Rowan Atkinson’s 1986 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato Has Just Been Listed For Sale
Image: Dylan Miles
Rowan Atkinson’s one-of-a-kind, 1986 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato has just been listed for sale. Between 1986 and 1990, only 52 units of the model were produced. Atkinson’s car, chassis number 20013, was the first from the production run, but he didn’t get it until 1998. Atkinson had the car converted to racing specifications for the Aston Martin Owners Club’s C2 Class “Mildly Modified” category almost immediately.
Image: Dylan Miles
According to the listing, Atkinson’s V8 Vantage Zagato is the only example that has undergone this modification, which was carried out by the marque’s classic car division, Aston Martin Works. The vehicle’s 5.3-liter V-8 engine was rebuilt and upgraded with Weber Alpha fuel injection and ceramic-coated exhaust headers as part of the transformation. The engine output was increased as a result of these modifications. However, the conversion entailed more than just retuning the engine.
To reduce the car’s overall weight, lightweight panels and Perspex side windows were installed, and other modifications included a new racing-spec suspension and braking system with AP Racing components. It’s finished in Gladiator Red with a factory-style black interior and has a white racing gumball on both doors that used to display the number “33” when Atkinson raced the car.
Image: Dylan Miles
Atkinson drove his V8 Vantage Zagato for ten years, including a 2001 crash from which both he and the car escaped relatively unscathed. According to the car dealership, the car has since been retired from racing and was modified yet again in 2016 to make it more road-friendly. The car dealership does not list a price for the vehicle, but you can inquire via its website.