Nearly three decades after the incredible success of the DB4GT Zagato, Aston Martin once again joined forces with the renowned Italian coachbuilder to create the V8 Vantage Zagato coupe. Remarkably, the entire order book for the limited production run of just 50 examples was filled on the strength of the basic concept, design drawings, and a scale model at Geneva in 1985!

The Zagato’s distinctive bodywork, rendered in lightweight aluminum, was a modern interpretation of the DB4GT. During the design process, Zagato trimmed the wheelbase of the contemporary V8 by just over 17 centimeters and deleted the rear seats, creating the first two-seat Aston Martin since the DB4GT. Underhood, the Tadek Marek–designed 5.3-liter, four-cam V-8 was uprated to 432 bhp, offering top speeds of some 186 km/h.

Given the success of the Zagato coupe, plans were made for an open-top version, and the Volante Zagato convertible debuted at Geneva in 1987. To accommodate for the lack of a fixed roof, the chassis provided more torsional rigidity than the coupe. In order to not upset the customers who had bought the coupe, the Volante was fitted with the V/585 electronic fuel-injected V-8—therefore no bonnet bulge was needed. While not as brutal as the Vantage Zagato, the Volante engine produced over 320 bhp—a very strong performance, nonetheless.

As sold to the current owner in 2010, the V8 Volante offered here was equipped with the lower-rated V/585 electronic fuel-injection specification. Immediately upon purchasing the car, the owner sent the vehicle to Aston Martin Works, where a full restoration began, with the intention to upgrade the car both physically and mechanically to Vantage specification. Today, the original engine is equipped with the massive Weber carburetors—and the accompanying power bulge. The front headlamps and grille were also modified to Vantage specification. Chassis 30026 is one of just six Volantes to have ever been returned to Works for this extremely rare upgrade.

Just 37 V8 Volante Zagatos were ultimately built, including only 12 original left-hand-drive cars; of those, this example is one of four equipped with an automatic gearbox. Offered here is an extremely rare example of that iconic partnership between Aston Martin and Zagato.