Tag: Zagato

Why don’t they make cars like this anymore!?

Italian coachwork plus British engineering and motoring sensibilities; the stuff car nerds dream about. I’ve already mentioned my love for Zagato cars. I’ve now just learned that Aston Martin is making a DB4 Zagato continuation!

The history of the Zagato DB4 dates back to October 1960 at the London Autoshow. Originally designed to go racing, the Zagato DB4’s (or DB4Z) featured a new lightweight body, perspex windows, and bumper deletes. The DB4Zs also featured aluminum components, and it’s 3.7-liter straight-six engine produced 314 horsepower. The car was capable of 154 miles per hour.

The production history of the car is quite interesting too. In addition to the original production run from 1960-1963, the Zagato factory built their own continuations utilizing unused chassis called the Sanction II and III cars. There’s even a cottage industry for DB4Z replicas, thanks in part to the high prices the original cars can fetch at auction.

Now, Aston Martin’s Heritage Division is reviving the DB4Z with some modern touches. The body is still hand-rolled aluminum and built to vintage FIA specification. Also included in the car is an FIA-approved roll cage and carbon fiber bucket seats. It’s pretty clear what this car is meant for!

The biggest improvement, however, is the engine. Instead of the venerable 3.7-liter engine, Aston Martin has bored and stroked the engine out to 4.7-liters. The new engine now makes almost 400 horsepower, which is more than enough to propel this lightweight British missile past the finish line!

Aston Martin is planning on producing 19 continuation DB4Zs; in reference to the original 19 DB4Zs from 1960-1963 and Sanctions II-III.

Do you think they’ll take I.O.U.s?