The Aston Martin DB AR1 Is Ultra Rare and Super Quirky

CHECK OUT THIS DB AR1 ON CARS & BIDS!
crsnbds.com/db-ar1
This is the Aston Martin DB AR1 -- and it's a very interesting, rare, and quirky car. This DB AR1 is one of just 99 produced. It was designed by Zagato and made exclusively for the American market. We are thrilled to be offering this one for sale on CARS & BIDS!! Today I'm reviewing this Aston Martin DB AR1, and I'll show you all the many quirks and features. I'll also get behind the wheel and review the driving experience.
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 THIS...
00:31 It Can Be Yours On CARS & BIDS!!!
01:04 Overview
03:58 The Roof Situation
06:18 Trunk Quirks
07:34 Styling and Design
09:31 Vroom Vroom
10:02 More Exterior Quirks & Features
11:43 V12 Powertrain
13:27 Recent Maintenance
13:47 Interior Quirks & Features
19:32 Stereo
20:50 Ford Switchgear
21:50 Manual Transmission
22:37 No Rear Seats
23:23 Special Thanks to Aston Martin Newport Beach
23:52 Driving Experience
28:23 Final Thoughts
28:44 DougScore
#dougdemuro #carsandbids #cars #astonmartindbar1 #astonmartin #dbar1

[@DougDeMuro]

THIS! Is the DB AR1 Auction crsnbds.com/aston-db-ar1

[@LuisUrbieta]

Even though these Astin AR1 wasn't sold in large numbers not sold globally I think it looks good. Plz teply

[@FrequencyORD]

If you own one of these you better hope you don’t damage that rear panel. That would be very expensive to replace 😬

[@LuisUrbieta]

@@FrequencyORD Yeah I admit that these are so rare & you will not see millions

[@anthonyw5261]

Doug needs racing shoes for pedal setups like this. Just a suggestion 😉

[@mattr8904]

Would you swap the Ford GT for this? 🤔

[@SkepticalRaptor]

Doug looks at the owner’s manual but doesn’t go back to the days when he would read us some quirks in the manual. I miss his doing that.

[@livingcoconut1417]

real

[@ds-il7ik]

Doug needs to hit us with some throwback segments every now and then.

[@guava89flavour15]

He is too busy right now....🤐🤐🤐 But cool car anyway, I didn't know about.

[@keepwatchingyou]

This, or turn on the navigation and trying to use it

[@edwardvalivonis23]

Doug is a type of a guy to read car owner's manual at church Sunday service

[@grunkohlaktionar7474]

It happens very rarely that you present a car I haven't heard of before. This is one of those, wow 👏🏼

[@Chrisrd75]

I came here to say Just that.... maybe only the thrid time there is a car iv never heard of before.

[@Flared]

Same. I knew about the Zagato designed DB7, but had no idea a roadster version was made exclusively for the US. I think the roofed version is best for obvious reasons though.

[@ScottBlankets]

Came to say this. I was 100% lifetime on "if you know, you know" And then the AR1...

[@seannewman8542]

Yeah, I've never heard of this either. But boy, what a gorgeous car!!

[@svetoslaviliev6819]

Yet Doug knew it even all the way back 20yrs when it was new. This only comes to show us how superior he is to as plebian automotive freaks 😅

[@nicholasstocker8864]

Fun Fact: The DB7, which was the base for the DB AR1, has the rear taillights from the Mazda 323F, the chassis from the Jaguar XJS, the door handles from the Mazda MX5 (NA), the door mirrors from the Citroen CX, the optional automatic transmission from the Hummer H1, the I6 engine block from Jaguar, and if you do get the I6 version, it has a supercharger from the Ford Thunderbird.

[@jerrycomo2736]

The hood latch release has a rear-hinged image while the actual car hood (bonnet) is front-hinged. I wonder what car the hood latch release is from.

[@iamatlantis1]

Damn.

[@1ybr]

If Mr. worldwide was a car :

[@welshrarebit9238]

This is the real review ,look what Doug missed

[@honestyisthegucci]

@@welshrarebit9238his comment is about the DB7 not the reviewed car. Read carefully before commenting!

[@markpalma2]

This is vintage Doug!!! On location, no knee pad, pure old school. Love it.

[@cbotten106]

Oh yeah, and he's been using a chair recently too. That's like hell freezing over in my book.

[@mhknfh3049]

What’s that at 10:34??

[@mazda_miata_]

god forbid he takes care of his knees

[@896gerard]

08:22

[@lvxleather]

He has a knee pad right from the beginning? Must be the Mandella time slip again

[@board57796]

The owners manual showing “079 of 99” is driving my OCD crazy, with that 0 before the 79 but not the 99. The top bag has “079/099” though.

[@jakeprewitt3009]

Probably so someone could have #007

[@nathannebraska2408]

It's a quirk and feature 😂

[@Cincy32]

​@@jakeprewitt3009I just realized it shouldn't be RHD either since this is the "American" Roadster.

[@dhalsim-1]

Now that I've seen it I can't breathe correctly

[@IceTTom]

There shouldn’t be a zero in the beginning of either number. Because there is only a 99 production run, it doesn’t go into the three digits.

[@Lukeywoodsey]

The key is exactly the same as European Ford models of the 90s and early 2000s, if the ignition barrel is worn too much it's very easy to steal.

[@Tharkz]

It’s odd he overlooked this when otherwise listing so many other ford components.

[@whytube52]

yes and the keyhole behind the badge for the trunk is also a ford thing. That's how you opened the hood on a mondeo.

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

Kinda like the 90’s Aston’s using the nearly ubiquitous corporate Ford steering wheel

[@mbtherealone6878]

Yeah, all Doug does is point-and-tell with cars and he didn’t know that about the key? I guess it’s life long learning…

[@thedaily30]

Reformed criminal here. That may be true, but nobody with even a marginally functional brain is stealing this car. It’s far too identifiable, and most chop shops would struggle to part it out. Cheers 🫡

[@osinue]

It's nice to see Doug in a different background other than a concrete box

[@purwantiallan5089]

Wish Doug also reviewed the Mazda RX7 Type RS.

[@Stormpooper_]

An aluminum shift knob in a convertible designed for bright sunny days... I guess Zagato never saw Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[@Barbarian75]

they did. 😉😂

[@purwantiallan5089]

Raiders of the Lost ark? Was that the 5th film of Tomb raider??

[@SynthiaVan]

I used to sell Astons and this is exactly what I remember. You could get that shift knob in the DB7 also, the GT model. Think "Home Alone doorknob."

[@Deepb1u]

The AR1 had special tail lights. The DB7 had Mazda tails lights....from the plain, old 1989 323F.

[@davidg9401]

Still look better on the db7 imo

[@mariellarojas8562]

@@davidg9401 Hell no

[@davidg9401]

@@mariellarojas8562 the round ones are just generic looking and look slapped on.

[@mariellarojas8562]

@@davidg9401 The DB7 has all the back of a Mazda slapped on an Aston Martin. It doesnt look right. It is an unholy creation and Zagato improved the looks with those generic lights.

[@purwantiallan5089]

​@@davidg9401and also better looking than 2003 Vanquish.

[@rr-yv9uc]

I used to work at Aston Martin of Dallas as a Tech. We received the most AR-1 models in the US. We had 5. One was #7, labeled 007. It was sold at auction. I told my fellow Master Tech that they would never sell, as they didn't come with an actual roof. Well, collectors bought them up quick. The chassis and basically everything else is based on the DB7 GT. The A/C blower motors are their biggest weak point as most underpinnings were still based on Jaguar parts underneath the dash, as most people know already. They were very pretty. The body was similar to the Vanquish in look and feel at the time, though custom design. If you feel the door, it feels like a Vanquish, if you get a chance to compare. I drove them to insure everything worked before delivery. They drove fantastic, just like the DB7 GT. Doug's report was very correct as I remember.

[@matthewnicholas6365]

I love how Doug always lists those handbrakes as quirky and describes them like hes never seen one before. Despite having reviewed dozens of cars with them

[@richardstarr6527]

Every time! I don’t get it

[@DougDeMuro]

Only about 50 percent of my viewers are repeats :) Lot of new viewers every time!

[@dhalsim-1]

@@DougDeMuro Precisely. Classic quirks to us but new to new viewers.

[@stephenshowell]

@@dhalsim-1 yeah but he does this with a lot of things, acts like it’s a unique feature to a specific car that’s actually quite common, or like he hasn’t seen it before. Kind of stupid to even care about lol but it’s annoying when the Big KZbin Car Guy acts like the 100th push button transmission he’s reviewed is so QuiRkY

[@willmoore5862]

@@DougDeMuroso I’m in the 50%! Life goals!!!!

[@johnbertram]

The parking brake (handbrake) is known as a 'fly-off'. Traditional British cars like MGs, Morgans, Triumphs, etc. were typically fitted with them too.

[@lucachard4836]

Looks like a cross between an Alfa 8C and an inhaling Kirby

[@sesto194]

It looks alot like the Shelby Series:One

[@pawsnpistons]

Indeed. One of the few really ugly Aston Martin's

[@mrnnangammbi9442]

Doug you win, I've never heard about this car before

[@Dylan-ti6do]

I saw a DB AR1 once in my life and it was in Switzerland, probably 2008. It was on diplomatic plates. I remember thinking that this car looks kinda weird for an Aston Martin and took pictures of it. Only later I realised how rare it was, especially in Europe.

[@HokageHunter_69]

I used to work at a luxury car dealership and we had one of the DB7 Zagato coupés in our inventory. I never really noticed it until i asked my boss what kind of Aston that was. I was very surprised to hear that it was one of 99 and by far the most expensive car in our inventory at that time. Always thought it looked rather ugly.

[@nrivera0717]

I find all the cars zagato has done is an uglier version

[@bluewombat]

The key shape isn't really that uncommon. I'm not sure if it's still the case, but that was the key and tumbler design for Ford locks in Europe for decades, and must be why Aston and Jaguar used them, since they were under Ford ownership.

[@rubenvanpraagh8791]

This is most likely the rarest series built factory car I have ever seen driving around. It was a light green metallic one and it was driving on the A2 highway between Utrecht and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I think it was about 2008. This also means that at least one car was outside the USA by then!

[@musicandtech04]

It was imported. All 99 DB AR1s were originally for the US market

[@rubenvanpraagh8791]

@@musicandtech04 clearly.

[@westonwin7783]

Love this! Need more classic 2000s quirky car reviews. Thanks Doug! -575 Super America would be great nice too!

[@bicyclist2]

I love these older Aston Martin's. Especially the Zagato bodied ones. I remember when this Aston was new. This and the Zagato coupe, are my favorite Aston Martins. I'm so glad to see it has a proper manual transmission. I've seen these DB AR1's go up for sale a few times over the years. I know that Jeremy Clarkson likes the DB7. Thank you.

[@priqq1]

I remember when dealerships were trying to give these away in the early 2010s for like 60 grand. Such a steal back then.

[@jasonkolker9444]

Bro lmao

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

I missed out on some really cool cars back in the day. I recall in 2005/2006 Gen 4 Supras trading hands for around $20,000 or less sometimes, $25,000 for NSX’s. I came close to buying a Supra, but it would have taken too much out of our house down payment fund. I still feel bad about missing out as it was that really rare bluish purple color that’s kinda like the Ford mystichrome they used on some Cobras.

[@Patrick94GSR]

Another comment here from a former Audi tech said that collectors bought up all these AR1’s real quick. No one was giving them away for any less than the original MSRP.

[@jasonkolker9444]

@@Patrick94GSR yeah there’s no way they ever sat at a dealership

[@priqq1]

@@jasonkolker9444 used my guy, resale market.

[@chartreux1532]

Pretty much every Car that Zagato designed looks amazing, even the more quirky ones. I still haven't seen one Zagato Model of any Car Brand that didn't look great and as far as i know Zagato still does Designs to this Day! The Aston Martin V12 Zagato is probably my favourite one Prost & Cheers from Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps

[@daxmotis27]

You guys are getting some good stuff lately

[@Thatguy55595]

Doug going crazy with the work ethic. I gotta respect it.

[@lordcorgi6481]

Funny thing is that it has the exact same turn signal and wiper levers of the Focus I had at the time. I would tell people my Focus had Aston Martin switches and levers 😂

[@bwofficial1776]

I had a Taurus with half of an Aston Martin V12. Good engine let down by a transmission made of glass with molasses for fluid.

[@jd39046]

Aston Martins are keeping you big as hell

[@EduardoCantuV]

Man, congrats on achieving the dream of many of us. Your joy when reviewing these cars is contagious and the reason as to why I keep coming back to watch these. You took the risk of the content developer life and it paid off, congrats! (not that you need any rando telling you this) hahaha

[@RossCuth]

Waiting for the day Doug gets to review an Aston Martin One-77 lol

[@jamesmurmurzancone4532]

Doug the kind of guy who gives you uncomfortably long eye contact for when shaking hands.

[@HiThere619]

Why do you people make the same idiotic comments on every single video?

[@sgaxnikolaix661]

After moving your hand up and down three times you want to end it but he won’t let go. You just nervous chuckle as it’s goes on.

[@TheSh4dowgale]

HiThere619 is the kind of person who pouts and has no fun at a theme park.

[@HiThere619]

@@TheSh4dowgale Yet another example of how idiotic you people are.

[@HiThere619]

@@TheSh4dowgale Yet another idiot in the comment section.

[@Delly001]

I remember seeing this in the dealership back in 2003! Stunning in person. Had no idea it was Zagato designed.

[@stupidvideos1449]

Saw one at Concours, it blew me away

[@akterhossain8139]

Only 99 made globally. A rare car. Really gorgeous.

[@musicandtech04]

Actually, all 99 of them were for the United States

[@Lidelo]

@@musicandtech04 Actually, they made 99 plus 1 with the final example not being sold to a client in the US, but for Aston Martin’s own collection.

[@GFkilla17]

A shame this wasn't the 69th

[@freakylad26]

​@@musicandtech04So they were still correct when they said globally then? 😂

[@IceTTom]

This is only went over three dozen times throughout the video.. And like music said… only in US…. 😐

[@Caamhobart]

imagine paying all that money for an Aston and realizing the stocks are shared with a taurus or a escort

[@jamesengland7461]

This is industry standard.

[@jamesclarke3248]

LOVE THIS CAR!!! Haven't seen it in a long time. THANKS DOUG!!!

[@godchi1dvonsteuben770]

@8:52 the two leather wrapped panels behind the head rests were a gorgeous touch, as well. The Chrome screw in the panel closest to the door is actually quite indicative of there having been plans for a removable hard top, at some point.

[@christophetardivat234]

this one look even more like a tarted up jaguar XK8 than the regular DB7! but happy they found 99 buyers, only in america!

[@JSythe]

Looking forward to your Grand Highlander video!

[@jeton924s]

Thanks Doug for reviewing one of my favorite cars the Zagato ARI now you have to find another master piece of collaboration between Aston Martin & Zagato the V8 Zagato from the 80’s and review it please Doug

[@rjdavies1982]

Hi Doug - that warning light arrangement is the same as the XJ-S on which the instrument binnacle is based - dates from early 70s!!

[@stefanstefanov2912]

this has to be the most unique rear end of a car I have ever seen... wow and it's gorgeous

[@aspen9102]

That key is the same as my ol reliable ford ka

[@ukiyo5283]

I haven't heard about, read about, or seen a video about this car in what seems like an age. What a beauty it is though! Great video as always Doug!

[@margaretbehler4935]

Right there with you Doug. Absolutely GORGEOUS!

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

All based on the Jaguar XJ40 platform, yet you never give any credit.

[@jamesengland7461]

He doesn't get into those types of details. No purpose for blame here.

[@Vertigo11]

How will you ever be able to move on from this!?

[@foureyeddriver]

An ultra rare Aston Martin has a bonnet as a roof. That's hilarious 🤣

[@user-pd9qt9vv7s]

Quite a lovely looking Aston I’ve been driving Astons since 2005 and currently proud owner of DB5 & DB9 But never even seen this one Doug always delivers unique cars to review

[@alanlittell8385]

Beautiful car. Great video

[@willmtaylor]

Hot take: Zagato makes HIDEOUS designs.

[@btgm25]

I think I had only seen photos of this car years ago on the internet, but never had a name for it, so it's crazy to see such a rare car in such depth, and now I know that the engine latch lever and the key are the same as a base model Ford Fiesta of the same vintage lol!

[@willfox640]

Doug there’s one of these on the Cape! I saw it growing up many times and was able to get pics and videos too. Thing is absolutely gorgeous in person

[@Gordanovich02]

Zagato Astons pretty much all have a larger grille than the car they're based on. That, along with the double-bubble roof (or double fairing in this case) seems to be a signature feature.

[@jonathanblake5844]

I love the modern classic Astons! You should do more videos on Aston martins from the early to late 2000s

[@jasonkolker9444]

So glad you’re doing more Aston’s

[@ar2043]

Who else would love to see Doug review an old muscle car from years gone by? Like a 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS-6 4-Speed? Or a 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda 426 HEMI 4-Speed Pistol Grip? Or a 1969 Corvette L-88 4-Speed? It would be so cool for him to pick one and then learn all about it and what was happening with the automotive industry in that timeline and give us a good old fashioned Doug review!!! PLEASE Doug!!! I think it would be great. At least think about it buddy!!!

[@ForzaDriven]

I'm happy for Doug on having the opportunity to drive such a special car and not be disappointed with the way it drives.

[@magnusandersson8856]

Simply stunning , Treasures from past ❤️‍🔥

[@cartermorrish8180]

Hey Doug! Love this video (as always!!) I was wondering if you would do a review of a Mazda Eunos Cosmos? Such an interesting car from a somewhat strange period in Mazda's history with the only 3 rotor engine in a production car ever! I hope you see this, cheers!

[@DrivingGod21]

My goodness is it beautiful. I have had a 1/18 scale model of one since I was a kid.

[@tylerdauber1175]

Huh, never knew this existed. Love it Doug, as always, thank you

[@chefberglund7991]

Seems like a big month for Astons across a bunch of pods/platforms. Curious. Love the AR1 though. Thanks Doug. Another gem!

[@jonathandalton2921]

its nice to see THE back of these cars and what else is in THE back, love those exhausts in THE back and the tailights in THE back

[@dth2brny121]

I had the privilege of spotting one of these in the wild many years ago. I had to do a double take before realizing it was a true Zagato Aston. One of the most lovely rides I've ever seen 💯

[@moncler2999]

Never heard of this one. Thank you Doug DeMuro for educating me. I hope to meet you one day.

[@johnbrooks241]

Check 8:38 to 8:41 the paint reflection shows a very similar, if not exact, shine of the Zagato "Z" no chance that is on accident! They planned that through the body work and paint choice!! Wonderful!

[@andrefncduarte]

Thats why a see Doug, for these videos 🙌🏽

[@ehfemzee_10]

YES! I LOVE THIS CAR! Thank you Doug, as always :) A car that always reminds me that sometimes, America gets the exclusive, special version. Sometimes.

[@headbanginTILLitHurt]

WOW! Saw one of these at my local Cars and Coffee in a deep metallic burnt orange and it was an amazing spot! Older gentleman that owned it was very impressed i knew what it was haha. Very cool moment.

[@santiagoortiz3665]

I have never heard of this car. But I think I want it now that I know about it. This is really cool. Also I find it funny that this shares the door handles and the key with the Jaguar XJR.

[@swampthing20]

Why does Doug talk about those types of handbrakes - which he's talked about about a hundred times - as if he's never seen one before?

[@nathleaves9001]

8:38 could be coincidence or just incredible design and attention to detail, but the light reflecting on the quarter panel creates the Zagato ‘Z’ using the light and creases in the bodywork

[@nimbuslion]

i love when doug says “…made for the entire planet” because it makes me think he thinks there are other planets with cars

[@car9472]

it's always fun to see doug review a super quirky car because you can tell he's really in his element

[@adamc2451]

The vent for defogging the window and the way you explained it actually made me laugh out loud

[@whynotagain3639]

The key is the same as Ford's used in the UK. AND The gear stick knob is very similar to the Focus ST five pot!

[@BlazeORenegado]

Now this is a cool Aston Martin. Never heard of the DB AR1 before, but god, it looks amazing! 2000s cars are surely my favorite ones!

[@joshish9884]

That's exactly the same head unit that my 986 Boxster had in it too!

[@IK_MK]

Cars I didn't know existed like this is why I subscribed to doug demuro ❤

[@AlligatorDinosaur]

who know's if they meant to do this, but the body panel at 8:30 reflects the light in the shape of a Z, perhaps for zagato? if they meant to do this, very clever

[@EustaH]

It's funny to see the standard 90s Ford switch gear in such an exotic car. Like I have the same dome light, stocks etc. in my very plebeian new edge Cougar.

[@MaximusMerideus]

16:40- my 2004 Toyota Solara GLE has to levers, one for telescopic wheel and one for up/down. The most reliable car I ever had 250k miles and I still have it without any issues except new headlights cus of yellowing.

[@stephankahl5816]

The keys of Astons those days were standard Ford keys with an Aston Martin plaque glued to it.. I had a Ford "Ka" here in Germany as one of my first cars and it had exactly the same key - without the famous badge though...

[@Tod057]

love how doug has a knee matt to keep it from hurting!

[@user-pd9qt9vv7s]

What makes AM perfect sports car to purchase it delivers comfort and predominance but yet so elegant and settled & ir doesn’t attract huge crowds when you trying to fill it with petrol

[@aljazbolta6132]

Standard Ford key of those times, my old Fiesta had the same shape of the key.

[@DominikSchlack]

That Headunit was available as an Aftermarket Headunit (at least in Germany) under the Brand "Becker" and was also named the "Traffic Pro". Pretty sure Aston, Ferrari and others bought that as an OEM Part. My dad had that in the early 2000s for his Audi A4. So, our 2003 Base Spec, Company provided A4 had something in common with Ferraris and Astons from that era.

[@godchi1dvonsteuben770]

WOW, way less mistakes! I'll finally concede, you ARE getting to know your cars Doug! Nice review, good choice too!! 90's and early 2000's Aston Martins were just amazing... Hell, A.M.'s are still the "wise mans' supercar."

[@toddstewart3179]

You are on your game and in your element with this review. No one does it better.

[@PKPhoenix83]

One of them was on the TV show Las Vegas and was used by James Caan's character, Ed Deline.

[@Pascini]

This one will definitely be a contender for Doug's quirky car of the year

[@oggie1967]

WOW! Nice one Doug! I’m British and never knew Aston had made such a thing! Hmmm, not sure I’d swap my DB9 coupe for it but then I do live in Scotland!!😂😂⛈️🌦️🌨️ Nice review!👍👏👏👏❤️

[@kentishmale1969]

We do get a summer here Doug, the same as everyone else - all those heatwaves we get shows that !!

[@-fuk57]

The front most portion of the rear haunch reminds me of a P/T Cruiser and I can't unsee it!

[@fytghggyungf7601]

Nice looking Ashton Martin! 😍

[@tom_forsyth]

Lots of Caterham folks have a similar "roof" that is only for when you park the car. We call it the "shower cap". Very glamorous.

[@user-vl8sh7ih8c]

Yet another Doug classic! Thanks Doug!

[@RyoooPT]

14:00 That round key shaft shape comes from Ford, who owned AM at the time. A lot of Ford models from the same era as the DB-AR1 had round shaft keys like that one

[@kyleterpstra1899]

I never knew this existed, thank you, Doug!

[@Pandamasque]

8:57 Mazda 323F tail lights.

[@robvelez882]

Doug I have to say I saw one of these parked in the driver of a house I used to pass on my way to work and I always thought it was a kit car thinking they used a Sebring convertible to start off with.