Prior to its acquisition by Ford in 1994, the early 1990s had not been kind to Aston Martin, and as time went on, the once profitable and storied British marque was only selling a few dozen automobiles per year and it could barely compete with its rivals on any level. Ford took it upon themselves to immediately invest in the company, and they built a new factory in Bloxham to produce an all-new model, the DB7. By 1995, Aston Martin had returned to prosperity, building a record 700 vehicles. By 2002, another landmark had been reached when the 6,000th DB7 rolled of the assembly line at Bloxham, eclipsing total production for all previous DB models combined. At this point, it was evident that Aston Martin’s best days weren’t behind it, they were still to come.

The DB AR1 was first shown to the public at the 2003 Los Angeles Auto Show, and it was instantly regarded as one of the best designs that both Aston Martin and Zagato had ever produced, which was accomplished by simply chopping off the top of the already stunning DB7 Vantage Zagato Coupe. Not only that, but it allowed North American customers a chance to purchase the design that so many had longed after but was not originally available in their market. The “American Roadster” boasted the same 48-valve, 6.0-liter V-12 as its closed sibling. This engine could produce 435 brake horsepower and lead the car to a top speed of 185 mph and a 0–60 time of 4.9 seconds.

This particular DB AR1 is the second example built of just ninety-nine produced in total, and it is offered today from single ownership. The car is finished in the iconic Aston Martin color that was also seen on Carroll Shelby’s 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning DB R1, which beautifully shows off Zagato’s stunning coachwork and harkens back to Aston Martin’s glory days. The interior is finished in mint green, in an effort to bring the car’s exterior color to its interior, and it does a fantastic job of complementing the car’s paintwork. The DB AR1’s odometer shows fewer than 800 miles, and it has been preserved in virtually as-new condition in a large collection of collector cars from new.

The DB AR1 Roadster is a highlight in both the histories of Aston Martin and Zagato, and it is still fondly remembered as one of the most stunning Aston Martins of the 21st century. It is a bold statement when compared to the other cars that have left Aston Martin’s facilities in the past 15 years. This particular example is certainly one of the finest, as it is the second production example, it is being offered from single ownership, it has travelled fewer than 800 miles, and it is finished in an iconic and alluring color combination. As such, it would be an astute acquisition for any collector, and it will surely not disappoint.