This rare 1962 Aston may fetch $15M at Monterey auction
This rare 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato is headed to RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction from August 13 through 15, with an estimate of $12 million to $15 million. One of only 19 built, chassis 0186/R brings race wins, Zagato coachwork, and major concours honors to Monterey Car Week.
Key Takeaways
- The DB4 GT Zagato is one of only 19 examples ever produced.
- RM Sotheby's estimates the car at $12 million to $15 million for Monterey Car Week.
- Chassis 0186/R won its debut race in Australia in 1962 with Doug Whiteford driving.
- Later restorations earned Best of Show and major class wins at Villa d'Este and Pebble Beach.
- The car headlines the RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction from August 13 through 15.
Why does this rare 1962 Aston matter to collectors?
For collectors, provenance and limited production tend to drive the top of the market. By the numbers, Aston Martin's DB4 GT Zagato is even rarer than Ferrari's celebrated 250 GTO run. Born to race, finished with Italian coachwork, and produced in a run of just 19, the model has climbed well into eight-figure territory.
According to Robb Report, Gord Duff, president of RM Sotheby's, says the car has "the rarity, competition purpose, Italian coachwork, and design that define the very top of the market." He calls it "among the most desirable and important Aston Martins ever offered."
What is the racing story behind chassis 0186/R?
Aston Martin unveiled the DB4 GT Zagato at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1960 as a Ferrari rival. Bodywork came from Ercole Spada, then a young designer at Milanese coachbuilder Zagato. The revised inline-six was claimed at more than 314 hp, with weight savings meant to sharpen its competitive edge.
Chassis No. 0186/R was dispatched to Australia in December 1961. Owner Laurie O'Neill entered it in the 1962 GT Handicap at Calder about two months later. With three-time Australian Grand Prix champion Doug Whiteford behind the wheel, it finished first, then racked up two more wins that season before an extended retirement after rule modifications.
After several ownership changes—including nearly 20 years in static storage—the Aston returned to the racetrack in the U.K. during the 1990s. Early in the new millennium, its steward sent the car back to Zagato for a comprehensive restoration.
How has this rare 1962 Aston performed on the concours circuit?
That Zagato restoration paid off with Best of Show at the 2002 Louis Vuitton Concours d'Elegance. Five years later, the car took class wins at both Villa d'Este and Pebble Beach. After a 10-month renewal by Kevin Kay Restorations in 2018, it returned to Pebble Beach the following year as a Best of Show finalist.
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When can bidders bid on this rare 1962 Aston at Monterey?
The Aston is set to headline the RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction during Monterey Car Week, taking place August 13 through 15. With a $12 million to $15 million estimate, the sale puts one of the finest surviving DB4 GT Zagatos in front of collectors chasing competition heritage, Zagato design, and proven concours credentials.