Michael SatterfieldWhen aficionados are asked to name the top five most beautiful and desirable cars of all time, the legendary Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato will always feature in those lists. Unquestionably the most valuable and coveted road-going Aston Martin ever built, the heady mix of Aston Martin’s accomplished and powerful DB4 clothed in Zagato’s extraordinarily beautiful lightweight aluminum bodywork makes those nineteen cars constructed amongst the most desirable on the planet.
“Nevermind being the greatest Aston of all time, this is one of the greatest GT cars ever produced,” says Rob Myers, Chairman, and Founder, RM Sotheby’s. “To many, it is more beautiful than the stunning Ferrari 250 SWB but it is also vastly rarer. To my mind, the DB4GT Zagato begs closer comparison to the iconic Ferrari 250 GTO, although far fewer Zagatos were built than even that. It is an absolute jewel of a car and truly an opportunity that presents itself once in a generation.”
Chassis no. DB4GT/0186/R is the only example delivered new to Australia having been completed in 1961. Purchased by businessman Laurie O’Neil, the car was raced extensively in the 1962 season and enjoyed numerous victories and podium successes in the hands of Doug Whitehead, including victory in the South Pacific GT Championship and 4th-overall in the Sports Car Championship on the same day. The car remained in Australia for the next 30 years with only two subsequent owners.
Returning to England in 1993, the car boasts known history from new and has been seen at events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival. After a two-year, concours standard restoration in 2002 undertaken between Richard S. Williams in England and Carrozzeria Zagato’s own facilities in Italy, the car has been awarded numerous accolades at events such as the Louis Vuitton Concours, Villa d’Este, Pebble Beach and the Quail (Estimate available upon request).
The car is scheduled to be auctioned at RM Sotheby’s New York Auction December 10th, one of only nineteen Zagato-bodied Aston Martin DB4GTs ever produced and with an amazing well-documented history, this car should set a record. For more and to see the official listing Click Here.
