1986 Aston Martin Vantage (Zagato)

В марте 1986 года на Женевском автосалоне состоялась премьера Aston Martin Vantage Zagato – переживая застой, британская фирма искала способы оживить стиль. Поначалу предполагалось продать 50 таких машин, но сделали только 35. В 1987 году часть их переделали в открытые модификации Volante Z.

The Italian coachbuilder created one of the greatest and truly most beautiful cars of all time with the DB4GT Zagato back in 1960. They say that lightning doesn"t strike the same place twice. But the lightning bolt that is Zagato, struck Newport Pagnell for a second time in 1986 with the brutal Vantage Zagato. Announced a year previously at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show, the eventual unveiling a year later and every one of the 50 production cars had been pre-sold to customers placing a Ј15,000 deposit for the Ј87,000 machine. The standard Vantage was at the time one of, if not the fastest cars in the world; by reducing the wheelbase, loosing the rear seats, tweaking the engine and fitting a new slippery body with flush fitting glass, the Zagato became the ultimate Aston.

Unfortunately, many were not overly impressed by the final styling of the new Zagato. One of the most controversial aspects of the design was the "power bulge" which was so necessary to house the airbox for the massive Weber 48 IDA carbs bored out to 50mm. Although a flat bonnet was originally intended with a fuel injection system underneath, this would probably not have produced sufficient power to achieve the promised 300 kph top speed.