This 35-year-old Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato was the first in a batch of just 50 units produced in total, and Aston Martin Works made sure to personalize it to suit the tastes of its third owner, Rowen ‘Mr. Bean’ Atkinson.
The actor – who is a big fan of cars and motorsports, by the way – bought the coupe 23 years ago and handed it over to Aston Martin to have it modified for racing purposes.
The automaker outfitted it with a lightweight plastic body, Plexiglas windows, and a new injection system for the stock 5.3-liter V8. As a result, its output rose from 430 PS (424 hp / 316 kW) to over 480 PS (473 hp / 353 kW). We are told that the engine can rev up to 7,000 RPM and is the world’s only V8 to have been tuned like this for the Vantage Zagato.
Elsewhere, the road-legal racer features an upgraded suspension system with Eibach springs and adjustable Koni shocks, and decelerates perfectly thanks to AP Racing eight-piston calipers on the front axle.
Atkinson sold the coupe a decade after tuning it, and the next owner had it customized once again, this time with an emphasis on daily driving comforts. Modifications included a normal road-friendly clutch and an air conditioner, among others. The bodywork and the engine stayed the same.
There are no price estimates. If you would like to have a closer look at the V8 Vantage Zagato, watch the video.