ASTON MARTIN DB4 GT ZAGATO SANCTION III

The popularity of the original DB4 GT Zagato has resulted in two subsequent waves of road-going cars based on DB4s being rendered into "Zagatos" through the cooperation of Aston Martin and the Zagato works in Italy. They are known as "Sanction II" and "Sanction III" cars. In 1988, four unutilized chassis numbers were used for these Sanction II cars. With the approval of Aston Martin, the four DB4 chassis were appropriately uprated to GT specifications. These chassis were then sent to Zagato's Milan workshop to be bodied like the originals, with a smaller oval grille, without the stock DB4 GT's rear tail fins, and with a smoothed out rear end. To familiarise the workforce with construction techniques of the 60's, an original DB4 GT Zagato was sent along to be dismantled and measured. These 'Works Approved Replicas' were known as the Sanction II cars. They were outwardly identical, but several changes were made in the interest of improving handling, included thicker anti-roll bars and adjustable suspension.  Changes to the Sanction II cars included a larger engine capacity, increasing from 3.7 litres to 4.2 litres and fitment of 15-inch 6J Borrani chromed wire wheels. The acceleration was greatly improved by these upgrades.

The first of the four GT specification rolling chassis were delivered to Zagato in January 1989 and the fourth in April of the same year. With all four being completed in July 1991. All four cars were then given their own chassis numbers appropriate to the 1960s.  The Zagato factory still had two spare body shells left over after producing the Sanction II Zagatos, so in 1992 Richard S. Williams approached the Executive Chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd, Walter Hayes, and sought approval for the spare body shells to be used to create two further 'Sanction' cars, to be constructed and road registered.  Walter Hayes gave his approval and the body shells along with two neglected Aston Martin DB4's (chassis' DB4/334/R and DB4/424/R) were completed into a pair of Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Sanction III’s in the years 1999 and 2000. The two final Zagatos had an engine capacity of 4.7 litres and produced 359 lb/ft of torque at 4000 rpm, making them the most powerful DB4 GT Zagatos ever produced. They were dubbed Sanction III cars by Aston Martin Heritage and are naturally included in the Zagato Register.

Just emerged from long term ownership, this special Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato is now available for the first time in 12 years, complete with valuable cherished registration number. With service history and invoices from Aston Engineering, and recent recommissioning works this DB4 GT Zagato is all ready to be enjoyed.

Available to view now at our London showroom.