We go behind the scenes as the latest of Aston Martin’s new for old models takes shape, with 10 iconic DB4 GT Zagato Continuation models under construction.
Production of the brand’s most valuable new car to date is now in full swing at Aston Martin’s renowned heritage division at Newport Pagnell, in the UK.
A combination of handcraftsmanship and modern production facilities means multiple Continuation cars can, for the first time, be constructed alongside each other.
Each of the amazing Continuation sports cars is the result of around 4500 hours of detailed labour and meticulous handcrafting.
They’re part of the Aston Martin DBZ Centenary Collection, which comprises 19 DB4 GT Zagatos and 19 DBS GT Zagato Continuation models.
The first a track only model while the second can be driven legally on the road.
This kind of craftsmanship doesn’t come cheap.
The Zagatos will be sold in pairs at £6 million a pop, plus taxes.
That’s close to $11 million Aussie dollars — and Aston Martin will not split the pairs.
President of Aston Martin Works, Paul Spires, said it is a privilege to work on these remarkable ‘new old’ cars.
“Along with the craftsmen and women who built the all-conquering DBR1 and DB3S race cars; the iconic DB4, DB5 and DB6; and the remarkable William Towns Aston Martin Lagonda super-saloon, the staff here today are making their own mark on automotive history,” he said.
Built to race against the might of Ferrari in the 1960s, the DB4 GT Zagato was a thoroughbred machine — just 19 were built.
Each of the 19 DB4 GT Zagato Continuation cars is being built to the highest possible standard using a blend of Sir David Brown-era old world craftsmanship, with the sympathetic application of modern engineering advancements and performance enhancements.
That means in part a larger 4.7-litre version of the straight-six cylinder petrol engine found in the DB4 GT Continuation, producing more than 390bhp (290kW).
This latest continuation car follows the success of the 25 DB4 GT Continuation models that sold to enthusiast collectors in 2017, and precedes what will perhaps be the most ambitious continuation to date: the Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Edition cars that will come to market in 2020.
First deliveries of the completed cars will commence later this year, with the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation, followed by the DBS GT Zagato towards the end of 2020.
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