It is our first day of Pebble Beach festivities, and Al and I are driving to The Inn at Spanish Bay for a press event. Right after making a left into the driveway we notice a dark shape approaching us, one that is extremely wide with the unmistakable styling of an Aston Martin. My immediate thought was DBS with some aftermarket body kit, but I quickly realized that we were face to face with the ultimate Aston Martin, the mighty One-77.

At the time we might as well have been staring at a living breathing unicorn. Time literally seemed to slow to a crawl as the One-77 rolled past, and the thought of our cameras did not even cross our minds until it was too late. Had we not had to be somewhere, we likely would’ve given chase, but after catching a glimpse of this incredible car, we knew we would have to find a way to track it down later on. Luckily for us, we were able to find the car again in Carmel, CA later that night, surrounded by other incredible Astons. What followed was one of the most incredible car spots of Monterey Car Week  this year.

The One-77 is not your typical Aston Martin at all. It is more the flavor of a Pagani or a Koenigsegg than any standard Aston you could imagine. Its chassis is a full carbon fiber monocoque, like most modern hypercars, and the 7.3L V12 engine under its hood produces a massive 750hp — more than a Pagani Huayra, more than a Lamborghini Aventador, and more than the internal combustion engines found in both the Porsche 918 and McLaren P1. The One-77 is not a grand tourer, it is a full-on hypercar. 

Adding to the One-77’s mystique, Aston Martin only built 77 examples worldwide, making it rarer than the likes of even a McLaren F1. While it’s styling is surely that of an Aston, its massively wide proportions, and funky headlights, ensure that it will be recognized for what it is.

The price tag for the One-77 was officially around $1.4 million, however I’ve heard a few instances of them changing hands for over $2 million. Yes, this is one of those ludicrously expensive cars that you could trade for an entire collection of “normal” supercars. In fact, you could buy one of every other type of Aston Martin for less money than the One-77 costs. The price is mind-boggling, but I must admit that the One-77 has the allure to make it seem worthwhile.

Seeing this One-77 on public roads in the US was truly incredible. Like the Aston Martin V12 Zagato, which was parked right in front of it, the One-77 was never officially sold in America, so that made it extra special. Everything from its overall form down to the One-77’s tiniest detail is simply breathtaking. Many of you know that I am a huge fan of Paganis, and we actually saw a Huayra later on that night, but I assure you, hand on heart, that the One-77 has the same level of appeal. It is an unbelievable machine, and I am thrilled to have been able to shoot it in such a great setting as Carmel.

Monterey Car Week never ceases to amaze me, even after my fourth trip out there. Enjoy the photos.

-Photos by Nick Walker