Aston Martin will be celebrating the iconic DB4GT Zagato’s 50th anniversary with a new concept car developed in collaboration with the Italian design house Zagato. The concept car made its first appearance at the Villa D’Este Concours on May 21st, 2011 and will make its racing debut at Nürburgring on May 28th.
Dr. Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive said: "The DNA of both Aston Martin and Zagato has combined successfully to make some of the world’s most desirable collector cars in the past and in this special anniversary year of the DB4GT Zagato it is appropriate to explore a modern collaboration. Now is the right time for a new Aston Martin Zagato and in combining our design intelligence I think we can create something fitting of the iconic DB4GT Zagato that has gone before and since established itself as one of the most famous Aston Martins of all time."
The original Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato made its first appearance in 1960 at the London Motor Show. It was essentially a much lighter DB4 GT that got worked on by the Italian Coachbuilder to include a 3670 cc straight-6 DOHC engine that produced 314 HP with a top speed of 154 mph.
UPDATE 07/01/2011: The V12 Zagato has finally been listed on the Aston Martin web page, giving us an official confirmation that it will soon go on sale. According to the web site, "only a strictly limited run of road going cars will be built" and we will get more details about in the next few weeks.
UPDATE 07/0711: Now this is what we’re talking about! Aston Martin has finally given the pricing for the V12 Zagato. But that’s where the good news ends, at least as far as those that will have a hard time affording it. Anybody who wants to score this limited edition piece of beauty will have to shell out £330,000, which is around $528,000 based on current exchange rates. Gulp.
UPDATE 08/12/11: Aston Martin announced today that the V12 Zagato concept next with the One-77 supercar will make their American debuts in Monterey from August 17th to 21st. The V12 Zagato will debut in the evening of Wednesday August 17th at McCall’s Motorworks Revival and Aston Martin has confirmed once again that a strictly limited production run of the V12 Zagato will commence in summer 2012.
"Guests will be given the rare opportunity to test drive our latest model range, including the new Virage and Vantage S, as well as the four-door Rapide" commented Julian Jenkins, Vice President Aston Martin the Americas. "We are very excited about the program this year including the debut of the V12 Zagato, and we look forward to welcoming current owners, new customers and automotive enthusiasts to share our celebrations at The Aston Martin Estate."
Hit the jump to read more about the new V12 Zagato endurance racer concept.
Pininfarina and Ferrari are two companies in the automotive industry that live and breathe pure excellence. Match them up with one of the most luxurious events of the year - the Villa d Este Concorso D’Eleganza - and the outcome is a one-off model based on either the 599 GTB Fiorano or the P540 Superfast Aperta (pictured).
Rivaling previous years’ debuts like the BMW M1 Homage and the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa by Zagato, the Ferrari Super America 45 by Pininfarina is a project that was specially requested by a client from New York. It is described as a "convertible, 6 cilindri, 6000 ccm" model. While we only have the first details at the momemt, the official press release says:
"A recent and fascinating trend in the rarefied world of top end Ferrari collectors is the commissioning of one off bespoke version of high end models from Italian coach builders. Several ‘special clients’ have approached Pininfarina (and others) in recent years to build uniquely styled cars, an idea that goes back to the fifties went customers like film director Roberto Rossellini had a special car built for his wife, Ingrid Bergman. The Villa d Este is the natural setting for the exposure of such special vehicles and as well as the Glickenhaus P4/5 this year we have this very special Ferrari Super America belong to the New York."
UPDATE 05/19/2011: Ferrari has unveiled the first official details on the Superamerica 45 - another one-off model that will make its world debut this weekend at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza. The model will be distinguished by a carbon-fiber rotating hard-top with a rear screen, body colored rear buttresses, double air vents on the front wing, a specific chromed front grille and special burnished aluminum A-pillars, wing mirrors, and door handles. The model will be painted in an exclusive Blu Antille, contrasting with darker blue on the front splitter, side skirts, and rear diffuser. For the interior, the Superamerica 45 gets Cuoio leather trim and Blu Scuro carbon fiber details, plus the latest-generation touch-screen infotainment system.
UPDATE 05/23/2011: Marchettino has shot a pretty impressive video of the Super America 25 at the 2011 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este were the car made its debut. With the occasion we found out that the car is a custom one-off made for Peter Kalilow to celebrate his 45th anniversary. Hit the jump for the video.
The automobile was not even thirty years old when racing had taken a firm hold on enthusiasts. Enzo Ferrari was driving his performance cars to championships all over the world and others wanted in on the action. Ettore Bugatti was one of these men and he decided to take on Ferrari in a very different way than the others. He initially started with smaller, lighter, and less powerful cars than the Ferrari racecars of the time. This allowed the cars to be more nimble on the track and even finish second behind Ferrari in the Grand Prix du Mans of 1911.
This major accomplishment gave Ettore Bugatti the supporters and money necessary to continue his small operation in Molsheim. He began to produce stronger competitors and won more races every year. By 1920, Bugatti had its own Grand Prix championship under its belt and was ready to expand the company into different areas.
Ettore was a very respected man and ran his company with an iron fist, Le Patron as he was known, acted as a member of the upper crust and often invited them for factory tours and extravagant meals. According to Bugatti lore, at one of these dinners a woman remarked, “Everyone knows you build the greatest racing cars in the world. But for a town carriage of real elegance, one must go to Rolls-Royce or Daimler, isn’t that so?” This statement must have enraged Ettore, whether he showed it or not to his guests, he knew this was true. His company had been one-dimensional for many years and it was time to take some risks in the public sector. What came next is one of the most revered luxury automobiles ever made, the Royale.
Hit the jump for more details on the Bugatti Royale.
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is one of those annual motor shows BMW fans should make a note of attending as often as they can. This year was no different.
With a laundry list of some of the most prestigious cars ever built under the BMW group in attendance, there wasn’t a shortage of beautiful and exotic cars at the event. One of them being a replica of a 328 Kamm Coupe that was exclusively built by the people from BMW Classic. While only a replica - the original model was lost in the annals of history way back in 1953 - the 328 Kamm Coupe nevertheless drew a sizable crowd, thanks in large part to the car’s long-held esteem as one of the rarest and most sought-after cars in history.
Check out the video and see one of BMW’s most prestigious race cars in its history. Never mind if it’s a replica; it still looks as good as the original one.
