Yet another world auction record fell during the week when a 1991 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato Sanction II Coupé was sold by Bonhams for £1.23 million ($1.93 million). Sharing place with other iconic Aston Martin cars, this rare beauty set a new world record for such a car at auction. It was owned by Tony Smith, the manager of rock star Phil Collins.
The car has a custom 4.2-litre engine (the original of the line used 3.7-litre units); a four-speed gearbox; all-disc, dual circuit braking; a wishbone independent front suspension and an anti-roll bar. It has 352bhp (50 horsepower more than the 3.7-litre DB4GT) and can go to 60mph in 5.5 seconds, with a top speed of 153mph. Best of all, it has only 4,748 miles on the odometer.
1991 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato Sanction II Coupé sells for record-breaking $1.9 million
When Aston Martin first offered the DB4 GT Zagato in the early 1960s, lack of demand led to a production run of 20 rather than the planned 25. Three decades later, demand soared for the original cars, so Aston’s joint chairmen at the time, Victor Gauntlett and Peter Livanos, took a look through the books, noted the leftover chassis numbers from the initial run of Zagatos, and commissioned Aston Martin specialist Richard Williams to use the chassis numbers on four DB4 chassis uprated to GT specifications, then ship the four chassis to Zagato to have the carrozzeria replicate its effort from the first 20 cars. At the same time, Williams modernized selected bits under the skin, slipping in a 352hp 4.2-liter six-cylinder rather than the original 314hp 3.7-liter six and adjustable front and rear suspensions with a larger front anti-roll bar.
Second highest price in the sale was £611,900 for a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Vantage Convertible from the estate of the late Peter Gwynn. Third highest price achieved was £488,700 for a 1963 Aston Martin DBS Convertible.
Other interesting lots included a unique 1971 Aston Martin DBS shooting brake estate originally ordered by a Scottish laird to use for his fishing trips. It sold for £345,000, despite its guide price of between £50,000 and £70,000.
International Managing Director of Collectors Cars at Bonhams, James Knight said: This once again shows the steady rise of interest in Aston Martin cars that we have seen since we started these sales at Aston Martin Works.
