When someone utters the word ‘Aston Martin’, images of classic GT’s, burly V12 engines, and the quintessential British Luxury Performance brand come to mind. Aston Martin are notorious for beautifully executed, stylish and exotic luxury vehicles for several years. Combining sporting prowess with pure refinement, the Aston Martin’s are something to be revered.

Despite this ultra refined façade however lies an altogether more exciting face to the business. Aston Martin’s storied history is packed with models which flew in the face of conventions and experimented with off the wall designs. From bespoke vehicles built for demanding individual owners, to purely speculative projects to demonstrate what’s possible.

This weird collection of Aston Martins showcase another side to the automaker’s character one of ingenuity, innovation, and sheer daring. Ranging from special coachbuilt commissions executed in collaboration with storied Italian design houses to futuristic concept vehicles and, even more surprisingly, road-legal production models, these vehicles demonstrate that even the classiest marques can exhibit a bit of the wonderfully weird. Here are the machines which really define Aston’s tendency to dare to be different.

1. Virage Shooting Brake Zagato

The Aston Martin Virage Shooting Brake Zagato is one of the rarest cars that have ever come out of the British luxury brand. It was constructed in 2013 to mark the 100th anniversary of Aston Martin in partnership with Zagato, and in stark contrast with most anniversary concepts, it was built as a perfectly driveable vehicle for a wealthy client and there was only one of them.

A One-Off Aston Martin Masterpiece:

• One-of-one anniversary creation
• Designed with Zagato
• Exclusive shooting brake body
• Handcrafted luxury interior
• Extremely rare collector’s car

The Virage Shooting Brake Zagato perfectly fuses the sweeping proportions of a GT with the utilitarian nature and quirky appeal of a shooting brake. A dramatically lengthened rear profile, rakishly sculpted lines, sharp, intimidating nose and the definitive Zagato touches mean this car bears absolutely no resemblance to any standard Aston Martin on the market. The result is a sports car for the driver with flair.

Inside, the interior shows just as much meticulous craftsmanship, with the cabin upholstered in the finest leather, two-tone finishes unique to the car and a Zagato styling throughout. And as it was the one and only car to have been constructed, Aston Martin Virage Shooting Brake Zagato is undoubtedly one of the most desirable contemporary collector’s cars around today.

2. Aston Martin Atom

Although not as well known globally as its famous DB range, the Aston Martin Atom holds a significant place in the brand’s history. Born between 1939 and 1940 during a time of world conflict, the experimental vehicle symbolises Aston Martin’s innovative spirit at a time where automotive manufacturing had been greatly impacted. Many design elements and concepts pioneered by the Atom went on to shape Aston Martin for years to come.

A Revolutionary Prototype Ahead of Its Time:

• Built as an experimental vehicle
• Lightweight engineering approach
• Advanced design concepts
• Influenced future DB models
• Important Aston Martin milestone

The Atom was designed more of a technological showcase than anything you’d find out on the road, not so much a car as a test bed for the kind of technology that was cutting-edge for the time. With its low weight and forward thinking mechanical and design concepts, it was all about Aston Martin showing how the marque could be more innovative than the typical car designer of the age.

The Atom’s importance to Aston Martin only grew over time when company owner, Gordon Sutherland, decided that the vehicle would be used as his every day driver and he covered over 100,000 miles on it. Some time later businessman David Brown was able to drive a prototype of the car and the innovation of it all prompted him to purchase Aston Martin and many of the ideas he incorporated into his company’s DB range were first conceived through the Aston Martin Atom. It is one of the most significant Aston Martins of all time for this reason alone.

3. Lagonda Shooting Brake

What is the Aston Martin Lagonda Shooting Brake Aston Martin vehicles can already be an acquired taste, their sharp-edged, futuristic designs can be a little bit hit and miss depending on who you ask and the classic Lagonda saloon was one of Aston Martin’s stranger offerings when it arrived in the 1970s. The sharp, geometric sedan also included some pioneering tech and an interior that was packed with buttons. But, for one owner, this was simply not unusual enough, so they transformed their luxury sedan into an estate-like shooting brake, making the already quirky vehicle even more so.

A Futuristic Luxury Wagon Conversion:

• One-off shooting brake design
• Based on Aston Martin Lagonda
• Extended rear body structure
• Concept-car-like appearance
• Rare collector vehicle

This remarkable conversion came from a Swedish automotive designer who figured he could enhance the already futuristic personality of the Lagonda with increased practicality. By extending the rear section of the vehicle, the proportions were radically transformed, while still retaining the aggressive, angular styling language that made the Lagonda famous. The final result was what appeared to be a futuristic concept vehicle presented as a luxury wagon.

With the regular Lagonda being an extremely rare vehicle in its own right, the sole Shooting Brake example makes it an even rarer piece of Aston Martin history. Its radical shape, custom construction, and fascinating backstory proved to be the right ingredients to make it such a sensation among collectors at auction in 2019. This Lagonda Shooting Brake proves that some of the greatest vehicles are born out of pushing boundaries and defying expectations of luxury car design.

4. DBSC by Touring

Among the most exciting “what-ifs” in the history of Aston Martin is the DBSC by Touring. The beautiful Touring DBSC, a successor to the esteemed DB6 was commissioned in 1966 by Italy’s very own. Departing from Aston Martin’s typical approach to the business of styling and design, the DBSC represented a new and forward-thinking direction that was as uniquely British in performance as it was Italian in form and finesse.

A Forgotten Successor to the DB6:

• Designed by Carrozzeria Touring
• Inspired by DB6 engineering
• Sleek futuristic body design
• Only two prototypes built
• Never reached production

Mechanically, the DBSC had the same structure as the DB6, but the coachwork was a wholly original shape. Its sleek body contours, smooth surfaces and proportion were in the line of Touring’s design principles, yet it remained an unmistakably Aston Martin creation, with an aristocratic flair. The DBSC represented a classic collaboration of British engineering and Italian style.

Even with a fantastic concept the DBSC suffered from a range of setbacks and was never destined to enter into production. The number of modifications required to fit the body style onto a different framework became too complex and the poor financial situation that Touring was experiencing compounded issues. Only two prototypes were made and therefore the Aston Martin DBSC is a rarity and testament to a route the manufacturer could have gone but never did.

5. DB2/4 Mk II ‘Supersonic’ by Ghia

The Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II ‘Supersonic’ by Ghia Perhaps the most extreme design interpretation of the marque’s form, the Supersonic made its world debut at the 1956 Turin Motor Show. Fusing Aston Martin’s renowned mechanical underpinnings with the dramatically forward-thinking interpretation by famous Italian coach builder Ghia, inspired by the jet age enthusiasm for aviation, the Supersonic gave Aston Martin’s recognisable form an entirely new character.

A Jet-Age Aston Martin Creation:

• Designed by Ghia coachbuilders
• One-off DB2/4 Mk II model
• Inspired by aviation styling
• Futuristic aerodynamic appearance
• Multi-million-dollar collector vehicle

Aston Martin’s DB2/4 Mk II Supersonic took on an utterly distinct aesthetic from other Aston Martins of the time. It’s elegant curves, aerodynamic shape and futuristic looks were inspired by the aeronautical craze of the 1950s. Whereas other Aston Martins’s had the characteristic suave and luxurious styling for which grand tourers were renowned, the Supersonic represented something utterly original, a blast of futuristic confidence.

Following its reveal, the car changed hands a few times prior to an unfortunate hiatus where it was left untouched for almost three decades in a Detroit gas station. Luckily, this special Aston was found and lovingly returned to its original state. The tale of its stunning rebirth and individual style are key in making the DB2/4 Mk II ‘Supersonic’ by Ghia one of the most coveted Aston Martin cars to ever exist.

6. DB AR1

Aston Martin DB AR1 It was Aston Martin’s collaboration with the Italian design studio Zagato that produced so many memorable Aston Martins over the years. While other models by Zagato-Aston Martins often featured aggressive, coupé lines with styling that’s difficult to fault, that was not the philosophy that governed the Aston Martin DB AR1. It was unveiled at the 2003 LA Auto Show and, given the name “American Roadster 1”, was intended to be the open-air Aston that provides an emotional ride with exclusive styling and engineering.

A Zagato Roadster Built for Emotion:

• Based on Aston Martin DB7 platform
• Designed with Zagato
• Exclusive open-top body style
• Enhanced V12 performance
• Limited production collector model

With the roof removed and a more sculptural roadster profile adopted, the DB AR1 morphed the DB7 into something far more special. The body was re-worked extensively by Zagato with a bolder grille and a very different treatment of the rear, and the new proportions ensured that the AR1 had a much more striking presence on the road. The car was certainly a much more bespoke, special edition product than a production car derivative.

An impressive appearance demanded equally impressive performance, so the V12 engine was reworked to give some 435bhp and fitted with a specially commissioned exhaust for a much more emotive and dramatic drive. The limited run of just 99 examples ensured that the DB AR1 was destined to be a very collectable car. Combined with the Zagato body, the open-top driving style and upgraded power, it’s arguably the most distinctive and evocative Aston Martin roadster of the modern era.

7. CC100

With a vision of creating a grand, emotive homage to the company’s racing history to mark the brand’s 100th birthday, Aston Martin bypassed the opportunity to launch another plush luxury grand tourer and decided to build the CC100 Speedster concept instead. The DBR1 was the inspiration for the concept, and as it secured Aston Martin’s historic victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Aston Martin’s DNA Motorsport could find an even bigger echo in the modern world.

A Tribute to Aston Martin Racing Heritage:

• Built for 100th anniversary
• Inspired by DBR1 race car
• Open-top speedster design
• Extreme lightweight appearance
• Only two examples created

In terms of style the CC100 boasts a design like no Aston Martin we’ve seen before it was pure speedster. There was no roof, no side windows and a shallow, windscreen ensuring you were at one with the road. The sleek aerodynamic styling was both modern and classically designed to evoke images of some of Aston’s classic racers, while still having an edge of brutalism and an exposed cockpit.

The CC100 was actually intended to be a one-off design exercise but it looked so beautiful that one of the private collectors that saw it expressed interest in having one with road legality. A road-going Aston Martin CC100 was created by modifying the car and another was also commissioned. Just two Aston Martin CC100’s exist and are amongst the rarest modern Aston Martin.

8. DBR22

Following the triumph of the CC100 Speedster Concept, the Aston Martin DBR22 took the extreme open-cockpit sports car ethos even further, with the company unveil a new design study for Monterey Car Week 2022. This design concept which carries the DBR22 nomenclature represents the work of Q by Aston Martin, which specialises in creating unique and highly individual Aston Martin commissions, and captures the essence of traditional racing cars in a futuristic, technologically superior whole.

A Modern Tribute to Racing Heritage:

• Inspired by DBR1 race car
• Created by Q by Aston Martin
• Open-cockpit performance design
• Advanced manufacturing techniques
• Extremely limited production model

Its styling clearly pays homage to the iconic DBR1 racing car with its low body height, wide proportions and the pure driving engagement of an open cockpit. Its form imbues the passion and emotion of racing from a bygone era while utilizing advanced aero principles and Aston Martin’s present-day design language.

Hidden under the nostalgic body style is contemporary performance engineering. The twin-turbo V12 pushes over 700hp just what a rarefied Aston Martin automobile needs as does its advanced manufacturing techniques, utilizing some 3D printed aluminum in its structural pieces. Just a handful will ever be made, the DBR22 proves Aston Martin is more than up to the task of creating a stunning collector machine.

9. Rapide E

It is hard to find a better example of an ambitious project that failed to materialize in the electric vehicle space. It was initially unveiled in 2019, when it was meant to be Aston Martin’s first-ever production all-electric model and a clear signal that it wanted to gain access to the fast-growing performance EV space for the luxury market, while still being an exclusive model and performing at a level people expect from the brand.

Aston Martin’s First Electric Performance Vision:

• First Aston Martin EV project
• Based on Rapide platform
• Planned limited production model
• Over 200-mile range target
• Important electrification milestone

The four-door Rapide sports saloon served as the basis of the Rapide E but featured a fully electric setup instead of the combustion engine, Aston Martin claimed a maximum range in excess of 200 miles, and 0 to 60 miles per hour should take just under 4 seconds, the car was expected to be made in limited numbers and so wouldn’t appeal to the masses and would only appeal to Aston Martin enthusiasts.

Unfortunately for the enthusiasts, Aston Martin’s Rapide E never saw the light of the day as a full-fledged production car. In 2020, the brand shifted gears and decided to use the vehicle as a research and development (R&D) platform for new technologies and prioritized other key models like the acclaimed DBX SUV line. However, while Aston Martin’s electric flagship may have been a commercial flop, the Aston Martin Rapide E was crucial for their switch towards an electrified future.

10. Cygnet

The Aston Martin Cygnet is the most bizarre vehicle the British luxury car manufacturer ever created Aston Martin is renowned for making sports cars that are powered by V12s, grand tourers, and fast machines that look fast. Aston Martin has stunned fans of fast and flashy automobiles by making and selling a small vehicle aimed specifically at city dwellers. The car, designed primarily to help the company reach stringent CO2 targets, is one of the strangest products from the automaker.

A Luxury City Car With Aston Martin Identity:

• Based on Toyota iQ platform
• Created for emissions compliance
• Handcrafted luxury interior
• Extremely unusual Aston Martin model
• Divisive but memorable design

The greatest surprise about the Cygnet wasn’t how it looked, but what it was. Aston Martin took the chassis and running gear of the wee Toyota iQ the little Japanese car that’s actually designed for small, busy cities and put in so much work to make it feel a luxury car that Aston Martin felt entitled to stick its name on it and charge $39,995.

Upon arrival, the Cygnet was an object of contention amongst enthusiasts. There were those who lauded the ingenious nature of the project, seeing it as a pragmatic move to adapt to shifting environmental regulations, while others wondered if such a diminutive city car was really an Aston Martin. Regardless, the combination of luxury building prowess with compact car foundations makes the Aston Martin Cygnet a rather interesting car for the collector indeed, it’s surely one of the oddest Aston Martins ever made, with a bit of a history of its own.