Cars-Pickup-Truck: >>Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

Manufacturer	Aston Martin
Production	1960–1963 (25 produced, inc 4 Sanction II and 2 Sanction III)
Successor	Aston Martin V8 Zagato
Class	Grand tourer
Body style	Coupe
Engine	straight-6 DOHC 3670 cc
Transmission	4-speed manual
Wheelbase	2,362 mm (93.0 in)
Length	4,267 mm (168.0 in)
Width	1,557 mm (61.3 in)
Height	1,270 mm (50.0 in)
Curb weight	1,225 kg (2,701 lb)
Related	Aston Martin DB4
Designer	Ercole Spada at Zagato

The Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato was introduced in October 1960 at the London Motor Show. It was effectively a DB4 GT, lightened and improved by the Zagato factory in Italy, by Ercole Spada. Initially the factory had plans to produce 25 cars, but demand wasn't as strong as expected and production ceased at the 20th unit. Nowadays, due to the rarity and popularity of the DB4 GT Zagato, the cars are worth a considerable amount of money, and at auction they reach well in excess of £1 million.

The popularity of the original DB4 GT Zagato has resulted in two subsequent waves of cars based on DB4s being rendered into "Zagatos" through the cooperation of Aston Martin and the Zagato works in Italy. They are known as "Sanction II" and "Sanction III" cars. Also, an unauthorised but lucrative private industry of modifying original DB4 GTs into "Zagato" replicas has arisen as well to meet market demand for high-quality Zagato recreations.

Specification

Engine

Although the specification of the engine was changed and upgraded throughout their racing history, the Zagato predominantly featured a 3.7-litre, aluminium, twin-spark, straight 6-cylinder engine. With a more powerful 9.7:1 compression ratio when compared to the DB4 GT engine.

The engine produced 314 hp (234 kW), a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration of just 6.1 seconds and a top speed of approximately 154 mph (246 km/h).

Body

Ercole Spada at Zagato transformed the DB4 GT into a smaller, more aerodynamic, super lightweight car. Many steel components were replaced by aluminium counterparts. Basically all non-essential elements disappeared, such as the bumpers. With the help of Perspex and aluminium components, more than 100 pounds (45 kg) was shed off the DB4 GT.

Racing history

Four of the original Zagato's, chassis' 0191, 0193, 0182(1 VEV) and 0183(2 VEV) were built to a lightened DP207/209 specification, especially for racing. The DP209 cars have a lower roofline, larger rear wings, a reshaped tail and flatter, longer front end.

The first competition outing of a DB4 GT Zagato was during Easter in 1961 at Goodwood. Driven by Stirling Moss the car finished 3rd, behind an Aston Martin DB4GT and the winning Ferrari 250 GT.

The most prominent DB4 GT Zagatos, affectionately known by the registration plates they share, of '1 VEV' and '2 VEV' which were both raced under the John Ogier's Essex Racing Stable with assistance from the Aston Martin factory. Both the Zagatos raced in the 1961 24 Hours of Le Mans. However a repeat of the 1959 Le Mans victory was not to be, with both cars retiring. In July 1961 at a British Grand Prix Support race the Zagato had its first victory. With '2 VEV' taking the last lap lead from a Jaguar E Type.

'2 VEV' crashed heavily at Spa in 1962 and was rebuilt to the lightweight DP209 specification. After a road accident in 1993 the car was returned to the 1962 specification.

Chassis 0200 raced in the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans; however, a blown piston after 9 ¹⁄₂ hours forced the car to retire.

Sanction II Zagatos

In 1991, 4 unutilised chassis numbers were put to use. With the approval of Aston Martin, four DB4 chassis were appropriately uprated to GT specifications. These chassis were then sent to Zagato's Milan workshop to be bodied like the originals, with a smaller oval grille, sans the stock DB4 GT's rear tail fins, and with a smoothed out rear end. To familiarise the workforce with construction techniques of the 60's, an original DB4 GT Zagato was sent along to be dismantled. These 'Works Approved Replicas' were known as the Sanction II cars. They were outwardly identical, but several changes were effected in the interest of better handling. Each of these cars sold for over $1,000,000. Differences to the 'originals' include a larger engine capacity, increasing from 3.7 litres to 4.2 litres and a smaller wheel diameter from 16" inches to 15" inches. The first of the four GT specification rolling chassis was delivered to Zagato in January 1989 and the fourth in April of the same year. With all four being completed in July 1991. All four cars were then given their own chassis numbers appropriate to the 1960s.

Comparison of Sanction I to Sanction II

	1961 DB4GT Zagato	1991 DB4GT Zagato Sanction II
Chassis	Platform based on DB4GT	Platform based on DB4GT/0181/L
Wheelbase	7 ft 9 in (2,360 mm)	7 ft 9 in (2,360 mm)
Overall Length	14 ft 0 in (4,270 mm)	13 ft 10.5 in (4,229 mm)
Width	5 ft 5.25 in (1,657.4 mm)	5 ft 6 in (1,680 mm)
Height	4 ft 2 in (1,270 mm)	4 ft 2 in (1,270 mm)
Weight	24.6 long cwt 0 qtr 0 lb (2,755.2 lb or 1,250 kg)	24.75 long cwt 0 qtr 0 lb (2,772 lb or 1,257 kg)
Steering	Rack and pinion	Rack and pinion
Front Suspension	IFS. Wishbones, coil springs and telescopic dampers Anti-roll bar	As in 1961 car but adjustable and thicker anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension	Live axle on coil springs, located by trailing arms ands Watt linkage	As in 1961 car but improved location and adjustable
Brakes	Girling discs all round. No servo. Separate Master Cylinders	All disc, no servo. Smaller rear calipers altered brake balance Twin circuit
Wheels	'Borrani' wire spoked with light alloy rims 16" inch diameter, 5" inch wide	'Borrani' wire spoked with light alloy rims 15" inch diameter, 6" inch wide
Tyres	6.00 x 16 'Avon Turbospeed' Mark II	205/70 15 'Goodyear Eagle' NCT
Gearbox	David Brown 4-speed manual, all-syncromesh	David Brown 4-speed manual, all-syncromesh
Final Drive	Hypoid bevel 3.31 to 1 'Powr-lok' LSD	Hypoid bevel 3.07 to 1 Limited Slip Differential (LSD)
Engine	All alloy straight six Double overhead camshaft (DOHC) Two plugs per cylinder	All alloy straight six Double overhead camshaft (DOHC) Two plugs per cylinder
Capacity	3,670 cc	4,212 cc
Compression	9.7 to 1	9.82 to 1
Carburetors	Three 'Weber' 45 DCOE4	Three 'Weber' 50 DC01/SP
Max. power	314 bhp (234 kW; 318 PS) at 6,000 rpm	352 bhp (262 kW; 357 PS) at 6,000 rpm
Max. Torque	278 lb·ft (377 N·m) at 5,400 rpm	330 lb·ft (447 N·m) at 4,600 rpm
0-60 mph (97 km/h)	6.1 seconds	5.5 seconds
0-100 mph (160 km/h)	14.1 seconds	12.2 seconds
Max. Speed	153.5 mph (247.0 km/h)	153.0 mph (246.2 km/h)
Production Numbers	19	4
Chassis Numbers	0176-0191, 0193, 0199, 0200	0192, 0196, 0197, 0198
Price (when New)	£5,470 (At the time, enough to buy a sizeable house)	(In excess of) $1,000,000

Sanction III Zagatos

The Zagato factory still had two spare body shells left over after producing the Sanction II Zagatos. In 1992 Richard Williams approached the executive chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda LTD, Walter Hayes and sought approval for the spare body shells to be used to create two further 'Sanction' cars. Walter Hayes gave his approval and the body shells along with two neglected Aston Martin DB4's (chassis' DB4/0334/R and DB4/0424/R) were completed into a pair of Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Sanction IIIs in 2000.

Replicas

Due to the huge popularity, large price tag, great look and rarity of the DB4 GT Zagatos, many replica cars have been constructed based on DB4 and DB4 GT chassis. These 'replica' (or recreation) cars share a large resemblance to the original Zagatos, however have not been made by the Italian Zagato company. Nonetheless, they still fetch a significant amount of money and are highly desirable.