| Author | Message | ||
| Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Moderator Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 2446 Registered: 8-2002 |
I received the back issue of Autoweek today. It seems that Zagato bodied "several" 406s but only this one 407, which made its debut along side the Aston Martin DB4 GT on the Zagato stand at the 1960 London Motor Show. The author (the late Genny Obert) speculates that the stunning good looks of the DB4 GTZ killed the 407 in the eye of the public. Regardless, it did strike the fancy of Mr. Anatoly Arutunoff, who saw the car in a British magazine and immediately fell in love. It wasn't until 25 years later that he tracked the car down and bought it. He's since shown it at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 1996, though I'm not sure I recall seeing it there. Perhaps I have photos somewhere? I'll have to do some digging. Anyway, thanks for your help guys! | ||
| Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Moderator Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 2411 Registered: 8-2002 |
Jeff, thanks for the article on the 407 Z! As far as number built, it only adds to the mystery: "Production will depend on demand. At present Zagato has a stock of chassis and the factory has merely to cable him when an order comes through. Delivery date in London works out to about 10 weeks after that, with a proportionate increase for America. Price in London for the complete car is around $9500." Is it possible that that cable never came through? | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 547 Registered: 12-2002 |
Boudewijn/others: There is an 8-page article with 10 pictures on the AC Ace-Bristol Zagato (one-off) in "Road & Track's Exotic Cars #9" from 1989. It was owned by Peter Kaus/Rosso Bianco at that time. | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 546 Registered: 12-2002 |
Wayne: Article will be emailed to you in a few minutes. Here is another picture, from "Vintage Motorsport" #2, 1992.  | ||
| Boudewijn Berkhoff (Boudewijn)
Junior Member Username: Boudewijn Post Number: 167 Registered: 5-2003 |
The previous post was from Car Classics June 1992. I looked further through my archive and found out the car was for auction at the N�rburgring some years ago. It participated in this years Mille Miglia.    | ||
| Boudewijn Berkhoff (Boudewijn)
Junior Member Username: Boudewijn Post Number: 166 Registered: 5-2003 |
In this thread a even more rare Zagato should not be overlooked: a one of AC-Bristol Zagato, the whereabouts of which are unknown and that was photographed in 1958 at the Ollon-Villars hill climb. Apperently the car was commissioned by the Swiss owner. It was the same year Tony Crook signed a contract with Zagato to produce 6 Bristol 406s fitted with a leightweight four seater GT body by Zagato. Whether there is a link any link between this and the building of the AC-Bristol Zagato is not known.  | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 545 Registered: 12-2002 |
Wayne: I've got to run, will email article tonite. Number came from DeBoer's "Italian Car Registry". Here is another pic from "Auto Parade 1963".   | ||
| Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Moderator Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 2404 Registered: 8-2002 |
Damn, Jeff! That was a fast response! Do have th ability to fax or email me a copy of the article? | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 544 Registered: 12-2002 |
3-page article with 4 pictures in Road & Track, February 1962, page 58-60. The chassis number is apparently 407.6151. | ||
| Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Moderator Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 2403 Registered: 8-2002 |
Jack, Thomas, thanks for the additional info and pics. I ordered the back issue of Autoweek, which should shed some light on the 407Z mystery. Jeff, I've never heard that and couldn't find any info connecting Arutunoff to the 407 Zagato on the internet. Do you remember where you might have heard/read about it? Again, gentlemen, thanks for all your help. | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 543 Registered: 12-2002 |
Wayne: From distant memory, I thought there was only one Bristol 407 Zagato, and that it belonged to Toly Arutunoff. Wrong? | ||
| Jack Habits (Ferraristuff)
Member Username: Ferraristuff Post Number: 956 Registered: 4-2003 |
Wayne, I don't have too much on the Bristols either but this is a picture of 4 out of the, allegedly, 6 produced 406's awaiting transportation to England:  Zagato (NOT Bristol...) announced the 407 Zagato prototype (5.2 Litre V8) at the 1961 Earls Court Motorshow and that their Agents for the UK are... Anthony Crook Motors Ltd.... indeed Bristol...  Still LOVE that name... "Hi, I'm Tony Crook, wanna buy a car? I happen to own the factory, really!". Zagato also built the 412 convertible of which some 95 could have been made (I don't know if that includes the "normal" saloons as well). If you should feel the desire, Bristol can be contacted here: http://www.bristolcars.co.uk/Contact.htm Jack | ||
| Thomas I (Wax)
Junior Member Username: Wax Post Number: 212 Registered: 7-2003 |
Specs: http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=92521 and http://www.histomobile.com/1/Bristol/1961/407.htm?lan=2 Other info might be found in: Auto Week | August 25, 1997 | The Car Page "1961 Bristol 407 Zagato," Genny Obert page 25 ref: http://www.autodiva.com/autowk.htm which can be found here (2 copies left, $6.00 each): http://www.coltranet.com/zines/autoweek.html | ||
| Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Moderator Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 2402 Registered: 8-2002 |
And when I thought I had cracked the case, I come across this on a dead Bristol message board posted in June 2002 with no response: "Does anyone know how many specials Zagato produced for Bristol? I count 6 x 406's and one 407. I have seen an indication that 2 x 407Z's may have been built - anyone have the inside track on that?" ????????? | ||
| Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Moderator Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 2401 Registered: 8-2002 |
And for those that are still interested, I would guess that this is the car referred to by the line, "Earlier Zagato built a prototype 406 with a double-bubble roof on a 102-in. wheelbase."  | ||
| Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Moderator Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 2400 Registered: 8-2002 |
Okay, now I've found this, which looks like the same car but refers to it as the "406 Zagato." My "407 GT Zagato" below must be one of the six Zagato-bodied 406s mentioned here.   | ||
| Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Moderator Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 2399 Registered: 8-2002 |
Okay, so it's not an Italian car, but it's designers were Italian. Anyway, can anyone provide any further information on the car pictured here? I'm assuming it is built on "standard" (only 88 built?) 407 mechanicals and powered by the 5130cc (313cid) Chrysler OHV V-8? Was this a one-off or were there more than one Zagato-bodied 407? If it was one-of-a-kind, does anyone know where this car is today? These are the only photos I could find:    Thanks for your help. |