Why is it the prettiest cars are usually the best performing, too? Or is it the other way around? No matter, some machines are just winners in every sense of the word. Aston Martin's history is peppered with watermarks, high and low. This Italian-designed and bodied DB4 GT Zagato is one of the high ones.
It used the DB4 GT's hotter straight-six, wrapped in gorgeous alloy bodywork shaped by a young Zagato designer named Ercole Spada. The DB4 GT Z was a limited-production piece, with just 20 built from 1960 to 1963. Much like the seminal Ferrari 250 SWB berlinetta, this curvaceous Aston was designed to serve as roadgoing sports car and GT-class racer. It was successful at both, although not a match for the V-12 Ferraris.
Nineteen of the original 20 are accounted for. They're hyperexpensive and prized by collectors around the world. The pilot wearing the billed helmet and furtive stare? A young, future world driving champion named Jimmy Clark.
Coverage: August 1973
As fuel prices climb yet again, our "Gas Crisis-15 Cars To Own" story from nearly 35 years ago is relevant one more time. The Fiat 128 won the competition, at 34.8 mpg; the Subaru sedan, at 21.8 mpg, ranked 15th. Others that are no longer around include the MG Midget, Opel Manta, Chevrolet Vega, Jensen-Healey, and Triumph Spitfire. Among the test's leaders were the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Some things never change.