Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato

Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato

he Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato is a limited-edition grand tourer made by Aston Martin/Zagato. Introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October, 2002, the Zagato was immediately sold out. Only 99 examples were sold to the public, though one extra was produced for the Aston Martin museum.

Like the DB7 on which it is based, the Zagato is powered by a 6.0 L V12 engine and controlled via a 6-speed manual transmission. It has a top speed of 186 mph (299 km/h) and a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 4.9 seconds, statistics not entirely dissimilar to Aston's present day DB9.

Unlike the later DB AR1, the Zagato is built on a shortened chassis.

The Vantage Zagato coupe sold for a base price of US$250,000.

Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato
Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato
Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato
Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato
Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato
Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato
Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato

Following orders for every one of the 99 cars, production of the Zagato began in the middle mid 2003. The new car was based on a shortened DB7 Vantage Volante platform (60mm shorter wheelbase, 24mm from the front overhang and 127mm from the rear), the lightweight car (1740kg, 60kg lighter than standard car), was estimated to be capable of around 190 mph and able to reach 60 mph in comfortably under 5 seconds. The engine is a modified version of the familiar 6.0 litre V12 with a new exhaust system to produce an output of around 435 bhp. The modified DB7 Vantage Volante chassis was built in the UK, then shipped out to Milan for Zagato to hand fit the body panels, mostly of aluminium. So, thankfully, even in 2003, Aston Martin were still offering a 'coachbuilt' car in the best traditions of Newport Pagnell. With the reduction in length, the rear seats were deleted and the boot was rather small too - the Zagato is strictly a two seater.

Distinguishing features on the Zagato car include a new deeper variation on the classic AM grille design; the rear also mimicking the grille shape and a wonderfully shaped rear screen which my daughter christened 'the sunglasses'. Whilst both the headlights and front lights are straight from the standard car, the rear lights are pure Italian. Of course, the trademark Zagato 'double bubble' roof is a strong feature. The boot panel is an unusual drop down type.

99 production cars found happy owners, and a 100th car, a pre-production example was retained by the factory and can occasionally be seen at the Gaydon factory, BMHT museum also at Gaydon or the with the AMHT collection at the Barn