What's the news?
Whatever you say, don't say "James Bond Car.' Because while the DB4 GT does have the faired-in, supposedly more aerodynamic headlights that were later shared with the Connery-affiliated DB5, the DB4 (a) got there first and (b) never had an ejector seat.
In fact, the GT was the racing version of the heart-stoppingly gorgeous DB4 coupe, and the faired-in lights and slightly shorter chassis were there, simply, to make it faster on the track. And it worked - Stirling Moss won the car's debut race at Silverstone in 1959, and the GT would go on to be raced by such luminaries as Graham Hill, Jim Clark and Jack Sears.
And now, you can buy one again. A brand new one, built in Aston Martin's legendary Newport Pagnell works, home of the brand for more than fifty years. Aston it was who kicked off this whole 'Continuation' thing when it decided to build cars on the unused chassis numbers of the gorgeous DB4 GT Zagato back in the early 2000s, and now it wants to add 25 cars to the original production run of 75 DB4 GTs.
Aston says that the cars will be built to the original 'Superleggerra' specification of thin, hand-rolled aluminium panels over a tubular frame, and that while the cars will be lightly modified and improved in the braking, engine, safety and electrical departments, "great care [will be] taken to ensure these enhancements build upon the original's exceptional qualities while retaining its feel and character."
All cars will have the classic Tadek Marek-designed (Marek also designed Aston's astonishingly long-lived 5.3-litre V8) 3.7-litre straight-six 'twin-spark' engine, which is claimed to develop 340hp (rather more than it managed in 1959...) and all will continue on from the 0202R chassis number last used in the 1963 for the last production car.
Owners will also get a chance to experience their car on the race tracks of the world, including the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, as Aston will set up a series of exclusive track days, featuring full works support for the cars and the presence of Aston Le Mans hero Darren Turner to help owners get the best from their steeds.
Paul Spires, Commercial Director, Aston Martin Works said of the DB4 GT Continuation programme: "For over 60 years Aston Martin Works has devoted unrivalled skill and experience to preserving Aston Martin's heritage. Now we are creating something for the future, with a special series of 25 continuation cars that celebrate one of Aston Martin's greatest cars - the DB4 GT Lightweight.
"Built in our recently refurbished, state-of-the-art facilities in Newport Pagnell, the DB4 GT 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. Combining the authenticity of a hand-crafted David Brown era car with sympathetic application of modern engineering advancements and performance enhancements, the DB4 GT Continuation is a fusion of classic design and contemporary methods.
"The result is a truly remarkable machine. One that offers 25 individuals the opportunity of commissioning a classic, built to modern day standards and ready to be enjoyed in an international track driving programme as bespoke and individual as the cars themselves."
Dr Andy Palmer, Aston Martin President and CEO commented: "Aston Martin has a rich and vibrant heritage, as you'd expect from a company that has been building some of the world's finest sports cars for 103-years. Of those the DB4 GT stands proud as one of the most coveted of all. It's a mark of Aston Martin's breadth of abilities that in the same year we launched the DB11 - our most advanced 'DB' production car ever - we can also embark on an adventure such as the DB4 GT Continuation. A project that taps into the unique passion and skills that exist within Aston Martin, I'm thrilled we have the imagination and capability to offer 25 enthusiasts the unique opportunity to commission their own piece of Aston Martin history."