Rare Aston Martin DB AR1 Is A Delicious Drop-Top Throwback CarBuzz News Features New Cars Used Cars Sell My Car Shopping Tools Car Reviews Car Finder Compare Cars Best Cars Car Dealerships Used Car Reviews Car Advice Home News Rare Aston Martin DB AR1 Is A Delicious Drop-Top Throwback
Rare Aston Martin DB AR1 Is A Delicious Drop-Top Throwback
May. 22, 2020 11:05 AM ET by Karl Furlong Video / 4 Comments And now, you can put in a bid for this V12-engined beauty. If you want to get your hands on one of the rarest Aston Martins ever built, you better move quickly. The model in question is the pristine 2003 DB AR1, a Zagato-style roadster, and one of only 99 that were ever made. The "AR1" is for American Roadster 1, so yes, this beautiful Aston was reserved exclusively for the local market. Based on the DB7 Vantage Volante of the time, the DB AR1 was conceived for sunnier regions in the US, so a proper roof wasn't part of the original design, although certain owners have tried to fit one. We're guessing that anyone who can afford the current bid of $171,000 - at the time of writing - also has a large garage to keep the Aston safely protected on wet days. Some of its styling cues, such as the circular taillights and 'double bubble' panel at the back, still live on in the Vantage V12 Zagato. Bring A Trailer Bring A Trailer Bring A Trailer Bring A Trailer Under the hood, the DB AR1 is fitted with a glorious 435-horsepower 5.9-liter V12 engine which is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. A limited-slip differential is also fitted. The particular example shown here is painted in Tungsten Silver and has a leather interior in Charcoal. The cabin lacks the gadgetry you'd find in a modern vehicle, but we love the classic white gauges and diamond-quilted leather seats. Everything looks immaculate, which isn't surprising since this example - car number 55 - has just over 6,000 miles on the clock. According to the Bring A Trailer listing, this particular DB AR1 was initially registered in California, but also spent part of its life in Florida and Illinois. The current Massachusetts dealer is selling it with original Aston umbrellas, a leather jacket, and factory books/manuals. In the video below, posted by Aston Martin New England, you can hear the V12's melodious sound, unmuffled by turbocharging. It's goosebump-inducing stuff and made even more special when combined with the ability to switch through the gears yourself. Back in the cabin, the Aston has heated and power-adjustable seats, an old-school six-disc CD changer (not that you'll ever need it), and oversized knobs and switches for the ventilation system that ensure easy operation without taking your eyes off the road, a far cry from the fussy touch-sensitive controls in the likes of the current DBS Superleggera. Over the last month, the engine oil and filter were changed, and the car received a coolant flush, too. The 18-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in new Michelin Pilot Sport tires, and there is no history of any accidents. Although expected to sell at over $200,000 - which could buy you a brand new DB11 - this throwback DB AR1 has won us over. Bring A Trailer Bring A Trailer Bring A Trailer Bring A Trailer Bring A Trailer Bring A Trailer Bring A Trailer Source Credits: Bring A Trailer Join The Discussion
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Aston Martin DB11 Coupe Karl Furlong Senior Editor Sweaty-palmed hot laps are fun, but Karl is a gearhead cut from a different cloth - or is that finely stitched Nappa leather? An E23 BMW 7 Series was the first car he fell madly in love with three decades ago, and this affection for Autobahn-conquering luxury sedans has persisted. Following studies in copywriting and journalism, along with stints in TV scriptwriting and marketing that had far too little to do with cars, Karl kept the fire burning by writing for automotive websites on the side, including a Florida-based auto repair shop and another for Porsche enthusiasts. It all came together when he joined CarBuzz in 2019. He has penned some of the latest news, reviews, and features ever since. Contact Karl @FuelAffection LoginSign Up Home News Features Car Reviews Car Advice 2021 CarBuzz Awards New Cars Used Cars Future Cars Compare Cars Sell My Car Car Dealerships Buy Here Pay Here Used Car Reviews Popular Tags Cars # Video # TOP # Spy Shots # Reveal # Rumor # Auto Show # Supercar # Tuning # Car Culture # Industry News # Motorsport Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Make Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Car Type SUVs Crossovers Sedans Coupes Trucks Sports Cars Wagons Vans Hatchbacks Convertibles Small Cars Luxury Cars Electric Cars Hybrid Cars Future Cars By Price Up to $15K $15K - $25K $25K - $35K $35K - $45K $45K - $55K $55K - $75K $75K - $100K $100K - $200K $200K - $300K Above $300K Back To Top