Jalopnik: Zagato

PCH, No Escape From The SM Edition: One Citroen SM or Two Lancia Zagatos?

Murilee Martin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:20:00 EDT

Welcome to Project Car Hell, where you choose your eternity by selecting the project that's the coolest... and the most hellish! Last time around, 64% of you opted for an eternity in the trunk of Coyote Shivers' 1984 Volvo DL rather than having your bodices ripped by Fabio's Lancia, according to the Choose Your Eternity poll. But enough with the pseudo-celebrity cars- today we need to get back to basics, with a return to the very soul of project car hell: France versus Italy! Right now, Italy is in sole possession of the PCH Superpower trophy- which is in the shop with a bad oil leak and a rod knock- thanks to a very one-sided Pantera-versus-Lotus drubbing, but can the Italians hold firm against the Tsar Bomba of Hell Projects? We'll find out!

Remember the Lancia Zagato? Of course not, and you Europeans are probably totally confused about that name slapped on what's obviously some kind of Americanized Beta, but enough of them were sold on these shores that it's now possible to obtain two of them (go here if the ad disappears) for just $1,500. One of them doesn't run, due to a "sticky" clutch arm, while the other one runs just fine, other than a slight problem with the fuel pump ("Sometimes you have to jiggle the fuel pump fuse to get it going"), which shouldn't raise even the tiniest red flag among those with experience working on Italian cars. You got lots of extra parts- in fact, sufficient parts to completely fill the bed of a full-sized pickup truck- and that means you should have enough stuff to get at least one of these fine Italian thoroughbreds back into tip-top shape. Right?

Just because a Citroën SM has never lost a PCH Superpower Challenge, does that make this matchup unfair to Italy? What if the Romans had had that sort of defeatist attitude? Why, they would have allowed those barbarians from the north to conquer them in that case... oh, wait. Anyway, we figure two Lancias might have a hope against a car built by a shotgun marriage of Maserati and Citroën, under the administration of two of the best-organized and efficient organizations the world has ever seen: the French and Italian governments! So here we go! My fellow LeMons judge, Herr Lieberman, has found this 1973 Citroën SM for us, and check out that price! Pick your jaw up off the floor, because we're talking about an SM priced well below four figures, and the auction ends in just a few hours. Unless the reserve is set at some absurd height, this might be the cheapest SM in the country! It doesn't quite run, but it's really, really close; once you deal with the engine- which "may be stuck"- and find a new transmission- which is missing- and then hunt down some new hydropneumatic suspension spheres and some other parts, and then deal with all the stuff that goes wrong when an insanely complicated car sits for close to two decades (a car built by the French and Italian governments, remember), and then fix the rusted-through body panels… well, at that point you'll find that you're only capable of composing really unwieldy run-on sentences full of digressions and tangents and you'll need a good stiff shot of absinthe just to drag yourself out to the garage and face your future, each day, until the warm embrace of eagerly anticipated death enfolds you. OK, fine, we know the SM is going to crush the Zagatos, but vote anyway.

1989 Autech Stelvio: Adventures In Ridiculous

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:20:00 EDT

When we first saw a picture of the 1989 Autech Stelvio, we assumed it was some sort of hideous one-off Japanese concept car. It turns out the car is actually part of a limited run Nissan supercar designed by Zagato. Produced by Autech, Nissan's special performance company, the cars are based on what we know as the Infiniti M30 platform, but featuring a 320 horsepower DOHC V6. After assembly, the chassis were sent to Zagato to be fitted with the... unique bodywork. In addition to the late 80's lines, the hood clearly features something a bit different from the average car. What is it?

As you can see in the picture above, it's a fender mirror that flares out from the headlights back to the driver's position. While an interesting idea, and we applaud the courageous use of NACA ducts, the executions is awful and the result is unfortunate. Zagato, which has made cars we love to look at sort of whiffed on that one. Even worse, the cost of one of the 200 cars produced was 18 million yen, approximately twice the price of an NXS-R when it debuted. Ouch.
[Grand JDM via JPCNews]

Zagato Creates Perfect Lancia Aprilia Sport Replica Using Only Photos

Mark Arnold — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:45:00 EDT

Sometimes a classic car is just so unattainable that you have to resort to replicas. That's easy if you want a fiberglass Cobra-esq roadster, but what about when the car you want doesn't have a kit readily available for you to order? What about if that 1937 Lancia you want doesn't have any documented engineering plans, and there's not a single original car remaining, anywhere? Well, back in 2006, Zagato decided they would take on such a challenge; building a perfect replica of the 1937 Lancia Aprilia Sport using only a few photographs.

This is the end result, but don't think it's just a one-off. Zagato says they plan on building up to nine units of the classic beauty at a price of $235,000. Don't plan to go Enzo-hunting, because the little streamliner only has 48HP. That means top speed is only 79 MPH. Our first thought is to swap in a turbocharged 'Busa motor (or maybe a modern Ducati engine), but you don't need speed when you've got hand-beaten body panels. Besides, those guys went through all the trouble of constructing 3D models from faded old black and white photographs. You'd think the least we could do is respect the craftsmanship.
[AutoBild]

Bentley GTZ Zagato In Geneva

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:40:00 EST

Having had its way with Italian cars, Zagato's coachworks business returned its attentions to a British-German hooligan — the Bentley Continental GT. (Remember the Zagato Aston DB7? Sure you do.) What they came up with is the two-tone Bentley GTZ Zagato we first showed you last week. As is their wont, Zagato made the Bent more curvilinear, with wide arcs where its blocky haunches used to be. No doubt Zagato wants more of this kind of business, but are there enough billionaires for those kinds of shenanigans?

Bentley Zagato GTZ Gets A Premature Unveil Before Geneva

Ray Wert — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:40:00 EST

The always embargo-breaking boys at the AutoWeek found only in the Netherlands have come across a couple of shots of the new Bentley Zagato GTZ. That's right, you heard us — the Zagato GTZ. Apparently the Bentley Continental GT wasn't quite ostentatious enough for the Italian tuning shop of Zagato, and like last year they've decided to bring a bit of blingasm with them. What they've come up with is a front fascia screaming "My god, I just ate a chain-link fence!" Supposedly we'll have more info on the GTZ this upcoming weekend. Of course that could just be Babelfish mistranslating again. For the moment you'll just have to feast your eyes on the three shots of this monstrosity of metal below.

(Hat tip to Sacha!) [via AutoWeek.nl]

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST

I believe there are certain things you can never have too many of. Good pairs of jeans and shoes. Pocket knives. Friends with pickup trucks. Real Mexican joints. Books. And of course, sports cars from the early 60s that competed at LeMans in your Fantasy Garage. We've already got the two best (the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe and the Ferrari 250 GTO, respectively) so let us now induct the most beautiful; the British/Italian hybrid Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato.

It might surprise some of you that a company with as storied a racing pedigree as Aston Martin would turn to Italy for help with its then-ultimate road car. After all, the "Aston" in Aston Martin comes from the Aston Clinton hillclimb where founder Lionel Martin had so much success. But remember, the decidedly non-Anglo Augustus Cesare Bertelli (aka "Bert") rescued Aston Martin from the Charnwood family's death grip in 1927. Lucky for us, too, as Bertelli was one hell of an engineer. In the mid-20s he built three cars for none other than Wolfe Barnato. Bert actually won the Rudge Whitworth Biennial Cup at LeMans behind the wheel of a "Bertelli Aston."

After the unpleasantness with the Germans, Sir David Brown continued the continental collaboration when he took over Aston. By the mid-50s, Brown had turned to Carrozzeria Touring to coachbuild the DB4. And why not? Carrozzeria had no only pioneered the Superleggera system (lightweight alloy panels stretched over tubular frame) but had build such humdingers as the 8C for Alfa and the 328 Touring Coupe for BMW. While pretty, the DB4 was just not enough.

So, Aston Martin pumped out the DB4 GT. Power from the Tadek Marek designed 3.7-liter DOHC straight-6 was bumped from 240 to 302 hp. The wheelbase was shortened, which meant that the useless to begin with backseat was gone in the GT. The aluminum was thinner (i.e. lighter) and the headlights were cowled, taking a blind-stab at aerodynamics. And while the DB4 GT was a nice improvement over the "standard" car and did reasonably well on the track, it still wasn't enough. Translation: the DB4 GT couldn't compete with Ferrari 250 GTs. So Brown (presumably) picked up the phone and called Zagato.

With a track record studded with such winners as the Fiat 8V, OSCA 4500 Biondetti, Alfa 8C 2900 and Jaguar XK 140 Z, Brown would have been nuts to call anyone else. Zagato was more than happy to rip the DB4 GT apart and rebuild it. Steel pieces were replaced with aluminum ones and the car was made even smaller still than the GT. Perspex was used in place of heavier glass. The bumpers were ripped off, along with everything that wasn't needed in a racing car. The engine even got re-jiggered to the tune of 314 hp, which in 1960 was pretty boss. Especially in a 2,701 pound whip. But the real legacy of the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato involves the young designer named Ercole Spada.

Spada, who would go on to design both the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Giulia TZ, crafted what to my eyes is one of the very most beautiful cars ever. We're talking top 10 here, if not top 5. The DB4 GT Zagato was his first gig. Do I need to mention beginner's luck? Gone was the inherent British slab-sidedness and upright grill. In were sumptuous Italian curves and unrealistically killer detailing. While simple at first, repeated gawking reveals Spada's knockout to be quite complex, especially if you change angles. I notice something new and enticing almost every time. Checkout the fishy-faced hood metal bending over the grill in profile. Pretty friggin' nifty, you ask me.

How'd the Aston Zagatos fare on the track? Not so hot. They could compete, even at LeMans, but the DB4 GT Zagatos were never as stiff nor as lean as the winning Ferraris of the time. The handling needed to tackle the most challenging tracks in the world was just never there. And so what? Because you know that little could matter less on an actual road. Still, if you don't win on Sunday... 25 cars were planned, but due to soft demand only 19 were ever built (though during the dark times known as the 80s Aston Martin completed 4 leftover chassis and three "new" replicas from scratch). For 1960 the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato was impressive machine only trumped by the very best sports car in the world. For 2008, the Zagato-bodied Aston is without question one of the world's most desirable. I mean. James Bond is cool, but Josepi Bondolini is righteous. Happy Voting.

[The Jalopnik Fantasy Garage appears every Wednesday*. Readers vote the cars in or out. The idea is that we'll have 50 cars in our Fantasy Garage, the world's greatest mechanic and endless wads of cash. Would you like to nominate a car for the Fantasy Garage? Write tips@jalopnik.com with the subject line "Fantasy."

*Sorry about last week. New Years and all that.]

Eight-Legged Fraud: Zagato 575 GTZ "Spyder" a Fake

Mike Spinelli — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 06:44:28 EDT

Zagato would like to inform you the supposed Zagato 575 GTZ Spyder is a fake. A rep from the venerable Italian design firm says the shot we ran earlier this week — the one that triggered some puzzled stares around the Jalopnik virtual campus — is an "illegally photoshopped" spec of the Zagato 575 GTZ coupe, a one-off coachbuilding project Zagato undertook for Japanese Ferrari collector Yushiyuki Hayashi. The prevailing cover story had Qvale Automotive Group — a US distributorship of exotic cars and entity behind the erstwhile, Ford-powered Qvale Mangusta — as the supposed distributor of the roofless rebody. Although we've always believed where there's smoke, there's fire, we still wouldn't bet on any of this panning out.

Jalopnik Choice Award: 1959 Fiat Abarth Zagato 750

Mike Bumbeck — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

With the old fashioneds well emptied and the hoopla surrounding the Pebble Beach Concours moving into forgotten, it is now time to present the never prestigious Jalopnik Choice Award. This 1959 Fiat 600-based Abarth Zagato 750 is part of the San Diego Collection, and on the block for a 125K. The Karl "Carlo" Abarth worked 750cc engine kicks out 57 horsepower, which propels the double bubble top coupe to a top speed of 112 mph! Fun to drive invariably comes as part of car's 1200-pound curb weight. Style is courtesy of Zagato. The final bid on this as-yet-unsold car was 88K. We're hoping to find the 500-dollar restorable version hidden underneath seventy three boxes of old Sunset magazines at a Burbank garage sale. [Fiat Zagato via the San Diego Collection]

Zagato!

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:15:00 EDT

It's not as if we haven't enjoyed the designs that have flowed from the pens that led to bucks that led to wonderfully-formed sheetmetal that all began with the illustrious hand of Ugo Zagato some 88 years ago. But one of those moments where it all just really comes together — the tenth listen when the record one thought was really, really good the first time one hears it becomes an indelible part of one's soul, for example — happened while we were up in Monterey. Like most of our readers, we don't live with Zagato-designed vehicles as a part of our daily landscape as we do with say, Giugiaro machines. But the Zagatos were underfoot like a cat with a lackluster sense of danger wherever we turned on the Peninsula. And just like we get with weird cats, we're in love, love, love. [Zagato flickr pool]

Project Car Hell: Zagato or Javelin?

Murilee Martin — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:30:57 EDT

Jalopnik readers- or at least the readers who bother to vote in our polls- have decreed that they'd be crazy enough to take on the awesome Purple Datsun 510 Limo over the slightly less awesome Bugamino in yesterday's Choose Your Eternity matchup. But let's say we're willing to jack up the cost of admission to a Hell Project- not a whole bunch, but closer to two grand than one. What then? Of course, since we all know the cost of the car itself is one of the least expensive parts of Project Car Hell, a few hundred bucks for the car itself isn't really all that significant.

Which brings us to today's first contestant: a 1981 Lancia Zagato off the streets of Bakersfield and available to the first cat who rolls up with $1700 in his trembling paws. You'd sure as hell be the only '81 Zagato driver in town if you owned this car, and you'd be sure to wow the ladies with your early-80s Italian style (be sure to get the skinny tie and wafer-thin watch to go with the car). Not only that, it's got the Targa top! According to the seller, it "RUNS EXCELLENT!" Skeptics could point out that even the most insignificant replacement part for this car might as well be made from pure U-235, if one is to judge by the difficulty of obtainment... but hey, where would we be if we paid attention to reason when it came to the cars we love?

Dang, that Zagato is cool, but only the flintiest heart could resist the appeal of a genuine 1974 AMC Javelin, which is ready to roll right into your garage for the bargain-basement price of $2100. Look at that shape! The crazy lines of the front fenders! You might consider losing the 12" JC Whitney leaf spring shackles and getting some rubber that fits inside the fenderwells... or maybe you'd keep it as it sits, in all its property-value-lowering glory. The 304 "RUNS REAL GOOD" and the transmission shifts, but we'd be shopping for a 401 and 4-speed about 12 seconds after taking ownership of this car, anyway. Drivetrain parts should be pretty easy to get, but body/interior stuff will be more of a challenge.

Zagato Diatto GT Ottovù to Enter Series Production

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:31:12 EDT

The Diatto GT Ottovù may not have topped our list of hottest concept cars at the Geneva auto show this past year, but those who can see past a few dated swoops of the pen will soon be able to snag one of 99 units to be produced. The revival of the Diatto brand is a milestone for Italian motoring — that brand being one of the country's oldest — and Zagato's design plays it to the hilt. The metallic-green Diatto GT Ottovù prototype was unveiled in Geneva and subsequently at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza (gesundheit). Power comes from a Ford-sourced 4.6-liter V8 jointly tuned by Roush and Cosworth. It produces 530 hp in base form, but a few undisclosed tweaks will bring it to 650 hp. The new Diatto is building a dealer network in the US and Europe. No word on price, but there's no doubt the usual suspects will step up, checkbook in hand. [Italiaspeed via AutoBlog]

More Photos: Maserati GS Zagato at Villa d'Este

Mike Spinelli — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 14:27:21 EDT

Zagato's retromodern reskin of the Maserati GranSport Spyder, the Maserati GS Zagato, is getting a once-over by crowds at Italy's Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza this weekend. The car was tailor made for Italian custom-kitchen king Paolo Boffi, a fan of the mad-hot 1954 Maserati A6 G Zagato. Zagato's released new fashion shots of the couture coupe at the Villa, along with early design renderings of the GS. Opinion may be split, but whatever you think of it, we really do need more cars that look like this — not fewer. – Mike Spinelli

Related:
Flying Coach: The Maserati GS Zagato [internal]

First Look: The Maserati GS Zagato IRL

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:49:58 EDT

The first shots of Zagato's coachbuilt GranSport coupe surfaced on Ultimate Car Page yesterday, providing the first look at the kind of exclusivity one custom-kitchen magnate's fortune can buy. Designers did work in the all-important helmet bubbles, though appear to have gotten a little curvilinear happy, like they'd just gotten a new pair of compasses and couldn't wait to get to work. Still, the commissioned piece does have some compelling side surfacing and a decent interpretation of the historic trident nose. Does it compare to the new Pininfarina-penned Maserati Grand Turismo? Hmm. – Mike Spinelli

Maserati GS Zagato Coupe [Ultimate Car Page via Autoblog]

Flying Coach: The Maserati GS Zagato

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 18:51:34 EDT

Another year, another italian motorcar reskinned by Zagato. This time, it's been commissioned by Paolo Boffi, Italian custom-kitchen magnate. He's employed the Zagato team to work up his Maserati GS Spyder. The de rigeur historical antecedent is the Maserati A6 G Zagato of 1954, a car whose period sexiness is likely irreproducible. Still, Zagato is giving its best attempt in the GS, which will debut at the Concours d'Elegance Villa d'Este next week. Will it capture the original magic, or wind up looking like a slick appliance in a Milanese loft building? Stay tuned. – Mike Spinelli

Press Release:

One year after the presentation of the Ferrari 575GTZ, Zagato returns to Villa d'Este with a world preview for fans of Italian sports sedans: the Maserati GS Zagato.

In the most classic traditions of exclusive collections that inspired the creativity of car designers in the '50s and '60s, Paolo Boffi, well-known entrepreneur in the furnishing and luxury design sector, has commissioned from Zagato a customised look for his Maserati GS Spyder. Zagato proposes a line that evoked the historical Maserati A6 G Zagato of 1954: one of the most beautiful Italian sedans ever built, and nowadays at the top of every collector's wish list.

The Maserati GS Zagato, like its celebrated ancestor, has all-aluminium bodywork and bears the Trident on the bonnet and the Z on the wing, expressing eternal Italian excellence in its shape and its content. A winning combination that matches powerful and reliable mechanics, with an elegant and and sports style, both rigorously Made in Italy. For purists of the compact coupe ?, afficionados of the Milano-based brand, it is a two-volume, two-seater, hatchback with a streamlined profile and a neat tail.

The wheelbase is 180mm shorter, a spin-off from the Spyder, provides excellent handling and stability on curves, with extraordinary torsional rigidity. In homage to the tradition of the gentlemen drivers who asked Zagato to transform the bodywork of their cars, modern collectors choose mechanics at the top level of technical evolution and 'dress' them in tailor-made garments that increase in value as time passes. This is the mission of a modern automobile atelier: to create timeless objects that celebrate prestigious models and brands and which, unlike mass produced vehicles, are destined to last for ever. Zagato, born in 1919 as an atelier for automobiles and planes, has put its signature on all the most important mechanics of the last century, earning the opportunity to create, every time, an "instant classic".

Zagato's strengths lie in the concept of sports-style elegance, a functional design that does not bow to momentary fashions but seeks out the excitement and pleasure of driving, and in the precious aluminium bodywork, a value recognised everywhere. The Maserati GS Zagato will be on show at the Concours d'Elegance Villa d'Este, to be held in Cernobbio (Italy) 20 -22 April 2007.

[via Autoblog]

Related:
Geneva Showcase: Zagato Ottovu [internal]

Geneva Showcase: Zagato Ottovu

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 15:49:01 EST

A few commenters mentioned earlier that this year's high-design concepts look like they were plucked from the 1980s. Take a look again at Zagato's Ottovu concept, this time from the floor of the Geneva show. Notwithstanding the statuesque models in modern floral prints, the Ottovu does look like something from the era of Zagato's Zeta 6 concept of 1983. It's kind of like how the Kaiser Chiefs reference Depeche Mode and only sound part of the way derivative. Maybe we should leave now. – Mike Spinelli

Geneva Showcase: Spyker C12 Zagato

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 16:27:37 EST

Mad supercar genius Victor Muller introduced the latest from the newly minted F1 constructor Spyker Cars. It's a Zagato-designed rear-drive sportster, powered by VW's 6.0-liter W12 engine, producing 500 hp. Like other of Spyker's vehicles, this one combines supercar with 1930s robber-baron airplane, to create a gestalt from speed, fine leather, Chronoswiss instruments and aeronautics. The C12 gets from zero to 60 in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed that knocks fairly hard on the threshold of 200 mph (193). Nearly $650,000 will buy one, if all of the above is your thing. – Mike Spinelli

Press Release:

Spyker C12 Zagato: the vehicle

The Spyker C12 Zagato is an all aluminium rear wheel drive sports car, based on the Spyker C12 Spyder. The C12 is powered by the 6.0 liter, 12 cylinder, 500 bph W12 engine from Volkswagen AG and accelerates from 0-100 km (0-60 mph) in 3.8 seconds. The Spyker C12 Zagato is equipped with a six-speed manual or automatic gear box with F1 style shifting, Chronoswiss instruments and a Zagato designed full leather interior with brushed aluminium instrument panel. The C12 Zagato has an aluminium body with stainless steel roof rails and has many F1 derived design details such as an F1 nose, air scoop, chimneys, mirrors, rain light, fuel flap and diffuser. It has a panoramic roof that features the Double Bubble, a typical Zagato style element. The Spyker C12 Zagato has a length of 4.5 m, a width of 2.02 m excluding mirrors, a height of 1.25 m and weighs 1480 kg. The fuel tank capacity is 70 litres (15.4 gallons). Top speed is 310 km/h (193 mph).

"The Spyker and Zagato Atelier brands perfectly align because of their common aeronautical origins and because of the shared passion of Victor Muller and myself for sports cars" states Andrea Zagato. "Nevertheless Victor, before starting this extraordinary adventure with Spyker, was a Zagato collector owning cars like the Flaminia SS and TZ. Together with our neo-classical approach, this Spyker C12 Zagato shows the capabilities of Zagato Atelier for innovative and non conventional solutions."

Norihiko Harada, designer of the new Spyker C12 Zagato, adds: "All Spyker cars have their own very unique style: the aeronautical retrospective style co-exists with craftsmanship and elegance. The new Zagato body becomes even more unique, aggressive and sensual at the same time. It features a new double bubble panoramic roof , F1 influenced nose and air intakes, chimney and a "coda tronca", the typical Zagato cut off tail end.

Maintaining Spyker's styling philosophy, Zagato design put all these elements together and created an extremely stimulating example of contemporary exotic high performance sports car by using typical modern Zagato lines which started from the Raptor Zagato in 1996."

The Spyker C12 Zagato will retail for EUR 495,000 (excluding any taxes, ex factory).

Geneva Pre-Show: More on Zagato's Diatto Ottovu Project

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 06:39:11 EST

Zagato let fly with a new set of images of its Diatto Ottovu project, a commemorative ~~plate~~ vehicle signifying 100 years of the Diatto marque. That company was once the builder of royal transport and proto track-day rides. Zagato plans to show off its tribute at the Geneva motor show next week. We'll see how it stands up next to the Fiorvanti Thalia. – Mike Spinelli

[via Virtualcar.it]

Zagato Reveals Diatto Anniversary Project: The Ottovu

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 07:04:25 EST

Italian design and coachworks Zagato revealed its latest big-bux reskinning. It's called the Ottovu Project, and it celebrates 100 years of the Diatto marque, which once stood for kingly and queenly rides and motorsports endeavors. Zagato and Diatto were sometime collaborators in the 1920s, with papa Ugo building bodies for Diatto chassis. The Ottovu , set for a Geneva debut, will likely have Maserati V8 power, supercharged of course. Which Italian viscount or American investment banker commissioned this one? We'll have to wait and see. – Mike Spinelli

[via Zagato]

Back to the Past: Zagato Recreates 1938 Lancia Aprilia Sport from Photo

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 11:18:02 EST

With the company's centenary approaching, designers at Zagato looked back to its "no it's a boat, no it's a plane" era, the 1930s for inspiration. But instead of building just another retro-themed concept, they completely recreated a Lancia Aprilia Sport, from a version designed in 1938 by now-boss Andrea Zagato's grandfather Ugo, who was inspired by nautical and aviation forms. But since the car no longer exists in material form, and drawing up blueprints wasn't quite how Ugo rolled, the modern team turned to a faded black-and-white photo for guidance. Using CAD, they mapped the photographic form, and employed CNC machining technologies to reconstruct the plans so it could be refabbed. Then, using prewar fabrication techniques, the body panels were hand-beaten by master panel beaters, and the rest of the car was constructed. The result — represented above — is set to be unveiled at the Bologna motor show later this month. Ugo, however, isn't quite as lucky. – Mike Spinelli

Related:
Zagato's Commemorative Ferrari 575 Revealed [internal]

Harrier, Oh Harrier: Zagato Works Up Exterior Package for J-Spec Toyota SUV

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 09:47:36 EDT

Toyota and Italy's Zagato design house are back together for another round of dress-up. Devotees of mid-engined Toyotas (guilty) may recall the 2001 Toyota Zagato VM 180, a limited-edition model of the MR2 Spyder (MRS) available in Japan (see photo below). Now the Toyos are offering a Zagato-fied special edition of the J-spec Toyota Harrier (Lexus RX) SUV. Only 250 examples of the Harrier Zagato — marking the 50th anniversary of Toyopet dealership network — will be available in Japan, as part of its Modellista aftermarket custom program. Think Lexus-meets-Group B. [UPDATE: Check out Nihon Car and Bike's coverage of the Harrier Zagato at the Tokyo Auto Gallery.]

Related:
Zagato's Commemorative Ferrari 575 Revealed [internal]

Ferrari Allows the Badges on Modified Cars

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:50:40 EDT

The kidlets over in Maranello, after lending their badge to all manner of questionable tchotchkes (surfboards, cologne, etc.) have actually lent their blessings to the three high-profile coachbuilt cars to debut in the next few months, notable because it's a reversal of a 30-year policy. Peter Kalikow's Scag-based car, along with Yoshiyuki Hayashi's Zagato-bodied, 575-derived machine will both debut at Villa d'Este concours d'elegance in Como, while the much-debated James Glickenhaus P4 redux built by Pininfarina will bow at Pebble Beach.

Ferrari decides to allow logo on custom cars built for collectors [AutoWeek]

Zagato's Commemorative Ferrari 575 Revealed

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 08:20:09 EDT

The first shot of Zagato's commemorative Ferrari 575 GTZ, a bespoke homage to Zagato Ferraris of the '50's and '60s, was released this week. The rebodied 575, which will be unveiled at the Villa D'Este Concours D'Elegance in Italy next week, is pictured with Yushiyuki Hayashi — the collector who commissioned the glorified hot rod. Despite looking like a shortened Scaglietti that's been strategically pumped up with helium, it's pretty sharp. Multimillion-dollar sharp? We'll see.

Related:
Zagato to Build Commemorative Ferrari 575 [internal]

Another Coachbuilt Ferrari: The 575 GTZ

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 19:19:17 EDT

It's shaping up to be an intercontinental grudge match between two Ferrari collectors for the swankiest one-of-a-kind Ferrari. First James Glickenhaus, an American, commissioned Pininfarina to build him a futuristic homage to the P4, the 612 P4/5. Now, Yoshiyuki Hayashi of Japan has commissioned Zagato to fashion a new take on the 250GTZ berlinetta of the mid-1950s and set it atop the chassis of his Ferrari 575M (teaser image, above). The result will be called the 575GTZ. But whereas the Glickenhaus model will debut in Pebble Beach, the GTZ's coming out will be at the Villa D'Este Concours D'Elegance, Cernobbio, Italy later this month. Advantage: Hayashi.

Zagato 575 GTZ [Italiaspeed]

Related:
AutoWeek Reveals New P4/5 Prototype [internal]

Zagato to Build Commemorative Ferrari 575

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 13:26:19 EST

It's been 50 years since Zagato worked over a Ferrari 250 for gent'lman driver Vladimiro Galluzzi, creating the 1956 250 GTZ Berlinetta, a duplicitous coup-ay for both racing and showing (and chasing voluptuous women in housecoats down cobblestoned streets). Throughout the late 1950s, the Z boys created several editions subsequently, including the 250 GTZ Coupe Corsa, 250 GTZ Competizione, 250 GTZ Lusso and 205 GTZ Cappo di Tutti Cappi (just kidding, uncle Maurizio). Now, the bespoke builder and design house is working up a new model based on the Ferrari 575, in its waning years before it's to be replaced by the 599 GTB Fiorano. The aluminum-bodied "Zero" edition will get the Zagato signature two-tone paint job other stylistic features to tie it to Zagato Ferraris of old. Collectors will swoon, even if the women in housecoats don't really care much anymore.