As things get older they gradually become “priceless.” However, before that happens, there is a long period of grotesquely inflated cost mathematically intertwined with the object’s historical relevance.
When Jaguar announced they would resume production on the 1957 XKSS in 2017, they added up the D-Type’s success at Le Mans, Steve McQueen’s seal of approval, the car’s extremely limited numbers, and the tragic production-ending fire at the Browns Lane factory. A continuation car dripping with so much historical mystique wasn’t going to go cheap. Jaguar sold the nine “new” cars at $1.5 million each.
Aston Martin’s DB4 GT has a similar allure. It’s a low-production high-performance version of an already coveted classic. Even if you are filthy rich enough to own one, it probably exists in a temperature controlled garage next to other massively expensive vintage automobiles you dare not drive. Well, sixty years after being first introduced, Aston Martin plans to build twenty-five new track-only continuations of the DB4 GT.
With used ones coming in around $4 million, Aston’s asking price of $1.9 million doesn’t seem terribly unreasonable. Assuming you can scrounge up the money, you’ll be getting a factory fresh DB4 GT with limited modernization to ensure the car is historically “faithful.” Even the VIN on the new cars will carry on from the last original DB4 G.T. ordered (Chassis 0202R) providing, what Aston calls, a “unbroken bloodline and impeccable Newport Pagnell-built pedigree spanning half a century.”
Clearly proud of the car, Paul Spires, Aston Martin Works’ commercial director, said, “Built in our recently refurbished, state-of-the-art facilities in Newport Pagnell, the DB4 G.T. Continuation is hand built in the same location as its illustrious forebears, and marks the return of production to the historic home of Aston Martin for the first time since the last Vanquish S was completed in 2007.”
The gushing continues: “Combining the authenticity of a hand-crafted David Brown era car with sympathetic application of modern engineering advancements and performance enhancements, the DB4 G.T. Continuation is a fusion of classic design and contemporary methods,” Spires stated.
Under the hood — er, bonnet — the DB4 GT Continuation benefits from a gently modernized version of the same 3.7-liter straight-six from the original car. The new Aston makes 340 horsepower to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. Original Aston GTs were capable of 151 miles per hour and a 0-60 mph time of 6.1 seconds, making them among the fastest vehicles of their day.
Owners of the new cars will have the option to get a sense of its capabilities. Aston Martin is offering a two-year international track driving program held at a number of the world’s most famous race tracks. Customers can also take advantage of Aston Martin’s dedicated driver training team. The group consists of expert instructors and championship drivers, including Aston Martin Racing’s Darren Turner.
That all sounds absolutely phenomenal. However, if you happen to be a bored millionaire desperate to get your hands around the steering wheel of one of these continued DB4 GTs, you’re out of luck. Aston Martin sold all 25 units this past weekend.
[Image: Aston Martin]
Two excerpts from the article sum things up nicely. “Aston Martin sold all 25 units this past weekend.” Demonstrating the cache of these vehicles.
“A four-speed manual gearbox.” So some time in the future only the very rich will be able to afford cars with manual transmissions.
Only, don’t expect to take it out for a spin on public roads. They’re not street legal.
If they had installed a modern engine, Aston may have been able to make them street legal in the US under the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act. It’s a moot point of course, since they already sold all that they planned to build.
This statement: “unbroken bloodline and impeccable Newport Pagnell-built pedigree spanning half a century”
is in conflict with this statement:
“sympathetic application of modern engineering advancements”
They aren’t really the same car. The value of an original stems in part to its survival over 6 decades… plus something called nostalgia. These are basically Jurassic Park reincarnations of old stuff, which means they lack the nostalgia value. Their *real* value will never equal that of an original.
That’s why Aston is selling them for half price.
Welcome to your future, full of central banks, corporate monopolies, oligarchy (including one minute U.S.) sucking up 90% of fiat money (though they represent maybe 1/4 percent of the population), thanks to captured “governments,” whereby the elite who meet to greet & beat will spend more on the their latest single addition to their motor vehicle collection they store in their climate controlled, 20,000 square foot garages than you spend on your mortgage, all vehicles, food, rent, tuition, medical bills, taxes, etc. combined – over a lifetime.
Did anyone really think it was gonna be any different than what you describe?
“Did anyone really think it was gonna be any different than what you describe?”
Naw, I figured it would be Logan’s Run by now.
Carousel!
Income inequality is back near or exceeding the era 1920s in these United States!
Grapes of Wrath unto you and you and you.
This is something that a wide-spectrum of voices/opinions/factual observers agree on.
Yaaay!
Don’t make me start quoting Tom Joad.
It’s not unusual to be loved by anyone…
Why is my hand blinking?
Well Karl Marx certainly predicted it. Unfortunately although he was the first to ask all the right questions, his solutions were all incorrect.
Das Rentier Crony Kapitalism!
You better be Too-Big-To-Fail & own many important politicians or try to raise and risk your own capital and skin, bitche$!
The former strategy is he way to fly when financialization of the economy has supplanted actual, real, value-added capitalism.
Yimminy, such moneys for a little crampy car with a warped frame? o_O
Well done England!
Screw the Americans & Arabs for a piece of wealth.
I see a trend developing… Will Sergio try to crank out some 1934 Chrysler Airflows? How about some 1953 Nash Metropolitans? Will Ford hand-build another batch of the Continental Mark II? How about a 1953 Corvette? I’ll personally wait for a 1971 Matador coupe.