Makes › Aston Martin › DB AR1 (American Roadster 1) Zagato · Coachbuilt · 2003 Extremely Rare
Aston Martin
DB AR1 (American Roadster 1) Zagato
Zagato-styled open DB7 Vantage built mainly for the US market.
Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Andrew Bone · CC BY 2.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 99 Built
- Years
- 2003
- Engine
- V12 (Vanquish-derived, GT specification) · 6,000 cc / 6 LFactory: 6 L
- Power
- 324 kW / 441 PSFactory: 435 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 299 km/hFactory: 186 mph · converted
- Body
- Zagato
- Designer
- Zagato
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The DB AR1 was an open, Zagato-styled roadster conceived by Ford and Zagato to revive interest in Aston Martin, aimed chiefly at the American market. Only 99 were built, and the source calls it one of the most desirable Aston Martins of modern times.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Aston Martin DB AR1 (American Roadster 1) Zagato (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Andrew Bone · CC BY 2.0
Aston Martin DB AR1 (American Roadster 1) Zagato (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Mr.choppers · CC BY-SA 3.0
Aston Martin DB AR1 (American Roadster 1) Zagato (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Mr.choppers · CC BY-SA 3.0
.jpg){kind=link}
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionexamples built | 991,2 | Factory production | Factory reported |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
The project began in 2002 when Ford teamed with Zagato, and the car was first shown at the 2003 Los Angeles Auto Show; the AR1 name stands for American Roadster 1. It used the 6.0-litre V12 in GT tune, rated at 435 bhp, giving a quoted 186 mph top speed and 0–60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Its styling stayed close to that of its closed Zagato sibling.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard DB AR1 (American Roadster 1) Zagato.
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | AM2A (engine number prefix)3 Independently researchedLot text ties the prefix to the more powerful 'GT' version of the 6.0-litre V12. |
| Layout | V12 (Vanquish-derived, GT specification)4 |
| Displacement | 6,000 cc / 6 LFactory: 6 L4 |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | 324 kW / 441 PSFactory: 435 hp · converted4 |
| Power at | 6,000 rpm1Factory page lists two V12 variants (440 bhp and 435 bhp), both at 6000 rpm; the 435 bhp unit is the DB7 Vantage-based engine used in the AR1. |
| Torque | 556 NmFactory: 410 lb-ft · converted1 |
| Torque at | 5,000 rpm1 |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Touchtronic automatic per the factory page; six-speed manual per RM Sotheby's lots1,5 DisputedSources conflict: the factory page names Touchtronic, while the auction lots describe six-speed manual cars. |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Brembo discs with a V12 Vanquish brake booster3 Independently researched |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 299 km/hFactory: 186 mph · converted4 |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| 0–60 mph | 4.9 s4 |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Cars carry a numbered serial out of 099. The GT-specification V12 is identified by the engine prefix AM2A. The catalogued example has a black carbon-fibre fascia and a DB7 GT quick-shift gear lever.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
Aston Martin DB7 Zagato & DB AR1 (2003) Level A Aston Martin Lagonda
- with only 99 examples of each produced between 2003 and 2004
- V12, 5935 cc, 435 bhp @ 6000 rpm 410 lbs-ft @ 5000 rpm
- 435 bhp @ 6000 rpm 410 lbs-ft @ 5000 rpm
- 410 lbs-ft @ 5000 rpm
- DB AR1 used the standard 6.0 litre V12 ... with Touchtronic transmission
-
2
2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato | RM Sotheby's London 2019 Level B
- 99 examples built
-
3
2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato, London 2019, lot 81 Level C RM Sotheby's · 2019
- as noted by the 'AM2A' engine prefix
- Braking is supplied by Brembo discs and a V12 Vanquish brake booster
-
4
2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato (lot 81) Level B RM Sotheby's
- 6.0-litre Vanquish V12
- an impressive 435 bhp
- a top speed of 186 mph
- 0–60 mph in just 4.9 seconds
-
5
2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato, Amelia Island 2018, lot 105 Level C RM Sotheby's · 2018
- Fitted with a six-speed manual transmission
Keep exploring
More from Aston Martin
-
Aston Martin · 1939–1940
Atom
1 Built
-
Aston Martin · 2013
DB9 Spyder Zagato Centennial
1 Built
-
Aston Martin · 1962
DP212
1 Built
-
Aston Martin · 1963
DP215
1 Built
See all 183 cars by Aston Martin →
More from United Kingdom
-
Lotus · 1996–1999
Esprit GT3
190 Built
-
AC
Cobra Mk II (289) (1963-1965)
Production not yet verified
-
Sunbeam · 1963–1965
Venezia (Touring)
145 Built
-
Leyland · 1920–1923
Eight
18 Built
134 other makes from United KingdomACAiredaleAlan Mann RacingAllardAlvisArabArashArielArmstrong SiddeleyArrowsAscariAtalantaAtlantisAustinAustin-HealeyBedfordBentleyBerkeleyBluebirdBMCBondBrabhamBristolBritish LeylandBroadspeedBrookeBrough SuperiorCampbell-RailtonCaparoCaterhamChevronConnaughtCooperCrayfordDaimlerDavid BrownDawsonDeLoreanDuttonElvaAll makes →