Page 21 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

maintained the V12’s base 420 horsepower rating. GT and GTA models received a new grille, new wheels, and a new spoiler, plus a new clutch, sport suspension, underbody aerodynamics, and upgraded brakes.
In addition to the more powerful engine, GT variants also received a distinctive appearance package, improved brakes and a new clutch.
Special Editions
Aston built just 190 units of the GT, and 112 of the GTA, making them comparatively rare. However, that’s not as rare as a series of various special editions that the company produced. Most of these are simply special colors but some had interesting features like the 78 examples of the 1998 Alfred Dunhill Edition. This model came with a humidor for cigars built into the cabin. More notably, Aston Martin made 50 examples of a Golden Jubilee edition to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 50th anniversary as monarch. These were all painted a special deep Jubilee Blue.
Finally, at the end of the model’s production life Aston asked
TOP: Introduced in 2003, the DB7 Zagato rekindled a relationship that had started with the DB4 GT Zagato in 1961. A very special model, both the open and closed versions were limited to 99 examples each.
Aston Martin DB7
ABOVE: The distinctive Zagato double bubble roof is apparent in Italian coachbuilder Zagato to build a special edition of 99 this rear view of the DB7 Zagato coupe.
Built for exclusive sale in the United States market, the open version of the Zagato was known as the DB AR1, which stood for DB American Roadster 1. Each of these cars were built following completion of the closed variant’s run and were finished alongside the DB9 in the new Gaydon assembly plant.
Wayne Carini  Affordable Classics  19