If I were paying that kind of money for a car, I would want it to stand out a bit. To me, it looks to be the ultimate sleeper, a cross between 80's domestic and Japanese.
By David S. Wallens
Jan 17, 2020
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Aston Martin,
Car Catcher,
Fantasy Junction
What’s rarer than one of the few dozen Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagatos built late in the ’80s? How about the only factory-built continuation car from that series?
First, let’s travel back to the middle of the ’80s. Super cars were hot, while Aston Martin’s latest looked a bit, well, dated. A chance encounter with Zagato changed that.
From AutoWeek: “The project itself kicked off by accident: Zagato and Aston Martin had neighboring booths at the 1984 Geneva motor show, and soon decided to renew the relationship that had not produced any cars since the DB4GT Zagato.”
Two years later, Aston Martin showed off their new supercar: Zagato shortened the V8 Vantage’s chassis while adding its own bodywork.
This particular 1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato was ordered by Sheikh Abdul Al Thani of the Qatari Royal Family. “Aston Martin records indicate the car was completed in Javelin Grey with Docks Grey leather and Beige carpets,” explains Fantasy Junction, the car’s seller. “Further build order details included Middle East specifications with Left Hand Drive. Factory records further support the numbered engine and heads, dyno testing, and power output of 340bhp. In April 1987 the completed chassis was dispatched to Zagato. Upon completion, the car was imported to Chapman Spooner, UK, October 1, 1987, and issued license plate E601XMJ. Sheik Al Thani took delivery of the car in the UK, never exporting it to the Middle East.”
In July 1989, the car was crashed. Again, from the seller:
“Having been significantly damaged, the car was returned to Aston Martin and deemed unrepairable, despite the fact that both doors were still operable. In discussions with the insurance company, the decision was made to totally rebuild the car with a new chassis and body. Taking advantage of the newer developments in the Volante, updated interior and exterior features were incorporated as the car was rebuilt. Essentially a new car when completed in August 1990, the car was finished in Litchfield Black with parchment leather interior. Among the additional features included were a smaller rear bumper, the forward portion of the dashboard covered in black, a Volante Zagato interior with gloss black woods, and locking center console lid. Having been delivered as new, the odometer was set to zero and the very last of the Aston Martin Zagato built cars was returned to the original owner. A total of 51 Vantage Zagato coupes were built, but only one with the unique final factory construction features offered in this car.”
Price from Fantasy Junction is $455,000. Find more details here.
If I were paying that kind of money for a car, I would want it to stand out a bit. To me, it looks to be the ultimate sleeper, a cross between 80's domestic and Japanese.
In reply to mrichlen :
Yeah, I could see that. It has a bit of Interceptor V8 in there, too. I do dig it.
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