Legendary Aston Martin at auction

22 October, 2015

Ask me, if money is no object, what car I’d most like to own and you’ll always get the same answer — Aston Martin’s gorgeous, and incredibly rare, DB4GT Zagato. With only 19 examples ever built, these special cars are, undoubtedly, the priciest and most coveted road-going Aston ever built — a breathtaking combination of the iconic DB4 kitted out with Zagato’s beautiful and lightweight aluminium bodywork.

Quite simply, opportunities to obtain one of these spectacular Astons are virtually non-existent — until now! Yes, one of these DB4GT Zagato will be on the block at RM Sotheby’s Driven by Disruption sale, scheduled to take place on December 10 at Sotheby’s New York. This rare Aston will be joined by a carefully curated selection of some 30 pioneering motor cars.

The DB4GT Zagato featured — chassis number DB4GT/0186/R — is the only example delivered new to Australia, having been completed in 1961. Purchased by businessman Laurie O’Neil, the car was raced extensively during the 1962 season and enjoyed numerous victories and podium successes in the hands of Doug Whitehead, including victory in the South Pacific GT Championship and fourth overall in the Sports Car Championship on the same day. The car remained in Australia for the next 30 years before returning to the UK in 1993. Since then, the car has been fully restored to concours standard and has scored numerous awards at events such as the Louis Vuitton Concours, Villa d’Este and Pebble Beach.

Alas, I have to report that, much as I’d like to, I doubt that I’ll be bidding on this amazing Aston Martin — even if I cracked open the piggy bank I doubt if I’d be able to scrape up enough to afford this blue-chip beauty.

The Pininfarina 230 SL

It’s October 1964, and imagine you’re an automotive journalist covering that year’s Paris Auto Show (Mondial de l’Automobile). As you approach the Pininfarina booth, you come across a car that looks a bit like the Mercedes-Benz 230 SL introduced the previous year at the Geneva Auto Show, a car then arriving at Mercedes-Benz dealerships around the world.
But looking closely, its styling and proportions seem to be a bit different. And it has a fixed roof, unlike the Pagoda-style greenhouse of the removable hardtop seen on the production 230 SL. While today, the styling of the W113, under the supervision of Head of Styling Friedrich Geiger, with lead designers Paul Bracq and Bela Barenyi, is considered a mid-century modern masterpiece, acceptance in-period was not universal. Some critics called out the concave design of its removable roof, which ultimately gave the car its “Pagoda” nickname.

Ford Falcon display: Bill Richardson Transport World

Ford Falcon enthusiasts from around Southland have made their pride and joy, Australian Ford Falcons, available for the extensive display now on at Bill Richardson Transport World in Invercargill.
Avid local Ford Falcon GT collectors, Roger and Diane Whyte have made a number of their cars available for display, while a
real rarity is Robin MacDonald’s factory original 1971 Ford Falcon Phase II GTHO.
From the very first to the very last Ford Falcon, this is a great opportunity to view these Australian icons under one roof.
The exhibition is on until early June. Don’t miss it!