Zagato reveals DBS and DB9 one-offs

Zagato has paid tribute to its long-time friend Aston Martin via the pair of one-offs you see above. Welcome Internet, to a very special 100th anniversary present: the DBS Coupe Zagato Centennial, and the DB9 Spyder Zagato Centennial.

Both were unveiled yesterday to a packed audience at Kensington Park Gardens - a stone's throw away from Aston Martin's actual birthplace way back in 1913 - who flocked to view the very big anniversary garden party commemorating the brand's 100 years in business.

First, the DBS Zagato. It was built for a "young and prestigious Japanese entrepreneur", mixing what Zag tell us is an "exotic cross of Aston Martin DNA with Italian flair and Milanese insipiration". There's a double-bubble roof up top, harking back to the Zagato cars from the 1950s, as well as that new front end and smoother rear tail section.

Zag chief designer Norihiko Harada noted the difficulty in redesigning the DBS, saying that it was "already one of the most beautiful modern sports cars around".

There's no word on mechanical changes, so underneath sits the old 510bhp 6.0-litre V12 from the outgoing DBS, delivering power to the rear wheels in a fury of noise and, erm, some more noise.

Next up is the DB9 Spyder Zagato Centennial, built for American car collector Peter Read. The success of the DB7 Zagato led the team - comprising of Andrea and Marella Zagato, and Read himself - to create the DB9 you see in the pics above. Obviously, gone is the double-bubble roof, replaced by a soft-top, complete with the DB9's 6.0-litre V12.

Says Read: "The Spyder Zagato Centennial perfectly merges Aston Martin and Zagato's DNA by combining the elegance of design, typical of Zagato, with the soul, power and prestige of Aston Martin, all developed over the last 100 years."

Tell us what you think of the cars below - a fine anniversary present? We'll have much more from the Kensington garden party on TG.com, so check back later for more updates...

Vijay Pattni