Aston Martin · 1960–1963

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

The Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato is a grand tourer sports car designed by Zagato and produced between 1960 and 1963. Introduced in October 1960 at the London Motor Show, it was effectively a DB4 GT, lightened and improved by the Zagato factory in Italy, by Ercole Spada. Initially, the factory planned to produce 25 cars, but demand was not as strong as expected and production was reduced to 19. Growing popularity of the original DB4 GT Zagato resulted in two subsequent waves of 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. Also, an unauthorised industry of modifying original DB4 GTs into "Zagato" replicas has arisen.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Aston Martin V8 Zagato

All Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years → + Compare

Specification

=== Engine === Although the specification of the engine was changed and upgraded throughout their racing history, the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato predominantly featured a 3.7-litre aluminium twin-spark straight 6-cylinder engine with a 9.7:1 compression ratio, higher than the DB4 GT engine. The engine produced 314 hp (234 kW), and had a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration of 6.1 seconds and a top speed of approximately 154 mph (248 km/h). Body. Ercole Spada at Zagato transformed the DB4 GT into a smaller, more aerodynamic, super-lightweight car. Many steel components were replaced with the more lightweight and heat-resistant aluminium components. All non-essential elements disappeared, such as the bumpers. With the help of Perspex and aluminium components, about 150 pounds (68 kg) was shed from the DB4 GT.

Racing history

Four of the original Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato's chassis, No.s 0191, 0193, 0182 (1 VEV) and 0183 (2 VEV), were built to a lightened DP207/209 specification especially for racing. The DP209 cars have a lower roofline, larger rear wings, a reshaped tail and a flatter, longer front end. The first major race using an Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato was around Easter in 1961 at Goodwood. Driven by Stirling Moss, the car finished 3rd, behind an Aston Martin DB4 GT and the winning Ferrari 250 GT. The most prominent DB4 GT Zagatos, affectionately known by the registration plates they share, 1 VEV and 2 VEV, were both raced under John Ogier's Essex Racing Stable, with assistance from the Aston Martin factory. Both the Zagatos raced in the 1961 24 Hours of Le Mans. However a repeat of the 1959 Le Mans victory was not to be, with both cars retiring. In July 1961 at a British Grand Prix Support race, the Zagato had its first victory with 2 VEV taking the last lap lead from a Jaguar E Type. 2 VEV crashed into a spa in 1962 and was rebuilt to the lightweight DP209 specification. After a car accident in 1993, the car was returned to the 1962 specification. Chassis 0200 raced in the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans; however, a blown piston after 9+1⁄2 hours forced the car to retire.

Sanction III Zagatos

The Zagato factory still had two spare body shells left over after producing the Sanction II Zagatos. In 1992, Richard 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. Walter Hayes gave his approval and the body shells along with two neglected Aston Martin DB4s (chassis No.s DB4/344/R and DB4/424/R) were completed to form a pair of Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato "Sanction IIIs" in the year 2000.

Aston Martin Continuation Series

In April 2019, Aston Martin Works (the heritage division of Aston Martin) started building a run of 19 DB4 GT Zagatos. The cars can only be purchased as part of the "DBZ Centenary Collection" pack which also includes an Aston Martin DBS GT Zagato. Instead of the original 3.7-litre straight-six, the recreations from Aston Martin Works use a 4.7-litre engine now making around 400 bhp. Aston Martin Works manufactured Continuation Series which captures the essence of Aston Martin's illustrious heritage.

Replicas

Various replica cars have been constructed based on DB4 and DB4 GT chassis. These replica (or recreation) cars bear a resemblance to the original Zagatos, but were not made by Zagato.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

Manufacturer

Aston Martin

Production

1960–1963, (25 produced, inc 4 Sanction II and 2 Sanction III)

Class

Grand tourer

Body style

2-door coupé

Engine

3670 cc Marek DOHC I6

Transmission

4-speed manual

Wheelbase

2362 mm

Length

4267 mm

Width

1557 mm

Height

1270 mm

Kerb weight

1225 kg

Successor

Aston Martin V8 Zagato

Related

Aston Martin DB4

Designer

Ercole Spada at Zagato

sp

uk

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q749853CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_Martin_DB4_GT_ZagatoCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1372948847 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DB4GT_Zagato_at_Goodwood.jpgCC BY 2.0 · Photo: Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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