Some sort of unquantifiable magic goes on when an Italian puts pen to paper. The nation is responsible for some of the most beautifully designed cars the world has ever seen — is it something in the water?
Zagato is one of Italy’s most famous design houses and in 2019 it celebrate its centenary. Picking just 10 iconic designs was certainly a tough task.
This was Zagato’s first collaboration with Aston Martin, and it produced one of the most valuable British classic cars in the world. It was designed as a more aerodynamic variant of the DB4 GT, however, this model wasn’t the sales success Aston had hoped for.
25 units were planned, but just 20 were created by the time production ended in 1963. The Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato wasn’t fully appreciated when new, but time has made these cars extremely sought after by collectors. Famed car ‘2 VEV’ sold at a Goodwood Bonhams auction last year for over $13 million (£10.1 million).
Controversial is the world we’d use to describe the SZ. After decades of curvaceous designs, this wedged shaped Zagato was a break from convention.
Powered by a glorious 3.0-liter V6 engine with all of the character you’d expect from an Alfa of this era, the SZs is another appreciating Zagato model today.
Never destined for production, this BMW and Zagato pairing formed an elegant Coupe and Roadster concept pairing. First Revealed at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the Zagato-bodied Z4 coupé combined the sports car’s proportions with design language from the legendary styling house. It was joined by a roadster variant that debuted at Pebble Beach.
The Alfa Romeo TZ2 was a follow on from the famed Kamm-tail TZ1 also by Zagato. TZ2 featured a bespoke fibreglass body and an even greater focus on aerodynamics. However, this elegant sports car’s racing career was cut short as Alfa focused on its new GTA racing program.
This was the very first Bentley Zagato model ever created, which is incredible considering that both marques have existed for so long. The design sits on the same 6.0-liter W12 powered platform as the standard Continental, but its dramatic bodywork set this car apart.
Just nine of these very special Bentleys were ever built.
The Ferrari 250 GTZ was a beautiful 1950s classic that brought together two of Italy’s greatest names. Japanese businessman Yoshiyuku Hayashi is a huge Ferrari fan and approached Zagato to create a more modern version of the iconic 250 GTZ
Using a Ferrari 575 as a base, the distinctive 575 GTZ was created.
When a collaboration with South African carmaker Perana didn’t bare the intended fruit, the design was adapted to create what was to be the rebirth of the iconic British sports car maker AC.
The AC 378 GT was always intended as a limited-production model, but it also served as a commercial viability study for the continuation of such a machine. Ultimately just 15 cars were produced by the end of the project, with no further plans for more.
Built for a Zagato collector, this model celebrated the 95th anniversary of Zagato. Based on Lamborghini’s most successful model, the Gallardo, it packs a 570hp V10 punch.
Reviving the Kamm-tail for the modern-day, this absolutely gorgeous Alfa Romeo continues the TZ lineage. German collector Martin Kapp commissioned the track-only car that’s based on an Alfa Romeo 8C Competitzione.
It retained the 8C’s 4.2-litre V8 engine, producing 420bhp, and features a carbon fibre frame and monocoque to helped keep weight to an incredible 850kg.
When Aston Martin shoehorned a V12 into its Vantage model, it created a masterpiece. However, the ultimate version of that car was formed with the help of Zagato to create a sports car that wasn’t only fast, but also full of intricate design details.
This model marked the 50th anniversary of the DB4 GT Zagato.