The greatest British GT of all time? The most beautiful Zagato body ever designed? The Holy Grail of roadgoing Aston Martins? The DB4GT Zagato is all of those things, and just 19 were ever built.

Chassis ‘0189’ was, according to the definitive Palawan chassis-by-chassis book on the model, the last DB4GT Zagato built. A car with an enigmatic early history, it is one of eleven right-hand drive Zagatos and one of three to receive English paint. Its striking original colour scheme is unique: Caribbean Pearl with Connolly red hide and carpets. Delivered new to the UK in April 1963, chassis ‘0189’ was exported in 1970 to South Africa, passing to Scotland in 1976 and from there back to England before a spell in Germany. In 1995 the Zagato was entrusted to Aston Martin Works Service for what the Palawan book describes thus: “The restoration of 2 VEV was remarkably comprehensive but this was a tour de force. The car was totally stripped down to the bare chassis…The Zagato was returned to its original state with the original colour scheme of pale blue with red leather inside. It’s now better than new. The final touch was the reinstatement of the [UK registration] number 37 PH, due to the hard work of Andrew McCloskey at Aston Martin.”

For the past decade chassis ‘0189’ has been kept out of the public gaze in a private European collection. Outings have been limited to local trips to warm through fluids and exercise the engine, gearbox and suspension. The total mileage covered since the full factory rebuild is less than 1,000 miles.

The fortunate new owner will have much to which to look forward.