AC 378 GT Zagato

[giles77]

Found an article about the new AC 378 Zagato - entirely by accident while looking for any news re. Alfa Romeo's efforts (or lack of them) at Geneva this year.

The car looks great and seems to have appeared once before as a preview in 2009. Most impressive is the sub/near-911 price tag and the fact that they appear to have secured a proper manufacturing base.

I don't know what the deal is re. publishing other magazines' links or photos on this thread, so I'll leave them out for now.

Would love to know what more the PH team can find out about the car and how far off a test drive/review might be. So far all I've read is that it's specced with a GM 6.2 V8 good for 434bhp and a lot of background info on the new management team.

[MrMole]

Nothing reported so far by the Pistonheads Team ?

[giles77]

MrMole said:

Nothing reported so far by the Pistonheads Team ?

Not yet. Geneva does have plenty of more exciting and more relevant news to offer. Worth Googling the "AC 378 GT Zagato" though. The car resembles a more awkward version of the Aston Martin Zagato for less than 25% of the price.

[Fantuzzi]

Looks sweet, got that 50's coupe look going on, reminds me of the maserati A6 coupe.

[giles77]

Fantuzzi said:

Looks sweet, got that 50's coupe look going on, reminds me of the maserati A6 coupe.

And that can never be a bad thing! Spot on - I was trying to think where I'd seen that 'nose' before other than on early ACs.

[Fantuzzi]

giles77 said:

And that can never be a bad thing! Spot on - I was trying to think where I'd seen that 'nose' before other than on early ACs.

I find its quite popular on performance cars of the 50s.

The ferrari testa rossa is a good example of this design.

Not very pretty design compaired to some of Jags and Astons of the 50s but very striking and very welcome.

Thanks for posting as noones posted this on any mags ive seen,

Have you seen the Alfa Romeo (well its not really) Disco volante?

http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/magazine/3300.asp?...

Based on the 8C, looks amazing. 500K when they put it into limited production.

[Fantuzzi]

[Fantuzzi]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/motorshows/geneva-mot...

this has some rear view pics. Really striking car.

[Chafford1]

Beautiful car!

[giles77]

Thanks to Chatford for putting the picture up. I'm still too chicken to publish other magazine's stuff but there is an article online as well if you have not found it yet. Fantuzzi, you're absolutely right, the Ferrari is probably the best example of that front end. For me the various A6G bodies will always be the coolest though.

[anonymous-user]

Is it actually going to go on sale?

[Fantuzzi]

MonkeyMatt said:

Is it actually going to go on sale?

Seems that way, 90k mark if I'm not mistaken.

And because its a vette engine (engine bay permitting) you might be able to fit the supercharger used on the ZR1 giving 640 BHP!

Got a funny feeling the chassis will be impressive. Rather cheap for Zagato built as well.

Seems to be a good time for sports cars, with Alfa 4C coming out based on a track car, the GT86 Toyota giving some more humble thrills and now this which makes the AM Vantage look rather boring.

[Chafford1]

giles77 said:

Thanks to Chatford for putting the picture up. I'm still too chicken to publish other magazine's stuff but there is an article online as well if you have not found it yet. Fantuzzi, you're absolutely right, the Ferrari is probably the best example of that front end. For me the various A6G bodies will always be the coolest though.

I think the photos were released as part of the full AC press release which is here:

http://www.automotivepr.com/news_detail.php?AC-ret...

The 378GT Zagato is on sale at Mole Valley Specialist Cars at Dorking in Surrey:

http://www.mole-valley.co.uk/show.php?id=134&m...

[Fantuzzi]

Think it will look best in the darker colours, in the red it looks sublime.

I'll take mine in Black...

Thanks for the sharing this, havnt heard about it any where else!

[Fantuzzi]

Lister Jaguar, same great 'nose first' design.

[giles77]

Fantuzzi said:

I find its quite popular on performance cars of the 50s.

The ferrari testa rossa is a good example of this design.

Not very pretty design compaired to some of Jags and Astons of the 50s but very striking and very welcome.

Thanks for posting as noones posted this on any mags ive seen,

Have you seen the Alfa Romeo (well its not really) Disco volante?

http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/magazine/3300.asp?...

Based on the 8C, looks amazing. 500K when they put it into limited production.

The Alfa does look cool but I am definitely more excited by the 4C (Stradale look), which you mentioned below.

I know some people disapprove of classic designs being re-used but for me, a massive fan of classic cars, I am very happy to see more of it. Usual issue with vast price tags but hopefully I will at least get to see some models in the flesh.

[Fantuzzi]

giles77 said:

The Alfa does look cool but I am definitely more excited by the 4C (Stradale look), which you mentioned below.

I know some people disapprove of classic designs being re-used but for me, a massive fan of classic cars, I am very happy to see more of it. Usual issue with vast price tags but hopefully I will at least get to see some models in the flesh.

I agree, the 4c is set to be a bit of a make or break for Alfa in my opinion, if its great it will put Alfa back in the sports coupe game, if its another Brera then it may just put Alfa off of bothering in the future.

The reimagining is nice to see, but rarely captures the essence of the orginal, a copy normally acts only to fuel nostalgia. Id like to see cars done in the same vein as their predecessors rather than just a modern interpretation.

Yes I want a Tipo 33 stradale 2012...(although of course it wont be Tipo 33, and Alfa Romeo would have to start racing again!)

[AndySA]

Will be built by Hi Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth South Africa, same company that built the Noble M400, and build the Superformance Cobra.

[giles77]

AndySA said:

Will be built by Hi Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth South Africa, same company that built the Noble M400, and build the Superformance Cobra.

Can't be a bad thing. I'll be looking out for a review from Harris & Co. Let's hope Porsche don't fill the PH team's 2012 schedules entirely with their new releases.

[MrMole]

Good two pages on the re-launch of AC in Autocar this week.