Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato
The Aston Martin DB4 is a grand tourer produced by Aston Martin from 1958 until 1963.
Technically the DB4 was not a development of the DB Mark III it replaced. It had a platform rather than a tubular chassis with a new engine by Tadek Marek. The DB4’s design formed the basis for later Aston Martin models, such as the DB4 GT Zagato, the Lagonda Rapide 4-door saloon.
Over 1200 Aston Martin DB4’s were produced including convertibles and the 19 Zagato bodied cars along with Bertone bodied cars.
Over the three years of production the car changed a number of times from the DB4 to a series 2, 3, 4 and five with feature and design changes and some engine power increases.
This particular Aston Martin DB4 series two was built for the export market to left hand drive configuration for the French market. Sold on 1 November 1960 by the Paris distributors Garage Mirabeau to its first owner in France.
The car was purchased by Mr Geoff Harris who had a vision in 1990 to convert a Aston Martin DB4 into a Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato racecar. The car was given to Clive Smart of Shapcraft in Northampton the world-renowned steel and aluminum fabricators of some of the most impressive classic motorcars in the world.
The car was campaigned in 1993 with a Aston Engineering twin spark engine, straight cut four speed period gearbox and a racing rear axle. Full racing suspension, steering and brakes were fitted and the usual roll bar, fire extinguisher system.
This was a very competitive motorcar in its day with some very impressive engine performance figures from the test bed and track times.
The car competed in a number of AMOC and BDC events with some stunning results and trophy’s over the next two years, even at the Montlhery GP de I’Age d’Or where Geoff took the car to second place.
The car was then sold to Mr. Thomas McWhirter in August 1997 who continued with the good fortune of competing with the car in many more AMOC events and returning some very good performance results.
Mr. McWhirter continued to race the car through to 2006 and it still managed to get on to the rostrum with some great results.
The car was purchase by the current owner after changing hands in 2019 to convert into a road car, but after many hours of fact-finding, it was crazy to dismantle such a great racecar, so it is still in race format today, but missing the seat, harness and fire extinguish system.
The car is a full light weight with a very strong cage, very fast and impressive in every way, jut a stunning motor car, still with a Aston Martin registration document and supportive documentation.