Pagani’s growth from being unknown to most to, perhaps, the most famous supercar manufacturer is due almost exclusively to the success of one model: the Zonda. Regarded by many as a car of unparalleled performance and other-worldly handling, here is the story of the supercar par excellence.
In the sign of Horatio
The Zonda is all due to founder Horatio Pagani, a former Lamborghini engineer known as the father of carbon fiber. He dared to defy market predictions to create one of the most fascinating supercars ever. Lamborghini halted research into advanced materials after the global recession in the early 1990s. Pagani decided to strike out on his own, creating a composite materials research and development company with the sole purpose of financing the creation of his supercar. Pagani obtained permission from Mercedes to use AMG engines. This was made possible by the intervention of Juan Manuel Fangio – an Argentine racing driver to whom the Zonda F would be dedicated years later. The project, initially named C8, was ready to make its debut
Faster than the wind
The car, unveiled in 1999 at the Geneva Motor Show, was named after the wind that blows from the southwest over the Argentine Andes. Right from the start, it was a success. The Zonda C12-that was the name of the first model-was not only super in performance but also build quality. Compared to its contemporaries, the Zonda was a small-town supercar, but it overshadowed many with its attention to detail. At the launch, the car was equipped with a 5987 cm³ engine, a 388-hp V12 connected to a five-speed gearbox, and a 0-60 mph acceleration of just over 4 seconds. Only five cars were put on the market, with a retail price of 320,000 euros. Then in 2002, Pagani launched a more powerful C12 S, upgrading to a hand-built 7-liter with a maximum output of 542 hp
The most iconic versions
Pagani increased the engine to 7.3 liters, for an increase of only five hp over the previous 7 liters, but enough to form the basis for the many future iterations of the Zonda after 15 examples and less than a year of production. The later Roadster, F, and Cinque models used the same basic engine. They were built in minimal numbers and at significantly increasing prices. The Zonda’s popularity kept it in demand even after the launch of its successor, the Huayra. To satisfy his loyal customers, Horatio continued building expensive one-offs such as the 760RS
Bespoke Zondas
Several One-Offs, named after the initials of the owners of the cars, were built in the last years. The most famous is the Zonda LH, made at the request of no less than Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and reportedly paid more than two million euros. In 2022 Pagani and LMM Design announced that they are working on the last of the five Zondas planned for the 760 series. While Pagani will take care of the chassis and engine, LMM Design will make the styling unique to turn even the last model into a collector’s masterpiece.
