.
Launched in 2002, the DB7 Vantage Zagato was the first Zagato-bodied Aston Martin since the V8 Vantage
Zagato of 1986. The car on offer, chassis no. 700001, is the very first of just 99 examples produced. The
vehicle’s current owner first saw the initial sketches of what would become the DB7 Vantage Zagato in a
Basel nightclub. He immediately agreed to purchase the very first car, and signed a contract with the then
Aston Martin Lagonda CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez that night on the only slip of paper available – a napkin. The car
was eventually delivered in 2003, finished in Nero Black over Claret Red leather, and complete with optional
extras including brushed aluminium trim in place of the standard wood, upgraded sat-nav and stereo, and a
heated front windscreen. A carefully maintained example, it comes to auction accompanied by a numbered
presentation book, numbered suede jacket and umbrella (Est. €350.000–€400.000).
Immediately recognisable as a Zagato-bodied Aston Martin, the 2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato was built to
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary DB4GT Zagato, and unveiled at the prestigious Concorso
d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in 2011. With each vehicle taking 2,000 hours to create, coupled with a suitably
extravagant price tag, just 61 road-going cars were constructed. RM Sotheby’s has sourced the ‘holy grail’ of
the limited group, ‘No. Zero’, a special commission made by Aston Martin, complete with distinctive design
cues by Aston Martin’s bespoke ‘Q’ department. Supplied new to Paris in late 2012, the then-owner worked
closely with Aston Martin to create ‘No. Zero’, complete with one-off Zagato-badged key, unique painted fixed
wing and a one-of-one Scarab badge. At the time, Aston Martin didn’t allow bespoke badges to be added to
the V12 Zagatos, but made an exception in this case, creating a yet unrepeated one-off Scarab beetle design
‘AML wings’ badge on the nose of the car. Offered in Paris by its first owner, ‘No. Zero’ remains today one of
the most exclusive—and individual—Aston Martins available on the market, and would be the crowning glory
of any collection (Est. €625.000–€675.000).
“Hot on the heels of stunning successes in London and Milan, and with an astonishing offering including
motor cars such as these Aston Martin Zagatos, our Paris sale is set to provide a thrilling start to our 2017
auction season,” says Peter Wallman, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s Europe. “Together, these Astons
represent one of the greatest brand partnerships in the motoring world, that between Aston Martin and Zagato,
and we can’t wait to bring them to Paris in February.”
The limited-edition Aston Martin duo will be joined in Paris by one of the most historically important Porsches
ever offered on the open market. The Porsche 901, now known as the 911, paved the way for Porsche’s road
and race car success. When Porsche was developing the 901, it made 13 pre-production models, of which
just one was completed as a Cabriolet. The drop-top 901 was also the actual car from which the subsequent
iconic 911 Targa concept originated, developed and evolved. RM Sotheby’s is thrilled to have consigned this
very car, the 1964 Porsche 901 Cabriolet Prototype, chassis no. 13360, which is the second oldest
surviving 901/911 chassis, and one of just two pre-production 901s still in existence. Sitting right at the heart
of the birth of the legendary 911, and given its significant history and provenance, it would be a welcome
addition to any important Porsche or classic car collection (Est. €850.000-€1.000.000).
Coinciding with the world-famous Rétromobile week (8-12 February, 2017), RM Sotheby’s Paris auction will
be held at Place Vauban immediately after the Festival Automobile International which runs through 5
February. This exciting event features a stunning display of beautiful concept cars and pays tribute to car
designers from around the world. For further information on Festival Automobile International, please visit
www.festivalautomobile.com.
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