MOTOR CARS | 211
4The 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.
£180,000 - 220,000
€230,000 - 280,000