Forget faux wood side panels. This is a truly fancy wagon from the Reagan days.
For starters, it’s an Aston Martin. In case that’s not enough said, it’s also a custom car. According to the seller on Classic Driver, “This unique Aston Martin Shooting Brake was designed and built by the renowned Swiss Aston Martin Heritage Specialist Roos Engineering Ltd., with the official sanction of Aston Martin. The car was built between 1996 and 1999 upon a customers request, based on a third series 1987 Aston Martin Lagonda.” Even its three-speed automatic got converted – into a four-speed unit.
On top of all that, this 24,234-mile angular artform on wheels is equipped with futuristic (for the ’80s) technology, such as rear parking sensors and a DVD entertainment setup for people riding in the back of the leather- and wood-lined passenger compartment. For high-end tailgating, there’s a quilted leather cargo mat/bumper cover.
This V8-powered fanciness comes at a high price, though: approximately $424,000.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
