by Mike –

The Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato is one of the most recognizable cars in the world even though there were only 19 originally made.

One of the best examples, shown here, is coming up for auction at the RM Sotheby’s auction in New York on December 10, 2015.

This perfect Aston Martin was parked next to my Bizzarrini GT 5300 at the Presidio of San Francisco Concours d’Elegance in 2009. I have seen this car at other car shows in Northern California and I always stop and look every time. It is owned by a well known California Aston Martin collector, a very nice gentleman.

I met the owner a few years ago at the Laguna Seca race track where I was taking race driving lessons in a class that included his daughter. When he found out that we had just acquired a new Aston Martin DB7 he tossed my wife the keys to his new DB7 and asked her take it for a drive. He has a special love for Aston Martin racing green even though the color has changed over the years.

1962 Aston Martin DB4GT by Zagato For Sale By RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s wrote,

Unquestionably the most valuable and coveted Aston Martin ever built, the DB4GT Zagato is considered by many to be Zagato’s finest creation and an automobile with few peers. The 14th of only 19 built, this example was delivered new to Australia and raced there with great success. It remained Down Under for the majority of its life before being sold to an owner in England who had the car restored by specialist Richard Williams in England as well as at Zagato’s own facilities in Italy. Since completion of its restoration, the DB4GT Zagato has been shown at world-class concours events in Europe and the United States and has been awarded numerous accolades, including 1st in Class awards at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza.

Boasting a known history from new with a successful period racing career and an enviable concours record to its name, this DB4 GT Zagato is surely one of the finest examples of its kind, and thus, certainly one of the most desirable automobiles in existence.

RM has yet to publish their pre-auction estimate. The Hagerty Price Guide says $8.8 million for a condition 1 DB4 GT Zagato, which this example certainly is.

My estimate – $12 million – $15 million.

SOLD for $14,300,000 USD.

The body was styled by Ercole Spada at Zagato and is considered to be one of the most beautiful cars ever.

The engine is a straight 6-cylinder DOHC 3670 cc displacement producing 314 hp and the transmission is a 4-speed manual giving the car a 0 to 60 MPH acceleration of just 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 154 MPH.

The engine looks like a jewel.

Some of these cars were raced at The 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1961, 1962 and 1963. They also raced at other European races in the early 1960s. This one had a successful race career in Australia.

That door handle looks just like the handles in the Bizzarrini.

Doesn’t it look great next to the Bizzarrini? Aston Martin racing green and the silver of the Bizzarrini are a great compliment.

I wonder which one would win a race?

James Bond did not drive this Aston, pity. Although I have noticed that many of the cars driven by James Bond have accidents and I could not stand to see that happen to one of these.

So, maybe it is not such a pity.

The judges are taking a very close look and the closer you look the better this Aston looks. It won first in class.

Let us know what you think in the Comments.

 

 

Photos by Mike Gulett and Michael Menetto.