The London Concours is delighted to announce that this June’s show will pay tribute to one of the most revered coachbuilders of all with a retrospective charting the wild and wonderful creations of Zagato. Running from 4th to 6th June at the Honourable Artillery Company in the heart of the City, the class – presented by DRVN group – will showcase Zagato’s rich history of designs that pushed the envelope, from the 1950s up until the current day. We’re also delighted that Andrea Zagato, CEO of Zagato, will be in attendance to judge the category.
The Zagato display will kick off with the diminutive, jewel like 1958 Abarth 750 Zagato DB. This lightweight sports car pioneered Zagato’s distinctive “double bubble” roof design, a masterpiece of aerodynamic efficiency and Italian styling elegance. With a feisty 750cc engine, coupled with a lightweight body, it made for a formidable competitor on the racetrack in period, winning numerous races and accolades. A car that exemplifies Zagato’s ability to deftly combine performance with aesthetic beauty.
Also gracing the event will be the 1960 Bristol 406 Zagato, a unique blend of British engineering and Italian design. Only six of these Anglo Italian grand-tourers were produced, making it an exceptionally rare sight. The Bristol 406 Zagato features a sleek aluminium body, characteristic of Zagato, and is powered by a 2.2-litre straight-six engine. Weighing in at just over 1100kg, the Zagato was a whole 260kg lighter than the standard 406 as well as almost a foot shorter and 5″ lower. With meaningful gains both in terms of both acceleration and top speed, Zagato transformed the performance of the 406, while also delivering a more agile and sporting driving experience.
The 1991 Alfa Romeo SZ, often referred to as “Il Mostro” for its bold and unconventional design, will also be part of the display. The SZ’s brutalist, angular lines and striking presence were a significant departure from traditionally curvaceous Alfa Romeo styling, showcasing Zagato’s willingness to push design boundaries; it surely ranks as one of the boldest road car designs of all. Based on the underpinnings of the trusty Alfa Romeo 75, it was powered by a breathed upon version of the sonorous 3.0-litre ‘Busso’ V6, sending 210 horsepower to the rear wheels. Just 1036 SZs were produced, along with 278 convertible RZs – an example of which will also be on show as part of the display. A rare opportunity to see them side by side.
The Ferrari 550 Zagato GTZ Barchetta will be another highlight of our class this June. The GTZ was created in 2009 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the relationship between Ferrari and Zagato. The GTZ’s curvaceous body and open-top configuration was inspired by the 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta. It was the perfect blend of Ferrari’s performance pedigree and Zagato’s elegant aesthetics, with a 5.5-litre V12 engine producing 485 horsepower. It is one of the rarest modern Ferraris of all, with just three examples believed to have been built.
The line-up will also feature one of Zagato’s more recent creations, the 2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato. This car was also created to celebrate a significant milestone, in this case 50th anniversary of the iconic DB4GT Zagato. It was created as a modern interpretation of the DB4 Zagato’s classic formula, a compact yet muscular machine that combined elegance with a distinct sporting edge. Enhancements included the addition of the signature double-bubble roof, and dramatically enlarged rear arches. At its heart remained Aston Martin’s fire breathing 6.0-litre V12 engine, producing 510 horsepower. A fusion of British engineering and Italian design artistry, the V12 Zagato’s bespoke body took some 2000 hours to produce, five times that of the standard car. It is believed just 65 examples were built.
This is just one part of this summer’s event, which will assemble some 80 machines – from classics to modern hypercars – in an oasis of green in the heart of the city of London. Stay tuned for further class announcements in the weeks ahead as we build towards the 8th edition of London Concours.
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