| ASTON
MARTIN DB4 GT ZAGATO 1959 |
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DB4 GT: the DB4 was
introduced at the 1958 London Motor Show and represented the new course of the factory,
imprinted towards an industrial way of producing, abandoning the too much
personalized versions, which had been built, until that moment, as unique cars. For the
auto body, the factory had addressed to Touring, following the tendency of the period:
infact, many factories asked help to our famous "ateliers". The sport cars
weren't on the crest anymore so David Browns decided to dedicate himself to
the GT category. And here is the debut of DB4 GT at 1959 Paris Motor Show.
This car, in the intentions of the planners, had to answer to two requirement: lightness
and compactness. The wheelbase was shorter than 13 cm. and the length went from 4480 mm.
to 4350 mm. Also the weight was reduced: from 1308 kg. to 1269. 65 chassis were
produced (chassis 0124 , 0125, 0151 ulteriorly lightened for the Essex Racing Stable). The
motor was Line-6 with 3670 cc. displacement, 302 hp. @ 6000 rpm., three Weber
carburetors 45DC03. The maximum speed was almost 245 km/h.
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DB4 GT Zagato:
at the Aston Martin, in any case, the idea of a real sport car was not
abandoned; at the1960 London Motor Show, the DB4 GT Zagato was introduced; it had more
grim grintosa, but also more refinement. The auto body had been design from Ercole Spada
(it weighed 18 kg. less than the auto body of the Touring). The most part of the auto
bodies were assembled at Milan, and were completed and painted in the plants of Newport
Pagnell and, for this, there are some small differences among the 19 DB4 GT Zagato: the
design of calenders, in some case, encloses also the traffics indicator, the lateral air
inlet can has a chromium plated profile; the "Z" of Zagato factory can be found
over or in front of the air inlet; the rear mudguards can have several dimensions; on the
cowling a simple or double air inlet can appear.
The engine had an ulteriorly increased compression ratio (from 9,1:1 to 9,7:1); the
maximum power was 314 hp. and maximum torque was 38 kgm. On the plan of the performances,
the maximum speed was 286 km/h and an the top acceleration from 0 to 100 was 4,2 sec.
The luggage van was reduced to the minimum for the presence of the spare wheel and the
enormous fuel-tank of 136 liters (the consumption is 20,5 liters for 100 km.).
The sport career of DB4 GT Zagato was surely a relief. The Essex Racing team stable of
John Ogier introduced the Aston Martin in all the tracks of Europe in the 1961-62 driven
by Jim Clark, Roy Salvadori and Tony Maggs. It had some moments of Glory but it never did
not succeed to compete with the Ferrari 250 SWB and 250 GTO, except in a case: Rallye DES
Routes du North in 1964.
19 chassis with numbers comprised between 0176 and 0200 were built. The n. 0201 had been
"dressed" with Bertone coachwork.
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| Engine |
Front,
longitudinal, DOHC line-6 |
| Bore x stroke |
92 x 92 mm. |
| Displacement |
3670 cc. |
| Feeding |
3 Weber
carburettors DCOE. |
| Max. power |
314
hp. @ 6000 rpm. |
| Max torque |
38 kgm. @ 6000
rpm. |
| Transmission |
Rear traction |
| Gearbox |
4 gears + Rm. |
| Clutch |
Dry dual disc |
| Frame |
made with steel |
| Front suspensions |
Laid upon Triangles, helycal
springs, thelescopical shock-absorbers, anti-roll bar. |
| Rear suspensions |
Salisbury firm axle, force arms,
Watt bar, helycal springs, thelescopical shock-absorbers. |
| Brakes |
Girling disks
without power brake. |
| Tyres |
6,00 x 16 |
| Dimensions |
4350 x 1680 x 1320
mm. |
| Weight |
1269 kg. |
| Performances |
Max speed: 286 km/h.
Top acceleration 0-100 km/h: 4,2 sec. |
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0176/R |
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As the
abbreviation indicates, it's a right-hand car (R means right).
The Astons DB4 GT aren't numbered with sell or production order..
This car was completed in July 1961 and was bought in 1962
Octrober by Edward Beck & Sons of Cheshire. It stayed a lot
in the island of Man, then it was owned by Victor Gauntlett,
Paul Vestey and Adrian Hamilton. It's first license-plate was
BMN 4 and now with this smashing red paint, the car has the
license-plate AE 500. |
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0177/R |
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It's first
license-plate was EP 151 in 1961 December, it was driven by Lord
Portmann in 1962 (first overall at Silverstone), then it was
owned by Jonathan Baynes, froml 1966 and 1969, and Guy Williams.
Adapted for street use with horrible bumpers, maroon paint and
radio, it's actually owned by E.C. Turk, who has given its
orignal shape, painting it with red and taking away the bumpers.
It's license-plate is 6 ECE. |
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0178/L |
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It came out at
1961 Spa G.P., driven by Corhesy. It was was bought by Fridolin
Haechler (Swiss license-plate AG 34255), and wen to the USA,
where it was tested by Car & Driver, and it was sold to
several persons (Newton Davis of New York, Chris Murray of
Massachussets and Kenneth Levin in 1967). In 1972 it was bought
by Jerry Rosenstock which had restored tehe red painted body. It
has big mudguards as the race models. |
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0179/L |
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It was tested
by Auto Motor und Sport 1963 December; it stayed a lot in
California (owned by Ken Allen, Edmund Elaney, Charles Dant and
others). The last known owner is Steve O'Rourke (ex Pink Floyd);
it's license-plate is XV 71. |
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0180/L |
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In 1961 this
withe car took the Swiss license-plate VD 7577Z. It has runs at
the Le Mans 24 Hours driven by Kerguen-"Franc". Then
it was used in not so much important races at Clermont-Fernand,
Monza and Monthlery, with a larger side intake.. Josè Rosinski
took it even in Japan. The last known owner is Serge Pozzoli. |
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0181/L |
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It has been Mr
Zagato's personal car, this car has an air intake on the bonnet.
After having stayed for a while in France (license-plate 845 NK
01) it arrived in England in 1973, and there it's now. It's
color is metal grey-green, and has changed its license plate
from SUA 50 to VGF 1 and has received a tube as
front bumper. |
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0182/R |
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It's
one of the most famous DB4 GT Zagato, because it's one of the two
cars which were ordered by John Ogier for his team Essex Racing
Stable. The "1 VEV" came out at the 1961 Le Mans 24
hours (driven by Consten-Fairman) where it retired; but it arrived
3rd o.a. at Aintree (Salvadori), 3rd at the Goodwood Tourist
Trophy (Salvadori) and 2nd at Monza (Maggs). At Paris 1000
kilometers at Montlhèry, Jim clark and Innes Ireland arrived 6th
overall behind the Ferraris 250 GT. In 1962 it raced at Oulton
Park (Maggs) and at Goodwood (Warner). On sale in 1968 by
Mason-Styrron the 1 VEV was bought by Robert D. Gregory. |
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0183/R |
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It has
been the 2nd car of the Essex Racing Stable, with license-plated 2
VEV, and with the same characteristics of the first one, even with
bigger mudguard.After an ulucky debut at the Le Mans (Davison-Stilwell),
it won at Aintree, (Davison), and at Goodwood (4th overall with
Clark). Inl 1962 neither Bianchi nor Clark succeeded in winning
some race. The 2 VEV stayed in a Scottish museum from 1964 to
1968, then it was sold to Cusson in 1969 and to Roger A. St.
John-Hart in 1972. It has recived, unfortunately, big modifies: a
bigger calender to install thetraffic indicators and bigger
mudguard to receive 15" tyres. |
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0184/R |
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It was
testede by Autocar in 1962 (license-plate 4359 ML), it was used by
the Dunlop to test tyrs and brakes then it was bought by Bob Owen.
Brian Classick, Anthony Bamford, Ernie Miller, Ian Hilton e
Philippe Marq have been the next owners. It's license-plate is
8 DBL. |
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0185/R |
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Without
a great story, it's a wonderful green painted car with license
plate XNE 1; it has been owned by J. Gardiner e R.A. Parker. |
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0186/R |
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It was
bought by Laurie O'Neil in 1963, then it emigrated to
Australia, where it has been owned by Colin Hyams e A.E Copland. |
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0187/L |
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At
1961 Turin Motor Show there were two DB4 GT, one in the Zagato's
stand, the other in the Aston Martin's stand, the 0187/l. It has
light bumpers and an intake on the bonnet. It received an Italian
license-plate (NA 451710), then it was sent to California by Bill
Mazzocchi and bought by Nick Begovich. |
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0188/L |
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It's a
model with bulging lights by a request of the first owner a
Swedish. It was introduced by Supercar Classic when it was bought
by Malcolm Paris, after N.Moores and S. O'Rourke. It was on sale
at Michael Fisher 1985 June and emigrated to Australia. It has
been converted in rigth-hand drive. |
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0189/R |
There
are few informations about it. It was bought by Ken Hobbs in 1967, it was sold to Ken
Cohen (South Africa, license-plate TJ 11312) in 1972, then C. McLaren (Scotland, 37HP),in
early Nineties it was in Shack Collection (Germany). |
0190/L |
It
was sold in 1962 June to James Murray, then it went to Germany and Sweden in 1966 (with
license plate 43000 and then MA 4160), it was bought by Henning Wendel. In 1972 it came
back to England and was owned by T.G. Leake. In 1977 it was sold to Cotrell and Captain
Forshaw (license-plate AUJ 655L). Its calender has a strange squared shape . |
0191/R |
It's
a special light model which takes a factory abbreviation DP 209. In 1963-64 has run
several races driven by David Skailes. Among its following owners there are Johnny Walker
and Maybury. |
0192 |
| Number not
given. |
0193/R |
It
started its career at Le Mans in 1962 with an azure painted body, the colour of the
Mirabeau garage. It's similar to the DP 209 and it's recognizable for the large calender
to receive the light indicators and the "coulisse" side windows. It was
ordered by Jean Kerguen and raced for several years with French license-plate (475 TTA
75). It was at Le Mans in 1962 and 1963 (with numbers 12 e 19, driven by Kerguen-Franc, retired).
In 1964, provided with antifog lights, rear wind, and bigger side intake it won the
Route du Nord rally driven by Leguèzec-Franc, towards the GTO ex Tavano de Garant. Then
it was taken to England, with the license-plate SBH 209D, then 6003 ND and were painted
with dark green. After T.G. Leake (1966), E.F. Miller (1972), M.C. Dent (1973), the last
known owner is Nigel G.K. Dawes. |
0194/R |
It's
one of the two DP-214, the DB4 GT with the special body similar to the DP 215 prototype.
This car has run at Le Mans in 1963 driven by Schlesser and Kimberly (n.7); it raced at
Brands Hatch (Ireland, 6th), Goodwood (Ireland, 7th), Monza (Salvadori, 1st), Monthlèry
(leguèzec, 1st); then it raced again at Le Mans in 1964 (Salmon-Sutcliffe, n.18, retired)
and some secondary races. He had raced also from 1965 to 1974, then it has been restored
by Richard Williams. |
0195/R |
It's
the 2nd DP214 which was driven by McLaren-Ireland (n.8); it run at Le Mans but it also won
with Schlesser, at Monthlèry, at the 1963 Coupe du Salon. It's career ended wit the fatal
accident of Hetreed at the 1964 Nurburgring 1000 kilomenters tests. |
0196-0198 |
| Numbers not
given. |
0199/L |
The
only few things we know about it is that it has gone to U.S to be owned by P.Ludman and
then R.Stockman. |
0200/R |
With
any doubt, it's the first DB4 Zagato, shown at the 1960 London Motor Show. Originally it
had two intakes on front mudguards for front brakes. It was used by the factory at
Goodwood in 1961. But its first great race was the 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours driven by
Sulmon-Baillie. The front intake lost their function but they remained as an ornament, and
the rear mudguards got larger. In 1963 it was driven by Hetreed. The next owners were
George Drummond in 1964, Bill Butcher in 1967, Bert Young in 1970 and R.A. St. John-Hart
in 1974, who has sold it to K. Nakaucki. Its paint is dark blu and has large mudguards. |
0201/L |
This
chassis were was given to Bertone to built the Jet prototype shown at 1961 Geneva and
Turin Motor Show painted with light green. It was sold in Nebraska in the same year, in
Nevada 1966 and in California in 1967. In the early nineties the owner was A.L. Stemmer. |
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