Thursday, August 2, 2012

1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, Allure of the Automobile, Portland Art Museum's Photography Day, August 14, 2011

1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato - I bought a special ticket which allowed entrance a couple of hours prior to the regular Sunday opening time. Hardly anyone present, just a few workers and a few photographers. Here is the all important agreement I signed about these particular images, which applies to the bottom two photos.

Under no circumstances may you download, upload, copy and paste any of these photos in this post. Thank you. They are not to be used for any purpose other than by me, and that purpose is to be posted on my blog, Portland Oregon Daily Photo. These are the conditions put forth by the Portland Museum of Art when I bought my Photography Day ticket. Thank you.


Aston_Martin_drivers_side_2_BeFunky

You can see others taking in the elegance that is this Aston Martin. While I don't begrudge anyone the chance to stand and look as long as they would like, I did wish for fewer people now and then. That's why I bought the special ticket I mentioned at the top of the today's post.

Driver's side view. I read this on the information placard on the wall near the vehicle: It is believed that only two of these cars had hood scoops, and this is one of them. Of the nineteen examples built, just six were left-hand drive. Coachwork: Lightweight Superleggera aluminum alloy body by Carrozzeria Zagato. Only 19 examples were produced. Some cars had hoods with triple power bulges; others had a single scoop. Suspension: In front its equal-length wishbones with coil springs, tubular shock absorbers and an anti-roll bar.
  Aston_Martin_passenger_side_BeFunky

Passenger side view and more evidence in support of my desire to take photos of these cars with less people present. From the information placard: Engine type: 226-cid, 12-valve, DOHC 1-6. Horsepower: 314 bhp at 6,000 rpm. Transmission: 4-speed manual. Top speed: 160 mph. Wheelbase: 93 inches.
  Aston_Martin_name_on_hood_BeFunky

Name on the trunk, along with the reflection of the ceiling light fixture. From the placard: This particular example was the Turin show car in 1961, "dressed up" with bumpers, a chrome strip along the side, chrome instead of polished aluminum around the windows and headlights, and chrome wheels. It is believed to be one of only two examples that had hood scoops. Of the nineteen examples built, just six were left-hand drive.
  Aston_Martin_from_the_back_BeFunky

Can you imagine walking through the museum's front door and seeing this beauty, right there in front of you? And you're one of only a handful of people there at that time? Wonderful, let me tell you.

I also read this on the information placard: Suspension: The rear suspension is a live axle with coil springs, lever arm shock absorbers and a transverse Watts linkage.

3 comments:

Paul in Powell River said...

I'd buy an advance ricket for that!

Jack said...

Back in the 1970s, Aston Martin was so dead in the water that the company was sold for less than the value of its inventory of parts. I have wondered what happened to it afterward.

Randy said...

Take that for drive down the coast.