight saving was a considerable 168kg (370lb) – the equivalent of two heavy set 6ft men.
As installed in the first four chassis – '20010'-'20013' – the 5.3-litre four-cam V8 was tuned to an enhanced Vantage specification, producing a mind-bending 432bhp at 6,200rpm, while production cars received the standard 580X Vantage engine producing 410bhp. The manner of its installation though, created a certain amount of controversy: the Zagato's low sloping bonnet, penned by stylist Giuseppe Mittino in the expectation of a fuel-injected engine, being interrupted by the now iconic bulge necessary to clear the Vantage's quartet of Webers.
Predictably, given the success of the coupe, a Zagato Volante was not long in coming, the very first example being a converted saloon (chassis number '20042'), which debuted at the Geneva Salon in 1987. All but a handful of the Volantes were fitted with the less powerful fuel-injected V585 engine and thus lacked the bonnet bulge. In all, including the pre-production examples such as this car '20011', a total of 89 V8 Zagatos were built by the time production ceased in 1990: 51 Coupes and 38 Volantes. The first owner of this particularly rare and desirable car was Wensley Haydon-Baillie, a discerning Aston Martin marque enthusiast.
In common with all Haydon-Baillie commissioned cars, chassis '20011' was delivered to an extraordinarily high, bespoke specification, which explains why it was not registered until 1988. By September 1992, the mileage is recorded as 4,100, and the odometer reading is now less than 24,500. As previously mentioned, it is one of only four V8 Zagatos known to have been powered from new by the Vantage engine in up-rated 432bhp tune, and one of only two fitted with an integral roll-over bar. It also features black leather upholstery, leather-covered fascia/dashboard panel, and a leather-covered steering wheel, all as per the original build sheet.
A copy of the latter accompanies the car together with its history, which includes the aforementioned factory memos concerning '20011' and the other early pre-production cars. Also included in the sale are original service voucher booklet; delivery and warranty documents; instruction manuals and handbook; other history and provenance to include restoration invoices; and a tool roll. Kingsley Riding-Felce, who at the time of the V8 Zagato's introduction was Aston Martin's UK Sales Manager, comments today: "Competition in the high-performance sector was fierce, especially with Ferrari and Porsche.
The V8 Vantage was a tremendous platform upon which to create something very special and our friends at Zagato were an obvious choice with whom to partner again. It was not merely a change of clothes: the car was lighter, more powerful and with much improved handling. The result was one of the most coveted and significant motor cars to emerge from our factory at Newport Pagnell." Between 2011 and 2013, this significant Zagato was treated to a painstaking restoration by Christchurch, New Zealand-based – and Pebble Beach-winning specialists – Auto Restorations, which was overseen by the current owner, who acquired the car in 1999.
It is hardly surprising that today this car is listed by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust as being a particularly significant example of its type. As such it was one of the 52 cars invited to the highly prestigious annual Concorso Eleganza Villa d'Este at Lake Como in 2016, featuring at the time in a number of photo shoots with the newly released Vanquish Zagato. '20011' was also an accepted entry to the 2017 Modena Cento Ore, but the current owner was unable to attend. It remains eligible for that increasingly popular and oversubscribed event, among others. This Zagato was also invited to the inaugural City of London Concours in 2017.
The mid-1980s was an extraordinary period in motor manufacturing and development, echoing the hedonistic socio-economic climate of the time. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and Aston Martin were competing furiously to create the most powerful and outrageous high-performance car. Aston Martin's V8 Zagato was an instant and highly coveted collectors' motor car when new – trading far in excess of its original list price – and today it is regarded as one of the most significant road-going Aston Martins ever produced. The V8 Zagato is right up there in collecting terms, but to own one of the pre-production specials – and what became the first production car – takes it to a whole new level.
To view a YouTube walkaround of this lot please click here To Schedule a video condition report for this lot please click here
Vendor Score Total: 100/100 Bidders should note that the automated 100-point Seller's Assessment is provided by each Seller at the point of consignment using the guidelines below, and is not provided, assessed or verified by Bonhams MPH. Accordingly Customers (Bidders) are on notice that each vehicle is offered "as is / as seen" subject to the Conditions of Sale for the auction, and Customers (Bidders) are strongly recommended to view the Lot(s) being offered, before bidding, in order to satisfy themselves as to their condition; Bonhams MPH will not entertain disputes over Sellers' Assessments. Key for sellers' assessments: 1/5 POOR.
A project vehicle | Requires urgent attention | Damaged | Parts missing 2/5 AVERAGE. Useable condition | Requires some attention | Light damage 3/5 GOOD. Drive away | Presents well | Good history file | Drives well 4/5 VERY GOOD. Well restored | Running and driving with no noticeable faults | Sound throughout 5/5 EXCELLENT.
Concours condition | Beautifully presented | Driving very well EXTERIOR TOTAL: 25/25 Body Work: 5 Chrome/Plastics/Trim: 5 Glass: 5 Paint: 5 Wheels/Tyres: 5 INTERIOR TOTAL: 20/20 Dashboard/Door cards/Carpets: 5 Headlining: 5 Seats: 5 Trim: 5 ENGINE TOTAL: 20/20 Mechanical components: 5 Running: 5 Starting: 5 Under Bonnet: 5 RUNNING GEAR TOTAL: 20/20 Axles: 5 Brakes: 5 Gearbox/Clutch: 5 Suspension: 5 ELECTRICAL TOTAL: 10/10 Ancillary components: 5 Main components: 5 Car History File: 5
