For collectors, provenance, and limited production tend to be the winning trifecta—and the formula that helped send Ferrari's 250 GTO ever higher into the market stratosphere. By the numbers, though, Aston Martin's DB4 GT Zagato is even rarer. Born to race, beautifully designed, and produced in a run of just 19, the model has climbed well into the eight-figure territory. Now, one of the finest examples is set to headline the RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction, taking place August 13 through 15.Aston Martin unveiled what it hoped to be an improved Ferrari killer at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1960. The variant of the DB4 GT wore bodywork envisioned by Ercole Spada, then a young designer who had joined the famed Milanese coachbuilder Zagato only eight months earlier. He proved a quick study, giving the English coupe a dose of la dolce vita while sharpening its competitive edge through reduced weight. Under the hood was a revised inline-six engine delivering what's claimed to be more than 314 hp. And while the model was a disappointment at the 1961 24 Hours of Le Mans, where none of its entries finished, the car offered here made an immediate impression the first time it took to the track.More from Robb ReportAdvertisementAdvertisementHow Canada's Okanagan Valley Has Become a Luxe Playground for Wealthy Wine LoversA Fleet of New and Restored J-Class Sailing Yachts Is Taking Over the Mediterranean This YearThis Corvette Crashed During the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now It Could Fetch $2.5 Million at Auction.As with the exterior, the interior reflects 10 months of meticulous attention from Kevin Kay Restorations in 2018.From the factory, chassis No. 0186/R was dispatched to Australia in December of 1961, where owner Laurie O'Neill entered it in the 1962 GT Handicap at Calder approximately two months later. With three-time Australian Grand Prix champ Doug Whiteford behind the wheel, it finished first, then racked up two more wins with the same driver. Though raced throughout the season, the car was subsequently retired for an extended period because of rule modifications.After several ownership changes—including one stretch of nearly 20 years in static storage, it returned to the racetrack in the U.K. during the 1990s.At the start of the new millennium, its then-current steward sent the vehicle back to Zagato for a comprehensive restoration. The work paid off with a Best of Show award at the 2002 Louis Vuitton Concours d'Elegance, followed five years later by class wins at both Villa d'Este and Pebble Beach. After a 10-month renewal by Kevin Kay Restorations in 2018, the Aston returned to Pebble Beach the following year, where it was named a Best of Show finalist.AdvertisementAdvertisement"It has the rarity, competition purpose, Italian coachwork, and design that define the very top of the market," says Gord Duff, president of RM Sotheby's, who notes that it's "among the most desirable and important Aston Martins ever offered." He has a stake in the sale, of course, but the estimate—$12 million to $15 million—makes a persuasive case of its own. Top: One of only 19 examples built, this Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato won its debut race.Best of Robb ReportThe 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine BeastThe World's Best Superyacht ShipyardsThe ABCs of Chartering a YachtSign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Click here to read the full article.
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