The History of this Beautiful 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Coupe

With proven mechanicals and a lightweight aluminium body by Italian coachbuilding house Zagato, the DB4 GT Zagato was Aston Martin’s latest salvo in a heated battle for supremacy in the early-1960s World Sports Car Championship against Ferrari. 

The Zagato Design: Lighter, Sleeker, Faster

Famed for its lightweight bodies, particularly for Alfa Romeo, Zagato’s chief designer, Ercole Spada, crafted a svelte body that shaved 50kg from the DB4 GT Zagato. Aston Martin also garnered an extra 12bhp from the straight-six engine. 

This particular car that I saw at the Concours of Elegance 2024 is chassis 0199/L. It is the second car built (despite the first chassis being 0200/R), and was part of a five-car consignment for Archie Bryde’s Autonautica firm. 

The Missing Years: 1960 to 1973

The trail goes cold until 1973, when Colin Crabbe bought the car from a dealer called Cupellini. He sold DB4 GT Zagato to UK dealer Mike Fisher. Now wearing an Italian take on British Racing Green, the car was raced by Fisher a few times, though it ended in disaster when the engine blew up at Silverstone. 

Rebuild and Modifications: Roger St John-Hart’s Intervention

Roger St John-Hart, a friend of Fisher’s, rebuilt the engine, before using it on the road. At the end of 1973 he advertised it for sale in Autosport, eventually selling it to Brian Classic. He had the car converted to right-hand drive at Robin Hamilton, and it was here that Philip Ludlam spied it while having work done on his own DB4. 

Philip Ludlam’s Brief Ownership and the Journey to America

Ludlam subsequently bought the car, using it occasionally because he wasn’t a huge fan of the Aston’s understeering nature. In 1975 he sold it to Bob Stockman of Connecticut, who immediately used it to compete in Aston Martin Owners Club racing events. He had the car returned to left-hand drive by American specialist Don Lefferts of Connecticut using the original dashboard, which had been retained by Hamilton. At some point in the 1970s it was repainted red. 

Stockman had the DB4 GT Zagato completely retrimmed in the mid-1980s and the paint renewed; it later had another engine rebuild after a main bearing failure at Lime Rock. 

Extensive Renovation in 1992

1992 saw a further engine rebuild as part of an extensive renovation. Stockman used the DB4 GT Zagato regularly, enjoying a dozen 1000-mile US tours and rallies. This included tackling the California Mille alongside then Chrysler chairman Bob Lutz. In 1993 the car was featured in Road & Track magazine. 

Jack Boxstrom Takes the Wheel

After relocating to Florida, Stockman sold the car to Jack Boxstrom, who quickly raced it at Lime Rock. Ownership passed to the current custodian in 2012. The DB4 GT Zagato has recently undergone a full restoration by RS Williams to original specification: 

ENGINE – 3670cc/inline-six/ naturally aspirated/DOHC

TRANSMISSION – Four-speed manual, RWD

POWER – 314bhp

TORQUE – 278lb ft

TOP SPEED – 152mph 

0-60MPH – 6.1secs

WEIGHT – 1160kg 

I’ve always loved this car, it’s one of the most beautiful cars of all time in my opinion. I would so love to own and drive this car. What a beautiful work of automotive art. Super cool. What do you think of this car? This car really caught my attention and made it into my top 10 cars at the 2024 Concours of Elegance. Check out that top 10 here.