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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 |
