Rare Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato Roadster (w/ startup)

A very rare 2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 starting up and leaving Peninsula Cars & Coffee at Promenade on the Peninsula, organized by the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance. Introduced at the 2003 Los Angeles Auto Show, the DB AR1 (which stood for "American Roadster 1") was intended exclusively for the North American market and featured unique bodywork designed by Zagato in collaboration with Henrik Fisker (who was Aston Martin's design director at the time). Like the DB7 Zagato coupe, it was based on the DB7 Vantage and is powered by the DB7's 6.0-liter V12 engine tuned to produce 435 horsepower. This example, finished in Pentland Green with Light Tan interior, is no. 008 of 100 DB AR1s built (99 customer cars plus one additional example for Aston Martin's own collection).

Many of Zagato's cars are offered in both closed and open forms, each with unique visual features. Zagato figured that those who would opt for a convertible variant obviously prefer to drive with the top down, so the open version of the DB7 Zagato coupe came with no top at all. Thankfully, that's generally not a problem here in sunny Southern California, which explains how the entire production run was already sold by the end of the L.A. Auto Show where the car made its debut. This car is undoubtedly sexy with its giant front grille, curvaceous body, and circular taillights. It's both unmistakably Aston Martin and unmistakably Zagato, and it's rare has heck, too. I'd always wanted to see a DB AR1 in person and am glad to have finally done so.

What is your favorite Zagato-bodied Aston Martin? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!