Owning an Aston Martin V8 Zagato

‘They’re actually fairly bulletproof for a high-performance supercar, and the handling is phenomenal,’ says Roger Bennington of Stratton Motor Company, who likes his Vantage Zagato so much he bought it back for a second time. ‘It’s a V8 Vantage X-pack at heart, mechanically identical except for the carburettors and a freer-breathing exhaust system giving 20bhp extra. By the time it came out, Aston had ironed out all the bugs. Lack of use makes them suffer – brakes in particular.

‘They are very rare – only 50 were built, and just eight genuine Vantage Volantes – most Zagato Volantes were standard V8-spec. The lighter-gauge Italian aluminium body dents easily, but it’s no more expensive to repair than standard V8 bodywork. The plastic parts are harder to come by – I bought one of the last front bumpers from Aston for mine, you’d have to get replacements specially made now.’