Aston Martin entered the 1980s with confidence, and its collaboration with Zagato resulted in the V8 Vantage Zagato, a limited-edition special with striking styling. The biggest car news and reviews, no BS. The Italian coachbuilder that had previously clothed Aston chassis in curvaceous sheetmetal and double-bubble roofs delivered a car that was as different from the Zagato-bodied DB4GT of the 1960s as then-new brick cell phones were from the rotary-dial ones.
The V8 Vantage Zagato was based on a Vantage chassis, but the finished car was about a foot shorter than Aston's version despite having the same wheelbase. Aston shipped complete chassis to Milan, where they were fitted with mostly aluminum bodywork that helped reduce weight, while flush-fit glass and a more streamlined shape helped reduce drag.
View Price on AmazonThe 5.3-liter V8 carried over from the standard Vantage, but the Zagato got the "X-pack" spec that made 432 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque—the highest output of any production Aston engine at the time. That enabled the Zagato's claimed top speed of 186 mph. First shown in concept form at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show, the Zagato went into production two years later.
Just 50 coupes (plus two prototypes) were built, along with 37 Volante convertibles. Either slow build times or slow sales meant that, while this car had a 1987 build slot, it wasn’t registered until 1990. It’s passed through three owners, none of whom spent much time behind the wheel. With only 600 miles, and 250 of those added in road testing for the car’s recommissioning, this V8 Vantage Zagato is practically new.
Source: thedrive.com
