Aston Martin Brings Back the DB4 GT for the Reasonable Price of $1.9 Million

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

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]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Sector 5 Sector 5 on Dec 13, 2016

    Well done England! Screw the Americans & Arabs for a piece of wealth.

  • Lorenzo Lorenzo on Dec 13, 2016

    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.

  • Jkross22 Sure, but it depends on the price. All EVs cost too much and I'm talking about all costs. Depreciation, lack of public/available/reliable charging, concerns about repairability (H/K). Look at the battering the Mercedes and Ford EV's are taking on depreciation. As another site mentioned in the last few days, cars aren't supposed to depreciate by 40-50% in a year or 2.
  • Jkross22 Ford already has an affordable EV. 2 year old Mach-E's are extraordinarily affordable.
  • Lou_BC How does the lower case "armada" differ from the upper case "Armada"?
  • TMA1 Question no one asked: "What anonymous blob with ugly wheels will the Chinese market like?"BMW designers: "Here's your new 4-series."see also: Lincoln Nautilus
  • Ivor Honda with Toyota engine and powertrain would be the perfect choice..we need to dump the turbos n cut. 😀
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