The 99-car open Zagato roadster created for the US market after the DB7 Zagato coupé was frozen out.
The DB AR1 ("DB American Roadster 1") was created to satisfy US demand after the DB7 Zagato coupé was frozen out of the American market on homologation grounds. Designed by Zagato on the standard DB7 Volante chassis to overcome type-approval issues, it was unveiled at the January 2003 Los Angeles Auto Show and final assembly completed at Gaydon.
A fully open two-seat roadster with no folding roof (weather protection by tonneau cover only), it used the 6.0-litre V12 producing around 435 bhp, 0–60 mph 4.9 s, 189 mph; the majority were supplied with a five-speed manual gearbox. Steel rear wings with aluminium front wings, doors and bonnet, and the Zagato double-bubble motif carried to the tonneau. Strictly limited to 99 cars, all left-hand drive for the American market and sold before the public launch (chassis 100, a RHD manual, was retained by Aston Martin for its collection). The last product of the Aston–Zagato relationship before the 2011 V12 Zagato.
A 99-car US-market Zagato roadster; delivery-mileage cars with documented history lead. The open body and manual gearbox are the desirable combination.
| Variant | Years | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DB AR1 | 2003–2004 | 99 (plus AML-retained chassis 100) | DB7 Volante chassis; Zagato open roadster body, no folding roof; 6.0-litre V12 ~435 bhp; mostly five-speed manual; all customer cars LHD. |
Authenticate stamped chassis and engine numbers against factory or club records. For the DB AR1 specifically, confirm chassis number against the 99-car run, LHD manual specification, Zagato body identity and documented history.
Confirm body originality, panel identity and restoration standard against a marque specialist.
Confirm continuous service history and any rebuild history for the engine, transmission and driveline against a marque specialist.
Restoration standard, originality of body and driveline, and any documented ownership record are the main value drivers.
| Date | Auction | Car | Mileage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-13 | Broad Arrow Auctions Monterey Jet Center, Lot 226 | Aston Martin DB AR1 | — | $198,800 Sold |
| 2025-01-24 | RM Sotheby's Lot 139 | Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato | — | $201,600 Sold |
| 2024-08-16 | Bonhams The Quail Auction, Lot 151 | Aston Martin DB AR1 | — | $280,000 Sold |
| 2024-06-29 | Artcurial Artcurial Motorcars à Saint-Tropez, Lot 129 | Aston Martin DB AR1 | — | €214,560 Sold |
| 2024-06-12 | RM Sotheby's Cliveden House, Lot 342 | Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato | — | $224,000 Sold |
The rarest open modern Zagato Aston; a documented collectible.
Our view, not advice. This section is Car Collector International's editorial judgement on where this model sits in the collector market, based on the production, specification and market data set out in this guide. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell and it is not investment advice. Values can fall as well as rise.
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The valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.
