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.

  • JMII My wife's next car will be an EV. As long as it costs under $42k that is totally within our budget. The average cost of a new ICE car is... (checks interwebs) = $47k. So EVs are already in the "affordable" range for today's new car buyers.We already have two other ICE vehicles one of which has a 6.2l V8 with a manual. This way we can have our cake and eat it too. If your a one vehicle household I can see why an EV, no matter the cost, may not work in that situation. But if you have two vehicles one can easily be an EV.My brother has an EV (Tesla Model Y) along with two ICE Porsche's (one is a dedicated track car) and his high school age daughters share an EV (Bolt). I fully assume his daughters will never drive an ICE vehicle. Just like they have never watched anything but HiDef TV, never used a land-line, nor been without an iPad. To them the concept of an ICE power vehicle is complete ridiculous - you mean you have to STOP driving to put some gas in and then PAY for it!!! Why? the car should already charged and the cost is covered by just paying the monthly electric bill.So the way I see it the EV problem will solve itself, once all the boomers die off. Myself as part of Gen X / MTV Generation will have drive a mix of EV and ICE.
  • 28-Cars-Later [Model year is 2010] "and mileage is 144,000"Why not ask $25,000? Oh too cheap, how about $50,000?Wait... the circus is missing one clown, please report to wardrobe. 2010 AUDI A3 AWD 4D HATCHBACK PREMIUM PLUS
  • 28-Cars-Later So Honda are you serious again or will the lame continue?
  • Fred I had a 2009 S-line mine was chipped but otherwise stock. I still say it was the best "new" car I ever had. I wanted to get the new A3, but it was too expensive, didn't come with a hatch and no manual.
  • 3-On-The-Tree If Your buying a truck like that your not worried about MPG.
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