American Roadster 1
捨てがたい選択肢ですね。 潔い選択肢と言った方が合っていますが。
No Roof, No Problem. ですから。
日本じゃちょっと・・・。なんて思ったりもします。
どこまで行っても雨は降るでしょうから、まあ同じですかね。
この"DB AR1"は、2003年~2004年にかけて生産されました。
こちらもDB7 Zagato同様に99台のみの限定品。
イタリアのカロッツェリアZagatoデザインで、英国Aston Martinブランド。なのにアメリカンロードスター。主なターゲットがカリフォルニアとのこと。複雑な世の中ですね。
勝てば官軍—ふと連想した言葉です（深い意味はありません）。
Other information :
The "American Roadster 1" was specifically designed for the overseas market (most cars aimed at California).
Based on a DB7 Vantage Volante (and longer than the DB7 Zagato) the AR1 is powered by the 435bhp GT version of the V12.
Unique features include its complete lack of hood or weather gear, a distinctive large grille aperture which also featured on the DB7 Zagato.
Productionモデルはこのホイールデザインですね。
あと、こんな記事があったので宜しければご覧下さい。
DB7 had by now, eclipsed the DB6 production record in 1970 by building 2000 DB7 6 cylinder cars by June 1998 and 4000 some 24 months later.
The magnitude of this achievement highlighted by the statistic that Aston Martin had taken some 70 years to build its first 10,000 cars.
The brainchild of the late Victor Gauntlet, DB7 was hailed as the saviour of this small but highly prized British car manufacturer.
With DB7 in it’s eighth year of production at the Bloxham facility and plans for the new Gaydon production centre surely underway, Aston Martin recognised there to be an opportunity to mark the end of the DB7 production at Bloxham and demonstrate to the world, they were still, first and foremost, a specialist car manufacturer.
In their capacity as judges at the pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2001, the CEO of Aston Martin, Dr Ulrich Bez met with Andrea, the Grandson of Udo Zagato.
The two discussed the concept of a very limited two-seater luxury sports GT road going Aston Martin similar to the rare V8 engined cars commissioned by Victor Gauntlet in the late 80’s. Unlike the two companies collaboration when, in 1960, both companies worked to produce arguably the most desirable post-war homologated sports car in the form of DB4 GT Zagato for competition use.
Only 19 DB4 GTz’s were produced, designed by Ercole Spada of Zagato who was also responsible for models such as the Fulvia series for Lancia and the SZ and TZ for Alfa Romeo.
Following this event, Andrea Zagato and his design team were instructed to pen some ideas for a new Zagato concept car based on DB7 Vantage and some four months later, the sketches arrived for Aston Martin’s the new design director, Henrik Fisher’s critique.
An announcement followed in advance of the Geneva motor show that, subject to interest, Aston Martin would produce a limited run of between 75 and 100 DB7 styled by Zagato.
A production run of 99 cars was sanctioned, all being reserved before official production commenced in 2003.
DB7 Zagato True to tradition, the bodies were crafted in Italy, and mated to a shortened DB7 chassis at Bloxham. Reminiscent of the 1960’s DB4 GT, the new Zagato shared many design features such as the single large grille or air intake, extravagant bulging body lines and aero dynamics that developed as the constant design criteria of all of the Zagato body designs.
A ‘double bubble’ roof panel was incorporated similar to that on the Ferrari 250 GT Zagato of 1957 an later models such as the Alfa Romeo Giuletta SVZ.
The interior, utilising the main DB7 dash and centre consul panels, was trimmed in rare and exclusive Analine leather with large areas being quilted. The tried and tested 6.0 litre V12 was re-mapped to 435 BHP and breathed through Astons active valve exhaust system first used on Vanquish.
Final drive ratios were sharpened up and matched to a quick shifting 6-speed gearbox reworked a round a more usable fulcrum point, and final drive taken up buy an AP twin plate racing clutch.
With a weight reduction over DB7 Vantage of some 60 kg, a DB7 Zagato will comfortably hit 60mph in under 5 seconds and go on to a maximum speed of 185mph.
DB AR1 or DB ‘American Roadster 1’ Dated Thursday 2nd January 2003, An Aston Martin press release officially announced a concept Zagato bodied roadster to be built to satisfy a niche in their ever expanding US market place.
This unique car was to be manufactured in a similar manner to the DB7 Zagato but as a roofless open two seater-sports tourer.
Dr Ulrich Bez emphasised that this car was a first for the company particularly as it was specifically designed for the fair-weather Californian customer who wanted an exclusive Aston Martin.
Sharing the same mechanical upgrades as the DB7 Zagato,DB7 GT and GTA, the DB AR1 or Aston Martin DB ‘American Roadster 1, was built on a standard length DB7 Vantage Volante chassis.
Following a private showing at an event in Los Angeles, AR1 production was cemented.
Again, 99 valued customers were invited to bespoke order their AR1’s, with only six customers taking delivery of cars outside the US.
This particular example is No 25 of 99 and believed to be the only one finished in this stunning colour scheme.
With the market place for rare and classic Aston Martin continuing to prosper, we suggest that this is a very real opportunity to acquire, not just one of these exclusive motor cars, but automotive art.
ちなみに、中古車の売り出しの記事ですが・・・。
これは、歴史的な経緯と各民族感情に配慮した結果の苦肉の策なのだそうです。
皆様のご来場を心よりお待ち申し上げます。
海外の超ユニークでナイスアイディアな画像です。
さすがにここまですると相当落ち着かないのでは・・・。
