They say that lightning doesn't strike the same place twice. But the lightning bolt that is Zagato struck Newport Pagnell for a second time in 1986 with the brutal Vantage Zagato. The Italian coachbuilder created one of the greatest and truly most beautiful cars of all time with the DB4GT Zagato back in 1960. Announced a year previously at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show, the eventual unveiling a year later. All 50 production cars had been pre-sold to customers placing a Ј15,000 deposit for the Ј87,000 machine. The standard Vantage was one of, if not the fastest cars in the world; by reducing the wheelbase, losing the rear seats, tweaking the engine, and fitting a new slippery body with flush fitting glass, the Zagato became the ultimate Aston.
Unfortunately, many were not overly impressed by the final styling of the new Zagato. One of the most controversial aspects of the design was the "power bulge" necessary to house the airbox for the massive Weber 48 IDA carbs bored out to 50mm. Although a flat bonnet was originally intended with a fuel injection system underneath, this would probably not have produced sufficient power to achieve the promised 300 kph top speed. It was presented at the Geneva Motor Show.
Source: www.astonmartins.com
Images: UltimateCarPage.com, Zagato
