Autoworld’s current temporary exhibition pays tribute to the 100th anniversary of the legendary Italian coachbuilder Zagato. The Milanese company is renown for a century of ground-breaking design that strived to cross the lines in both aerodynamics and taste.
Autoworld usually hosts four-six major exhibitions a year, where several dozen cars occupy the main gallery on the first floor.
In between the main exhibitions, two ground floor exposition spaces are available for smaller (sometimes ad hoc) shows encompassing about a dozen cars. In this case, don’t let the exhibition size misguide you.
These 12-18 car exhibitions can be quite exquisite, as it was well illustrated by the Pegaso exhibition, earlier this year.
Pegaso exhibition at Autoworld – a forgotten brand worth remembering
The Zagato company was created in Milan in 1919 by Ugo Zagato, who aimed to transfer his knowledge acquired in aeronautics. He revolutionised the bully luxury cars with lightweight structures, and aluminium bodywork similar the aircraft fuselages of that time. The company quickly rose to fame by the ‘20s, as did magic to the racing technology provided by Alfa Romeo.
Following the destruction brought by World War II, the re-established company enjoyed its revival thanks to the successful Grand Tourismos of the 50s. The range of customers grew steadily, beyond the borders of Italy. In addition to Maserati, Lancia, Aston Martin, Abarth and, Alfa Romeo, many other companies started working with Zagato.
The company is still managed by the Zagato family. Currently, Andrea Zagato, Ugo’s grandson, leads the company. Yet, since 2008, Zagato signed an agreement with Autoline Industries, an Indian components’ manufacturer.
Autoworld’s Zagato exhibition exceptionally uses three spots, two on both sides of the entrance. The first stage lines up half a dozen Alfa Romeos, the second podium on the other side presents a selection of various brands, and the third corner on the far side features a set of Lancias.
The Alfa lineup
The oldest car in the exhibition is a 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500. This model that was produced just for two years, nevertheless, the 1500 strengthened the reputation of the Italians with notable sales and an impressive racing record.
The next blue Alfa was also featured in the Greatest Italian designers stage of this year’s InterClassics, so last week it was on certified leave….
The 6C 1750 Gran Sport Zagato was aimed at the wealthy Gentleman drivers of the ’30s. It was a genuine sports car, that combined its own lightweight with brilliant performances for its day, resulting in numerous sporting successes. In 1929, it won every major racing event it was entered in, including the Grands Prix of Belgium, Spain, Tunis and Monza, and the Mille Miglia.
The particular car of the exhibition with a unique V-shaped bonnet design and a sunken foldaway hood was bought new by Angelo Parodi, the owner of Moto Guzzi, and also competed in the Mille Miglia of 1933 and ’34.
The silver Giulietta Sprint Zagato (also know as SZ “Coda Tonda) is another rarity. The Sprint Zagatois an aluminium-bodied 2-seater berlinetta, built by Zagato for competition use on the chassis and mechanicals of the Sprint Speciale.
The 1963 Alfa Romeo TZ introduces the red colour in the timeline. TZ Stands for Tubolare Zagato, referring to the tubular chassis. This model was developed by Autodelta, Alfa’s competition department. The power unit was the aluminium 4-cylinder 1.570 cc with a double overhead camshaft. The roadgoing version developed 112 bhp, the competition version peaked at 160 bhp. Thanks to its aluminium coachwork, the overall weight was limited to 660 kg, and the car reached a top speed of over 210 km/h.
The truncated rear, Ercole Spada’s signature style characteristic, is known as Coda Tronca. 112 models were built between 1963 and 1965. The next evolution arrived in 1965 with the TZ2. Equipped with a fibreglass body, a mere 12 original models were built.
The 1971 Alfa GT 1300 Junior Z is based on the mechanical platform of the Giulia. Various models were built, of which 1,108 units of the Junior Z GT 1300, designed by Ercole Spada.
The car was presented at the Turin Motor Show in 1969. It was offered with a number of engines, initially with the aluminium 4-cylinder 1.3 twin overhead camshaft up to 1600, also available as a Spyder.
The latest Alfa Romeo is a 1992 SZ, AKA the “Monster”. Zagato presented the first prototype of the SZ At the Geneva Motor Show in 1989, under the name ES-30.
The production version was based on the shortened chassis of the Alfa Romeo 75, and the 3 LV6 produced 210 bhp, with a top speed of250 km/h. The name SZ refers to the legendary Sprint Zagatos of earlier times, but its nickname was far more telling.
For its controversial appearance, it was soon given the nickname “il Mostro ” ( the Monster). Up until 1991 some 1,000 units were built, all in Alfa red and a Roadster followed on the same base In 1992, with the model name the RZ.
The SZ is a regular guest in classic car shows as part of smaller collections. Due to its striking style and rarity, it became a classic before reaching the legal age for oldtimers.
Going global
With success came an increasing reputation outside Italy and cooperation with many other manufacturers.
The flagship of the podium is an Aston Martin DB4 Zagato, a Sanction 3 series production built in the ‘90s but straight out of the factory. The original model was unveiled at the London Motor Show in October 1960, based on the DB4GT, and Ercole Spada designed a truly impressive body for Zagato.
Despite the positive reception, only 19 originals were built. In the meantime, the DB4 Zagato achieved such an iconic status, those original specimens were sold for millions of pounds.
This car is a crown jewel of any exhibition, and I still like to revisit the article on the PS I love you exhibition, also featuring a DB4 Zagato.
Art meets Automotive at the PS I Love you exhibition in Düsseldorf
In 1987, Aston Martin built a continuation series with four cars (called sanction 2) on the original unfinished chassis. A decade later, a few were built by Zagato, one of which is this car.
Next up, is a red Fiat V8 available between 1952 and 1954. Fiat constructed 114 chassis of this sports car, and Zagato built 30 cars.
Probably the most unusual car of the segment is the Autech Zagato Stelvio AZ-1 from 1991. It is hard to believe that this car is not a concept. This car was actually in production, albeit only about 100 vehicles were built.
At that time Autech was a sub-division of Nissan, and they used a Nissan Leopard as the basis for the Stelvio. Hence the engine was a turbocharged 3.0 V6 producing 280 bhp.
The rather unusual NACA air intakes in the rims, the large side windows reflect their epoch. Along with the distinctive grill and the enormous encased mirrors on the front wings, the ensure that car does not pass unnoticed. It is also safe to say that time did not make the design any more usual.
The white Fiat Abarth 750 is a compact sportscar developed by Abarth in Turin. The Abarths used the platform of the Fiat 600 but were fitted with Abarth’s upgraded engines. Abarth also offered several bodyworks by other designers, probably the most famous of them all the Zagatos with the dual bubbles in the roof.
The concrete car is quite familiar, I met this white coupé at the Abarth Works Museum. This site proved to be another never seen it comin’ experience, one of many great places I discovered in the past years. Outside, it may seem like a simple warehouse. Still, inside it is an unrivalled collection of Italian classics and rarities along with Fiat derivatives.
The Abarth Works Museum is the best place to celebrate the brands 70th birthday
The last car of the international assemble comes from Germany. The Zagato Zuma is based on Audi’s compact platform and could have been an alternative to Audi’s own TT. It was unveiled at the 1998 Geneva car show also to celebrate Zagato’s 80th anniversary.
The Lancia lineup
At the far end of the man hall, there is a stage filled with legendary and/or rare Lancias, from all epochs and segments.
The first car on the left is an orange Lancia Fulvia Zagato from 1971. Between 1965 and 1972 Zagato built 7,102 Fulvia cars in five different variants at their HQ in Milan. In 1968 Lancia ordered 27 special ultra-light race versions from Zagato.
The most potent versions were fitted with a 1,6-litre engine developing 114 bhp. The streamlined Fulvia Sport with a weighed a mere 915 kg could reach 190 km/h, and in 1969, the Fulvia Sport won its class at the 24 Hours of Daytona.
The second Lancia is a red Flavia 1800 Sport Zagato from 1963. For this model, Ercole Spada was given a free hand, and the result is undoubtedly spectacular. A few hundred cars were built, the 1.800cc with Weber carburettors had a top speed of 187 km/h for a Weight of 1,060 kg.
The third car is a beautiful white 1958 Lancia Appia Zagato. This model was built between 1956 and by Zagato commissioned by Lancia. There were different versions, but all the 700 cars were based on the floor plate of the Lancia Appia. I could further quite tech specs, but the elegant design speaks for itself.
The fourth car is a silver-coloured 1966 Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato, that was the sporty two-door coupé version of the Flaminia, built by Zagato. Using a shorter wheelbase chassis, it featured a very distinctive, more rounded aluminium body.
The fifth Lancia is one of my personal favourites. The Hyena is also a small series production, based on the Lancia Delta.
The car is actually a local hero, as it was called to life by a Dutch Lancia importer, Paul Koot, who wanted to relaunch the tradition of the Italian coachbuilders.
Zagato was chosen for the project, honouring the success of the Alfa Romeo SZ and RZ. Unfortunately, Fiat did not prove to be that enthusiastic. Without the helping hand of the factory, the project did not prove viable, and only a few dozen cars were built. Hence each car required the dismantling of an already assembled Delta Integrale to be retrofitted with the Zagato body.
