Before considering Zagato’s masterpieces, one should also consider the history of this unique brand.

Zagato history

Founded in 1919 by Ugo Zagato, an aircraft engineer with a passion for performance, Zagato began crafting ultra-light, aerodynamic bodies for race cars. Instead of heavy steel, Ugo used aluminum – a bold move that made his designs faster, sleeker, and decades ahead of their time.

By the 1920s, Zagato teamed up with Alfa Romeo, and the magic began. Their 6C 1500 Sport Zagato won the Mille Miglia in 1928 – the first of many victories. Through the decades, Zagato became the secret sauce behind some of the most beautiful cars ever made, partnering with Ferrari, Aston Martin, Maserati, Lancia, and even Bentley.

Zagato is famous for its signature “double bubble” roof, a design born from necessity (to fit racing helmets!) and turned into an icon.

Fast forward to today, and Zagato remains an exclusive atelier blending Italian artistry with raw speed. Each car? A sculpture on wheels. Limited, luxurious, and unmistakably Zagato.

Top-10 Zagato cars:

10-th place: LANCIA HYENA ZAGATO

Our top is opened by the unique Lancia Hyena Zagato. This interesting car was made on the basis of the legendary Delta Integral and Zagato completely redesigned not only the body but also the concept of the car. Interestingly, the Lancia Hyena Zagato was developed without Lancia’s permission and as a result, only 24 copies were produced.

Lancia Hyena Zagato specifications:

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Power:
250 hp 6000 rpm
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Acceleration (0–100 km/h):
~5.4 seconds

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Top Speed:
Around 230 km/h (143 mph)
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Engine:
2.0-liter inline-4 turbocharged (same as Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione)

Range:
Approx. 450–500 km (with a 65-liter fuel tank), depending on driving style

Dimensions:

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Length: 3890 mm
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Width: 1730 mm
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Height: 1300 mm
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Wheelbase: 2480 mm
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Weight: approx. 1150 kg
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Technology:

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Full-time all-wheel drive
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Turbocharger with intercooler
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Sport suspension
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Electric windows and mirrors
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Manual 5-speed transmission
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Special Features:

Handcrafted body made of aluminum and composites

Unique carbon fiber and leather interior

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Bespoke dashboard and instruments
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Designed and built entirely by Zagato (without Lancia's official support)

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Extremely rare: only 24 units produced
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Read too:
Panoz Esperante history: The American Rebel Among Supercars

9-th place: Fiat 8v zagato

9-th place is the only Fiat 8V in the world. Even more unique is the fact that only 30 copies had bodies from Zagato. 8V, like Lancia, 10-th place appeared contrary to the car industry and should not have been because Fiat was never interested in building supercars. This Fiat won the Mille Miglia and beat such legends as Ferrari and Maserati.

Fiat 8V Zagato Specifications:

Power:

105–160 hp (depending on carburetion and tuning by Zagato).

Acceleration:

0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in approximately 8.5 seconds.

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Top Speed:
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Around 200 km/h (124 mph).
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Engine:

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2.0L V8 engine, developed by Fiat.
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70° angle between the cylinders for compactness.

Range:

With a 45L fuel tank, the Fiat 8V Zagato could cover around 400 km (248 miles) depending on driving conditions.

Dimensions:

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Length: 3,710 mm (146.1 inches)
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Width: 1,620 mm (63.8 inches)
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Height: 1,300 mm (51.2 inches)
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Wheelbase: 2,300 mm (90.6 inches)
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Curb weight: Approx. 950 kg (2,094 lbs).

Technologies:

Independent front suspension (coil springs).

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De Dion rear axle.
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Drum brakes (front and rear).
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Additional Features:

Aluminum bodywork by Zagato, lightweight and aerodynamic.

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Zagato's signature double-bubble roof.
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Hand-crafted details, with many unique design elements across different models

8-th place: Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato

In 8-th place is the very beautiful Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato. This unique car has received several variations (all of them are shown in the picture above). All these Aston Martins have one thing in common – a masterpiece of design from Zagato. In addition to the simply beautiful design, the car is endowed with features that directly refer us to such models as the Ferrari 250 GT, for example, with its double curve on the roof. Putting all these factors together and adding the limited edition, we get the most unique car of the 21-st century.

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato specifications:

```
Power:
600 hp (447 kW) 6,750 rpm
```

Acceleration (0–100 km/h):
3.5 seconds

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Top Speed:
Around 320 km/h (199 mph)
```

Engine:
5.9-liter naturally aspirated V12 (5935 cc)
48-valve DOHC, rear-wheel drive
Paired with 8-speed Touchtronic III automatic transmission

Range:
Approx. 500–550 km (310–340 miles), fuel tank ~78 liters

Dimensions:

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Length: 4,730 mm
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Width: 2,067 mm (incl. mirrors)
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Height: 1,295 mm
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Wheelbase: 2,740 mm
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Curb Weight: ~1,739 kg (Coupe), varies by body style

Technology:

Adaptive damping system with three drive modes

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Carbon-ceramic brakes
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Advanced traction and stability control
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LED lighting with Zagato-specific signature design

Touchscreen infotainment with Aston Martin Premium Audio

Special Features:

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Hand-formed carbon fiber body panels
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Iconic “double bubble” roof by Zagato

Unique “Z” motifs on seats, grille, taillights, and headrests

Produced in extremely limited numbers:

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99 Coupés
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99 Volantes
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28 Speedsters
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99 Shooting Brakes
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Customization through Q by Aston Martin and Zagato atelier

Read too:
Ferrari Pinin history: a teenager in a suit

7-th place: Alfa Romeo Junior Z

7-th place is an interesting cut and non-standard Alfa Romeo Junior Z and no, it is not a new disgusting crossover that was made on the basis of Opel. This is an elegant sports Zagato with a platform that was developed by Pininfarina and Bertone. This Italian Porsche had a design that not only had expressive shapes but also used them as an aerodynamic element. For example, the idea of the headlights under the glass was created not for innovation but to reduce air resistance.

Alfa Romeo Junior Z 1600 specifications

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Power:
109 hp (81 kW)  6,000 rpm
```

Acceleration (0–100 km/h):
~10.5 seconds

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Top Speed:
190 km/h (118 mph)
```

Engine:
1.6L Inline-4 DOHC (twin-cam), naturally aspirated
Twin Weber carburetors

Range:
Approx. 500–550 km on a full tank (50 L), depending on driving style

Dimensions:

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Length: 4,020 mm
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Width: 1,580 mm
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Height: 1,210 mm
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Wheelbase: 2,250 mm
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Weight: 970 kg
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Technology:

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Rear-wheel drive
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5-speed manual gearbox
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Four-wheel disc brakes
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Independent front suspension, live rear axle with trailing arms

Special Features:

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Aerodynamic Kamm-tail design
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Acrylic headlight covers
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Extremely lightweight alloy body by Zagato

Minimalistic interior focused on driving feel

6-th place: Ferrari 250 gt zagato

Well, the sixth place is occupied by the Ferrari 250 GT Zagato. Only 5 cars remain and it is interesting that this Zagato also won the Mille Miglia as a production model and overtook all prototypes. It was this Ferrari that first received the curved roof that was a classic feature of Zagato for many years. The car even experienced a revival in the form of the 575GTZ model.

Ferrari 250 GT Zagato specifications:

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Power:
240 hp (179 kW) @ 7,000 rpm
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Acceleration (0–100 km/h):
Approx. 6.0–6.5 seconds

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Top Speed:
240 km/h (149 mph)
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Engine:
3.0-liter V12 Colombo engine
Naturally aspirated, triple Weber carburetors
SOHC, 12 cylinders, front-mounted

Range:
Around 400–450 km (250–280 miles), depending on driving conditions

Dimensions:

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Length: ~4,300 mm
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Width: ~1,680 mm
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Height: ~1,250 mm
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Wheelbase: 2,600 mm
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Curb Weight: ~1,050 kg (Zagato aluminum body)

Technology:

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4-speed manual transmission
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Rear-wheel drive
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Drum brakes on all four wheels (standard for the era)

Independent front suspension, live rear axle

Special Features:

Ultra-lightweight hand-shaped aluminum body by Zagato

“Double bubble” roof for helmet clearance

One-off or bespoke styling per unit (no two are the same)

Racing pedigree: Mille Miglia, Targa Florio appearances

One of the rarest and most valuable Ferrari GTs ever

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5-th place: Maserati mostro zagato

The middle of the top is a masterpiece. The Maserati Mostro is a car so unique that it is simply impossible to imagine that it actually exists. This car is a tribute to the legendary 450 s Zagato coupe, Enzo Ferrari himself named it Mostro because it won Le Mans. This Maserati was essentially a race car that just had headlights and license plates put on it, which made it even more unique.

Maserati Mostro Zagato specifications:

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Power:
~460 hp (343 kW) @ 7,000 rpm
```

Acceleration (0–100 km/h):
Approx. 3.9 seconds

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Top Speed:
Over 300 km/h (186 mph)
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Engine:
4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 (Maserati/Motori Moderni)
Front-mid engine layout
Dry-sump lubrication
Based on Maserati GranTurismo racing unit

Range:
Approx. 400–450 km (dependent on driving style)

Dimensions:

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Length: ~4,650 mm
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Width: ~2,000 mm
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Height: ~1,200 mm
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Wheelbase: 2,700 mm
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Curb Weight: ~1,200 kg (thanks to carbon fiber body and aluminum subframes)

Technology:

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Carbon fiber monocoque chassis
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Aluminum front/rear subframes
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6-speed semi-automatic rear-mounted transaxle

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Independent double wishbone suspension
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Racing-spec brakes
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Adjustable racing dampers
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Special Features:

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Only 5 units built
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Inspired by the 1957 Maserati 450 S “Mostro”

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Handmade by Zagato in Milan
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Road-legal with race-bred engineering
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Asymmetrical styling cues
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Interior focused on driver and weight-saving

No visible Maserati badge on the front — only Zagato's “Z”.

4-th place: Alfa Romeo sz

4-th place is a very unique experiment – Alfa Romeo SZ. Zagato is famous for its classic design with round and smooth shapes, but this is not about the SZ, it has chopped aggressive and non-standard lines. This Alfa Romeo is called the 2-nd Mostro, but unlike the 1-st Mostro (Maserati), this car was called the Italian Batmobile and its design was created on a computer (this was in the 1980s!). The car also received a very rare RZ (roadster) version.

Alfa Romeo SZ specifications:

```
Power:
210 hp (156 kW) @ 6,200 rpm
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Acceleration (0–100 km/h):
7.0 seconds

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Top Speed:
245 km/h (152 mph)
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Engine:
3.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 “Busso”
SOHC, 12-valve
Rear-wheel drive
5-speed manual gearbox
Legendary Alfa Romeo sound signature

Range:
Approx. 500 km (thanks to a 70-liter fuel tank and relatively light weight)

Dimensions:

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Length: 4,060 mm
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Width: 1,730 mm
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Height: 1,310 mm
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Wheelbase: 2,510 mm
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Curb Weight: ~1,260 kg
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Technology:

Rigid rear-mounted gearbox (transaxle layout)

Rear De Dion suspension (derived from Alfa 75 IMSA)

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High-performance Bilstein shocks
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Limited-slip differential
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ABS was omitted to preserve driver feel
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Special Features:

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One of the first cars designed with CAD
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Body made of thermoplastic composite (RIM panels)

Hand-built by Zagato in limited numbers (1,036 units)

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Only available in red with grey roof
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Nicknamed “Il Mostro” for its radical design

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Iconic 6-lens headlamp cluster
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Unique interior with tan leather and red instruments

Read too:
Matra history: one of the brightest and most unusual car brands in France

3-rd place: Lancia fulvia sport zagato

3-rd place is the unique Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato which was also made not in the classic rounded design but with more aggressively expressive lines. It should also be noted that it was a GT fastback silhouette with a rounded stern where the rear window essentially lifted together with the trunk. This Lancia’s engine was a V4 with a 13-degree cylinder angle and revved to 7,000 rpm. As a result, this car had great success in racing.

Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato specifications

Power:
87–115 hp (depending on version)
Most iconic: 1.3S = 92 hp @ 6,400 rpm

Acceleration (0–100 km/h):
12.5–9.5 seconds (faster in later versions)

Top Speed:
170–190 km/h (106–118 mph)

Engine:
1.2–1.3-liter narrow-angle V4
DOHC, front-mounted
Front-wheel drive
5-speed manual gearbox

Range:
Approx. 500–550 km
Fuel tank: ~45 liters
Fuel consumption: ~8 L/100 km

Dimensions:

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Length: 3,980 mm
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Width: 1,555 mm
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Height: 1,280 mm
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Wheelbase: 2,330 mm
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Curb Weight: ~910–950 kg
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Technology:

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All-wheel disc brakes
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Independent front suspension
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Lightweight alloy body (early versions, hand-formed by Zagato)

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Aerodynamic fastback design
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Full instrumentation and rally-inspired cockpit

Special Features:

Aluminum body panels (Series I), steel from Series II onward

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Side-hinged rear hatch for quick access
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Designed by Ercole Spada (Zagato’s star designer)

Known for razor-sharp handling and low weight

Success in Italian hillclimbs and rallying

One of the most elegant front-wheel-drive sports cars ever made

2-ND place: Aston MArtin DB4 gT Zagato

2-nd place is the elegant Aston Martin DB4 Zagato. However, not everyone knows that it was created not for beauty, but as a Ferrari killer, and the Zagato version generally had a lighter body and weighed 100 kg less. The DB4 was a legend that bothered Ferrari, but this does not prevent it from becoming a design icon that is still sold at the price of an island.

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato specifications

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Power:
314 hp (234 kW) @ 6,000 rpm
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Acceleration (0–100 km/h):
6.1 seconds

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Top Speed:
246 km/h (153 mph)
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Engine:
3.7-liter inline-six
Twin spark plugs per cylinder
Twin-choke Weber carburetors
Rear-wheel drive
4-speed manual transmission

Range:
Approx. 450–500 km (with a 90-liter tank and light curb weight)

Dimensions:

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Length: 4,265 mm
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Width: 1,562 mm
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Height: 1,257 mm
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Wheelbase: 2,360 mm
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Curb weight: ~1,225 kg (about 100 kg lighter than standard DB4 GT)

Technology:

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Lightweight aluminum bodywork by Zagato
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Front double-wishbone suspension
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Rear live axle with coil springs
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Four-wheel disc brakes
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Limited-slip differential
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Classic tubular chassis
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Special Features:

Only 19 units built originally (1960–1963)

One of the most valuable Aston Martins ever — prices now exceed $15 million

More aerodynamic and lighter than the regular DB4 GT

Designed to compete with Ferrari 250 GT SWB in GT racing

Signature double-bubble roof and Kamm tail

Later inspired continuation series and modern DBZ Centenary twin set

Read too:
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1-st place: Alfa romeo Giulia TZ2

The favorite of our top is the Alfa Romeo Tz2. A car that combines not only all the experience of Zagato but also all the best features of Alfa Romeo. It’s a pity that the Tz2 was a purely racing model and did not have a road version, it is also the first Alfa Romeo made entirely of fiberglass. An engine with two spark plugs per cylinder and a weight of 620 kilograms is the ideal formula for the success of a racing car.

Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2 specifications

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Power:
170 hp (127 kW) @ 7,500 rpm
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Acceleration (0–100 km/h):
Around 6.7 seconds

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Top Speed:
245 km/h (152 mph)
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Engine:
1.6-liter DOHC inline-4
Twin spark ignition
Dry sump lubrication
Weber 45 DCOE carburetors
Rear-wheel drive, 5-speed manual gearbox

Range:
Approx. 300–400 km (thanks to racing-focused lightweight and ~65L fuel tank)

Dimensions:

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Length: 3,930 mm
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Width: 1,650 mm
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Height: 1,060 mm
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Wheelbase: 2,200 mm
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Weight: ~620 kg (carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic and aluminum body)

Technology:

Spaceframe “tubolare” chassis (tubular steel)

Full fiberglass body (lighter than TZ1's aluminum)

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Independent front and rear suspension
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Disc brakes on all four wheels
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Limited-slip differential
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Special Features:

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Pure racing car, not road-legal
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Built by Autodelta, Alfa’s racing division

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Only 12 units ever made (1965–1967)
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Known for its “coda tronca” (Kammback) tail for better aerodynamics

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Dominated its class in GT racing (1.6L)
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One of the most desirable Alfa Romeos for collectors

Read too:
Top 10 most beautiful Bertone cars

Conclusion:

Zagato left behind a huge auto heritage full of bright and beautiful cars because they couldn’t make anything else.

Zagato: Top 10 masterpieces of the brand