Aston Martin DBZ Centenary collection revealed – two Zagatos for the price of one

Aston Martin has announced it’s building a Zagato version of the new DBS Superleggera, plus a handful of continuation DB4 GT Zagato models. However, these vehicles won’t be available separately, instead they will be sold in pairs for an eye-watering £6 million, plus local taxes. Despite the sky-high price tag, it’s still £3-4 million less than an original DB4 GT Zagato, mind.

Billed as the DBZ Centenary Collection, the exclusive duo has been commissioned to celebrate 100 years of Zagato, the last 58 of which it has enjoyed a close working relationship with Aston Martin.

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Just 19 pairs will be built (Aston won’t sell the cars separately), with the DBS versions built in Gaydon and the DB4s assembled at the Aston Works facility in Newport Pagnell. As with the earlier DB4 GTs and the recently announced James Bond DB5 continuation cars, the DB4 GT Zagato will not be homologated for the road, meaning it’s limited to ‘track use only’. Unlike these machines, however, this isn’t the first time the Zagato has been treated to a rebirth. The original was built between 1960 and 1963, but there were two further batches of cars in 1988 and 2000, known as Sanction II and Sanction III versions respectively.

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The latest DB4 GT Zagato will closely follow the template of the Sixties original, meaning it’ll get thin gauge aluminium panels covering a lightweight tubular spaceframe chassis. While the early cars were powered by a 3.7-litre straight-six, expect the new version to get modified version of the 4.2-litre version borrowed from the DB4 GT continuation, especially given Aston’s claimed 380bhp power output. All cars will get a four-speed manual transmission that drives the rear wheels through a limited slip differential. Each car will also be treated to some subtle modern upgrades to improve reliability. 

Little is known about the DBS GT Zagato, but Aston confirmed the newcomer will incorporate ‘a fresh interpretation of the iconic double-bubble roof, together with a striking front grille treatment and a dramatically truncated tail’. Under the skin it will likely feature the same mechanicals as the standard car, meaning the volcanically powerful 715bhp 5.2-litre twin turbocharged V12 from the standard car.

For those 19 owners lucky and, lets face it, wealthy enough to get their names on the order books can expect delivery of their DB4 GT in late 2019, while the DBS will be ready around a year later.