Following a decades-long hiatus, Aston Martin rekindled its partnership with Italian coachbuilder Zagato in the early 2000s as then-owner Ford Motor Company sought to reinvigorate interest in the British marque.

Using the already stunning DB7 as a starting point, Zagato had quite the challenge in creating an even more alluring limited-production grand tourer.

The Italian design house did not disappoint: Combing time-honored Zagato design cues with exceptional performance and a true manual gearbox, the DB AR1 has quickly become one of the most desirable Aston Martins of modern times.

While the corresponding DB7 Zagato Coupes were only available in Asian and European markets, the DB AR1 Zagato was produced specifically for the American market—hence the “AR1” designation, signifying “American Roadster 1.” First shown at the 2003 Los Angeles Auto Show, the DB AR1 remained true to the design of its coupe sibling, albeit in an exciting fully open format, with twin cowls behind the front s...