Delivery mileage only
1986 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato Coupé
Registration no. G877 KPW
Chassis no. 20049
Engine no. V580/0049/X

'The Vantage Zagato relies on its Italian styling to heighten the emotions of car collectors and Aston followers alike, harking back as it does the halcyon days of David Brown patronage at Newport Pagnell when 19 DB4GTs wore gorgeously curvaceous lightweight Zagato bodywork.' – Motor.

With the introduction of the Vantage Zagato, Aston Martin renewed its association with one of Italy's most illustrious carrozzeria, Zagato having been responsible for that most celebrated and desirable of all post-war Astons, the DB4GT Zagato. Neighbouring stands at the 1984 Geneva Salon facilitated the initial contact between Aston Martin chairman, Victor Gauntlett and Elio and Gianni Zagato, and by the following year the project had progressed sufficiently for Aston to accept deposits on the 50 cars planned. Part of Zagato's brief was to shed some of the standard Vantage's not inconsiderable weight, which was achieved by shortening the wheelbase and deleting the rear seats, thus creating Aston's first production two-seater since the DB4GT. In doing so, Zagato was able to shed all of 168kg (370lbs) from the four-seater V8 saloon's not inconsiderable weight.

The proven 5.3-litre four-cam V8 was to Vantage specification, producing 432bhp at 6,200rpm and 395ft/lbs of torque at 5,100 revs. Production involved shipping the rolling chassis - complete with engine and drive train - to Zagato in Milan for bodying, trimming and painting, following which they were returned to Newport Pagnell for final inspection.

The first three completed cars were displayed at Geneva in March 1986 and in June the Zagato successfully met its design target by achieving a maximum speed of 300km/h (186mph) while on test with the French magazine Sport Auto. A 0-60mph time of five seconds had been another target and that too was achieved, the French journalists clocking a best of 4.8.The fact that the projected price had risen from £70,000 to £87,000 between the car's announcement in March 1985 and its arrival did nothing to deter the 50 customers, all of whom had paid deposits of £15,000 by August 1985.

Eventually 52 cars would be constructed, including the pre-production '20010' and prototype '20011'. Of the 50 'production' cars only 27 were right-hand drive manual transmission models like that offered here, though one of these – '20042' - was re-created as the prototype of the Zagato Volante convertible. If subsequent engine enlargements are taken into account, it is estimated that only 20 right-hand drive manual transmission Vantage Zagatos remain in their original specification like the one we offer. Of these, only two were finished in Gladiator Red: '20049' (this car) and '20019'. This car is trimmed with red-piped Parchment leather while the other has a black interior, making both unique.

'20049' was delivered to the current vendor from Stratton Motor Co by covered transporter and since then has been kept in their dehumidified storage facility in a Carcoon. In an accompanying letter dated 31st March 1998, Stratton Motor Company states that it had collected the Zagato by transporter from Newport Pagnell on 12th November 1987 before selling it to a Mr Saunderson, who never took delivery. During subsequent changes of ownership, the car never left Stratton's storage facility. When it was eventually registered in January 1990 to Mr Michael Fleming, the car had still not been used. Stratton's later reacquired it. Their managing Director, Roger Bennington, concludes the letter by saying: 'The only person to have driven this Zagato since leaving the factory is myself, on the occasional removal from storage to run the engine.'

Unused since acquisition, the Zagato remains 100% factory correct, even down to retaining the protective wax coating sprayed over the engine bay before it left Newport Pagnell. Regular maintenance has been carried out 'in house' by the vendor's workshop personnel and resident fully qualified Aston Martin mechanical engineer, in order to ensure the car has remained 'on the button'. This has included regularly running the engine up to full operating temperature and yearly replacement of all fluids, filters and the battery. At time of writing the Aston was undergoing its yearly service. The work will include replacing engine oil and filter, air filters, brake fluid, clutch fluid and the battery. Valve clearances will be checked and adjusted, and the cylinder head bolts re-torqued while the cam covers are off.

With only 221 miles recorded, this rare and desirable British thoroughbred supercar is presented in effectively 'as new' condition and thus represents a unique opportunity for collectors. It is offered with owner's handbook, MoT to August 2015, V5 registration document and its Vehicle Storage Maintenance Log detailing dates and mileage of all works carried out since acquisition.