The story
Founded by Ugo Zagato in 1919, in Milan.1
History
The 1910s: Aeronautics
Ugo Zagato was an Italian automotive designer and builder. He was born in Gavello near Rovigo on June 25, 1890. He began his coach-building career in 1919 when he left "Officine Aeronautica Pomilio" to set up his own business in Milan. He intended to transfer various construction techniques from aeronautics to the automotive sector. Cars of the time were often bulky and heavy; Zagato envisioned them as lightweight structures with a frame in sheet aluminum; similar to an aircraft fuselage.
The 1920s: Classic models
During the 1920s, Zagato's focus was on designing race cars. At the beginning of the decade, he was asked by Alfa Romeo to design bodies for some of its G1, RL, and RM models. In 1925 Vittorio Jano, Alfa Romeo's Chief Engineer, asked him to create a body for the Alfa Romeo P2's heir, the Alfa 6C 1500. Zagato, using his knowledge of aeronautics, designed a sleek, light body for the car. It scored second place overall at the 1927 Mille Miglia and won the 1928 edition. The 1500's technical qualities were improved upon with the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750, introduced in 1927 with several body styles (Turismo, Sport, Gran Turismo, Super Sport, and Gran Sport). The 1750 would go on to achieve overall victories in the 1929 and 1930 Mille Miglia (Taking the first four spots in the latter date). In 1929, Enzo Ferrari, at the time a racing driver for Alfa Romeo, founded Scuderia Ferrari as the official team for Alfa Romeo's race cars.
The 1930s: Aerodynamic models
Zagato continued to build a variety of aerodynamic cars, adopting inclined windscreens, more aerodynamic headlights, and convex boot lids. He also favored perforated disc wheels that improved brake cooling. All Alfa Romeo 8Cs received coachwork from Zagato. In January 1932, Zagato-bodied cars also began to be built by Carrozzeria Brianza. Bianchi, Fiat, Isotta Fraschini, Lancia, Maserati, and OM all experimented with lightweight and aerodynamic Zagato bodies, especially for race cars. The list of victories includes eight Mille Miglia, four Targa Florio, four Le Mans, and four Spa Francorchamps OA victories. In the 1930s, Zagato-bodied models began to compete and dominate in different classes and categories. Thirty-six Zagato-bodied cars entered the 1938 Mille Miglia, making up one-third of the participants.
The 1940s: Panoramic models
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Zagato left Milan and fled to Lake Maggiore. On 13 August 1943, an RAF bombing raid destroyed his coachworks on Corso Sempione road. He found new premises at Saronno alongside the Isotta Fraschini works, on behalf of which he constructed trucks, military vehicles, and a futuristic 8C Monterosa. He returned to Milan at the end of the war and re-established his company at Via Giorgini 16, close to the Alfa Romeo historic home at Portello.
Zagato wanted to design more spacious and comfortable greenhouse-style cars characterized by airiness and good visibility. Incorporating large, glazed areas made of plexiglass, a lightweight material that replaced heavier traditional glass, the "Panoramic" body style, an invention of Vieri Rapi, chief Zagato stylist at that time, would mark the rebirth of his coachwork. Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, Maserati, and MG employed this innovative body design. In 1949, he built a Panoramic body for the Ferrari 166 Mille Miglia belonging to Antonio Stagnoli, the first Ferrari coupé for a client.
The 1950s: Gran Turismo models
In 1947, Elio Zagato, Ugo's first-born son, received an open-top sports car based on a Fiat 500 B chassis as a gift for his graduation from Bocconi University of Milan. This car represented the beginning of his career as a driver, earning 83 podium spots in 160 races. The birth of the Gran Turismo category, conceived in 1949 by Count Giovanni Lurani, journalist Giovanni Canestrini, and Elio himself revolutionized the world of automotive competition. The category comprised cars with sports coachwork and a production chassis or bodyshell. AC, Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Aston Martin, Bristol, Ferrari, Fiat, Fraser Nash, Maserati, Jaguar, Osca, Porsche, and Renault wore Zagato GT bodies. In 1955, Elio Zagato scored a victory in the International Gran Turismo Championship at the Avus circuit, driving a Fiat 8V GT Zagato.
The 1960s: Fuoriserie models
The increasing demand for specialized bodies required a change from a handcrafted to an industrial production methods. Elio Zagato found a larger location at 30 Via Arese in Terrazzano (northwest of Milan), close to Arese where Alfa Romeo would soon choose to establish new plants.
In this period, Zagato's mission was to design special bodies to be assembled in series and fitted with mechanical parts and interiors supplied by major constructors. Under the partnership with Alfa Romeo, the Giulia SZ, TZ, TZ2, 2600 SZ, 1750 4R, and the Junior Zagato were born.
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In partnership with Lancia, Zagato continued the “Sport” series with the Lancia Appia Sport, the Flaminia Sport and Super Sport, the Flavia Sport and Super Sport, and the Fulvia Sport and Sport Spider.
In addition to these, some designs were commissioned by special customers, including Bristol, Fiat, Ford, Lamborghini, Honda, Osca, Rover, and Volvo vehicles. In 1960 Ugo Zagato was awarded the Compasso d'Oro for the design of the Abarth 1000 Bialbero.
The 1970s: Geometric models
In response to the Oil Crisis and in contrast to the anti-functionalist trends of the era, Zagato proposed the production of electric cars such as the Zagato Zele two-seater. In 1971, a new Ferrari Zagato, the 3Z, came to life thanks to Luigi Chinetti, who financed the decidedly angular spider. In the same year, it was introduced at the Turin Motor Show and signaled the definitive departure from the SZ, TZ, Lancia Flaminia and Appia's curvy lines to embrace the squared design of the Lancia Fulvia Sport and Alfa Romeo Junior Z. Chinetti himself made a further special order.
In the 1970s, Zagato also started a new project for a mid-engine concept which became the Cadillac N.A.R.T., a luxurious, sophisticated, high-performance four-seater. The front-wheel-drive powertrain of a Cadillac Eldorado was relocated to create a mid-engine layout. Zagato was asked to build the prototype from the drawings and a clay model that was conceived in GM's studios. Other notable projects from this time include the Fiat Aster (Based on the 132) and the Volvo GTZ. The Zagato facility in Terrazzano also saw the assembly of the Lancia Beta Sport Spider, which established Lancia's name in America and Australia, as well as the Bristol 412 Targa, whose design was very similar to the Lancia's.
The 1980s: Limited Edition models
During the early 1980s, Zagato introduced several concept cars, including the Fiat Chicane, the Lancia Thema Station Wagon, the Alfa Romeo Sprint 6, Zeta 6, Alfetta, and 33 Tempo Libero, also available as a 4x4 hybrid. At the same time, the growing demand for exclusive spiders and coupes led Zagato to produce limited, numbered editions. The Aston Martin Vantage (50 units) and Volante Zagato (33 units) were the highest expression of this economic and commercial climate. Furthermore, the Milanese coachbuilder bodied the Maserati Spyder and Maserati Karif. The Alfa Romeo SZ (1989) and RZ roadster (1991) were assembled here for Alfa Romeo, both designed by the first application of the CAD process to automobiles. The SZ was an experimental, rear-wheel drive coupé that recalled Alfa Romeo's sporting pedigree established by previous Alfa–Zagato collaborations, including the 1900 SSZ, Giulietta SZ, Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ, Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2, 2600 SZ, Junior Z, and the Alfa Romeo Zeta 6.
The 1990s: V-Max models
To keep up with the new demands of an evolving market, Zagato organized a one-make race series for Alfa Romeo SZ and RZ starting in 1993. The company soon transformed from a coachbuilder for sports cars into a transportation design studio. The company began to create designs for railways and industrial vehicles as well as prototypes and show cars on behalf of car manufacturers.
In 1991 and 1993, the Design Zagato division introduced two Ferrari V-Max models based on the 348 (348 Zagato Elaborazione) and the Testarossa (FZ93). In 1992, as a tribute to the Lancia Delta Integrale victories, the Hyena concept was created, with 24 examples being built. Zagato built the Raptor and the Lamborghini Canto concepts, both powered by a Lamborghini V12 at the request of Mike Kimberley, Lamborghini's CEO. Voted "Best Concept" at the 1996 Geneva Motor Show, the Raptor was produced in less than 4 months, thanks to the use of integrated technology applied to the CAD/CAM/CAE system that allowed the intermediate styling buck phase to be eliminated. In 1998, Zagato was commissioned by Fiat to design and produce three V-Max prototypes with low fuel consumption (3 liters/100 kilometers). The Fiat Ecobasic, developed in collaboration with Centro Stile Fiat, was judged to be the best research V-Max concept.
The 2000s: Custom-built models
Special projects created for Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Spyker Cars, Diatto, and Alfa Romeo consolidate the brand's business in making custom-built models, which are almost exclusively coupés with two seats.
The 2010s: Centennial models
The Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa, a race model with a carbon fiber mono-shell chassis, tubular frame, and lightweight aluminum body, and the TZ3 Stradale, a street-legal model based on the Viper ACR chassis with a carbon fiber body, were notable developments. Due to the joint venture between the Fiat and the Chrysler groups, the TZ3 Stradale became the first American Alfa Romeo. Following the Fiat 500 Coupé Zagato and AC 378 GTZ, Zagato consolidated its special relationship with Aston Martin by designing the Centennial V-Max models (as a tribute to AML's 100 years), the Vanquish Family, and, for the "Cento" years from Zagato's foundation, the Pair and the Twins collections. Porsche liaison was also revamped with the family of Zagato Carreras, as well as Lamborghini, Maserati, and BMW connection with the 575, the Mostro, and the BMW Twins collections. Since 2017, Zagato has been a partner in the resurrection of the Italian luxury sport brand Iso Rivolta.
2019 marked 100 years since Zagato's founding.
The 2020s: Own models
In the 2020s, Zagato has focused its commitment to production of its own cars, a movement started in 2015 with the Mostro; in 2022, it released a barchetta version of the Mostro, limited to 5 units, and in 2024, announced the AGTZ Twin Tail, based on the Alpine A110, limited to 19 units.
Timeline
1922: Fiat 501
1922: Diatto Tipo 25 4DS
1925: Lancia Lambda
1929: Alfa Romeo 6C 1500
1929: Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS
1929: Maserati Tipo V4
1930: Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Testa Fissa
1932: Maserati Tipo V5
1932: Alfa Romeo 6C 1750
1932: Alfa Romeo 8C 2300
1937: Alfa Romeo 8C 2900
1938: Fiat 1500 Spider MM
1938: Fiat 500 Siata
1938: Lancia Aprilia Sport MM
1938: Lancia Aprilia Sport Aerodinamica
1947: Fiat 500 B Panoramica
1947: Isotta Fraschini 8C Monterosa
1948: Ferrari 166 MM Panoramica
1949: Maserati A6 1500 Panoramica
1952: Fiat 500 "Topolino" CZ
1952: Fiat 8V Zagato
1953: Osca 4500 Biondetti
1954: Maserati A6G/54 2000 Zagato Berlinetta
1955: Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Zagato Coupe
1955: Maserati A6G/54 2000 Zagato Spyder (one-off)
1956: Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Zagato
1956: Maserati A6G/54 2000 Zagato Coupé Speciale (one-off)
1956: Fiat Abarth 750 GT
1956: Alfa Romeo Giulietta SVZ
1957: Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ
1957: Jaguar XK 140 Z
1957: Lancia Appia GT
1957: Maserati 450S Costin Coupé (Zagato bodied)
1958: AC Ace-Bristol Zagato
1958: Lancia Flaminia Sport
1960: Fiat Abarth 1000
1960: Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
1960: Bristol 406
1961: Bristol 407
1962: Osca 1600 GTZ
1962: Alfa Romeo 2600 SZ
1962: Lancia Flaminia Tubolare
1962: Lancia Flavia Sport
1963: Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ
1964: Lancia Flaminia Super Sport
1965: Alfa Romeo Gran Sport Quattroruote
1965: Lamborghini 3500 GTZ
1966: Lancia Fulvia Sport
1967: Lancia Flavia Super Sport
1967: Shelby Zagato
1969: Alfa Romeo Junior Z
1969: Volvo GTZ
1970: Volvo GTZ 3000
1970: Cadillac Eldorado NART
1972: Iso Varedo
1972: Alfa Romeo 1600 Junior Z
1972: Fiat Zagato Aster
1974: Zagato Zele 1000
1975: Bristol 412
1976: Lancia Beta Spider (Designed by Pininfarina, Zagato bodied)
1984: Maserati Spyder
1986: Aston Martin V8 Zagato
1988: Autech Stelvio
1988: Maserati Karif (Zagato bodied)
1989: Alfa Romeo SZ (Zagato bodied)
1991: Ferrari 348 Zagato Elaborazione
1991: Autech Gavia
1992: Alfa Romeo RZ (Zagato bodied)
1992: Lancia Hyena
1992: Fiat 500 Z-ECO
1993: F.I.V.E Formula Junior Elettrosolare
1993: Ferrari FZ93 (Renamed ES1)
1996: Fiat Bravobis
1996: Zagato Raptor
1997: Lamborghini Canto
1998: Audi Zuma
2001: Alfa Romeo 147 Spider Concept Zagato
2002: Alfa Romeo 147 GTA.Z
2002: Aston Martin DB7 Zagato
2003: Aston Martin DB AR1
2004: Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Roadster
2004: Lancia Fulvia Sport Concept
2005: Lancia Ypsilon Sport
2006: Ferrari 575 GTZ
2006: Toyota Harrier Zagato
2007: Maserati GS Zagato
2007: Zagato 599 GTZ Nibbio
2007: Zagato 599 GTZ Nibbio Spyder
2008: Spyker C12 Zagato
2008: Bentley Continental GTZ
2008: Diatto Ottovù Zagato
2008: Perana Z-One
2009: Ferrari 550 GTZ Barchetta
2010: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa
2011: Fiat 500 Coupe
2011: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale
2011: Aston Martin V12 Zagato
2012: AC 378 GT Zagato
2012: BMW Zagato Coupe
2012: BMW Zagato Roadster
2013: Aston Martin DBS Coupe Zagato Centennial
2013: Aston Martin DB9 Spyder Zagato Centennial
2013: Porsche Carrera GTZ
2014: Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato
2014: Aston Martin Virage Zagato Shooting Brake
2015: Thunder Power Sedan
2015: Zagato Maserati Mostro
2016: Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato
2016: MV Agusta F4Z
2017: IsoRivolta Zagato Vision Gran Turismo
2017: Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante
2018: Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster
2018: Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake
2018: Lamborghini L595 Zagato Roadster
2020: Aston Martin DBS GT Zagato Centenary
2020: IsoRivolta GTZ
2022: Zagato Maserati Mostro Barchetta
2023: Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato
2024: Zagato AGTZ Twin Tail
2025: Alfa Romeo 8C DoppiaCoda
2025: Bovensiepen Zagato
2025: Capricorn 01 Zagato
From Wikipedia’s article on Zagato, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4