One to Buy: 1 of 1 ex-Geneva Motor Show 2004 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Roadster
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When Ferrari returned to the front-engined Gran Turismo market with the critically-acclaimed 550 Maranello in 1996, Aston Martin suddenly found itself with a big budget rival in a sector it had ruled without much opposition for more than two decades.
In 2001, the British firm duly responded with arguably one of its most beautiful creations ever: the V12 Vanquish.
Having sold a little under 2600 units sold during a six year production run, a lifespan that saw an uprated Vanquish S introduced in 2004, the Vanquish was a big commercial success. Unfortunately though, Aston Martin never offered an open top variant despite having commissioned Zagato of Milan to create a Roadster Prototype for the 2004 Geneva Motor Show.
On October 10th, that one-off Vanquish Zagato Roadster will be going under the hammer at Broad Arrow Auctions’ sale at the Zoute Concours d’Elegance in Belgium.
Chassis ‘PP19’ was built on one of the many leftover pre-production Vanquish chassis. It incorporated a transparent canopy in Zagato’s trademark ‘Double Bubble’ style, DB-AR1-style tail lights and a subtly redesigned back bumper. Most of the interior fixtures and fittings were imported from the standard car.
Configured in Aysgarth Blue with Red upholstery, following its Geneva outing PP19 was displayed at Villa d'Este and Pebble Beach, after which it was acquired by a US collector who went on to have Aston Martin Works Service in Newport Pagnell carry out its desirable six-speed manual gearbox conversion.
Chassis ‘PP19’ heads to auction with a little under 18,000 miles on the odometer and is being sold with no reserve.
