Monday 3rd April 2006

Zagato builds new body for 575M

Unique commission references Ferrari 250GTZ

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One-off Zagato-bodied Ferrari 575M

A Japanese car collector has commissioned a one-off Zagato-bodied Ferrari 575M in the style of the famous 250GTZ Berlinetta. The picture (right), is an expanded version of the only picture, just 150 pixels wide, currently released to the public.

Collector Yushiyuki Hayashi owns numerous cars of great historical value, including several Ferraris such as the 166MM, the 250 Spider California, two Daytonas – a coupé and a spider – and the Enzo. In the tradition of the keen purchaser of exclusive cars who stimulated the creativeness of Italian coachbuilders in the 1950s and 1960s, Hayashi asked Zagato if it would be possible to create a new body for his 575M.

Zagato then told Ferrari and Modena thought it would be a good opportunity to celebrate the model's anniversary, and created a car built around the Ferrari 575 that harked back to the 250GTZ. Like its forebear, the 575 GTZ has an all-aluminium body.

According to Zagato, "like the 250GTZ, it sports two-tone paintwork with styling cues and volumes that explicitly refer back to the 1950s, and sublimates the character of the many cars built by Zagato to clothe original engineering, with the pure style of traditional sports cars." Zagato said that the project represented an opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ferrari 250GTZ of 1956, one of the most outstanding GT cars -- and one of the most expensive, ever. It's won numerous competitions and concours d’élégance, and experts and fans alike have, over the years, voted it one of the most beautiful cars in the world.

Just as in the 1956, the 250GTZ was showed at the most important concours d’elegance, 50 years later, the 575GTZ will be presented for two days at a world premier at Villa D’Este Concours D’Elegance, Cernobbio, Italy starting on 22 April 2006.

[summit7]

From what you can see looks gorgeous. Love the back end. Shows Ferrari what their cars should look like with proper curves in the body.

[GTRene]

From this angle the car looks very nice, also have a bit the shape of the Wiesmann GT from this angle, and I like those kind of looks a bit classic lines that will still be nice in 30 years ahead...


GTRene

>> Edited by GTRene on Monday 3rd April 12:16

[Twin Turbo]

Just hope the face is as nice as the bum

Oh, to have the money to commission a one-off Ferrari!!

[agoogy]

That angle makes it look JUST like his last Aston project, double-bubble rear screen, intersecting side glass with rear screen... the shape of the side glass...

The Wiessman comparison is very good too.

[dinkel]

I just knew you'd do this Rene . . . I'm waiting on the exact pics to have a proper look.

[J1mmyD]

Question for those of you who'd know this sort of thing ..... where's the roof strength coming from with what seem to be a lack of a B Pillar?

(By the way ... does look luverly, although it does borrow a lot from the Astons - and not just the DB7 Zag).

[agoogy]

Don't think thats glass back there but a B pillar painted black (??) so strength woud remain....

[boolay]

I would imagine it's glass over metal pillar, glass tinted black to hide structure.

>> Edited by boolay on Monday 3rd April 13:29

[RobC]

Wonder if they will do a MR2 body kit

[GTRene]

RobC said:

Wonder if they will do a MR2 body kit

Well, they did F40 and 355 and 308, maybe more I don't know of?? maybe they will but I guess not, the named above are the most known and popular models, this one of will be known now but soon forgotten when its out the news, only when you see it again you will say, ohjeah that I knew?
I wonder what the real car will cost that man...he must be loaded to ask and let them do such thing...but always good to see some other looking models in the range
GTRene

[Twin Turbo]

I remember reading a while back that the Sultan of Brunei used to spend up to £3million (or was it $?) on his bespoke Bentleys and Ferraris!

Can't see this chap getting change from a 'mil.

[errek72]

They ought to do that more often, I mean all of them; how about a Michelotti / Castagna / Bertone / Zagato / Pininfarina / Stola / versions of Maser 4200 lightbody, Quattroporte Coupe, Enzo aerodinamica or Brera superleggera?
Especially that last one, btw. Rumour has it the Brera body alone is 350kgs! Give it some carbon fiber and bring the weight to the 1400's, supercharge and you'll have a giantkiller.

[dinkel]

Exactly: all those gorgeous Italian Carrozzeria's used to make the utter top notch uber drool stuff but all of a sudden stopped somewhere along the 80s: economics killed beauty . . . Bring 'em on.

[daytona600]

Looks like an updated A610

[skodaku]

Daytona600, you just brought some clarity. Couldn't figure out what it reminded me of. Now I know. Ta. Still nice though. Not as nice as the early Aston Zagato's but light years better than the pug ugly one in the 1980's (?).

[RobGTO]

Is this an April fools ?

[GTRene]

RobGTO said:

Is this an April fools ?

Nope...saw it on automotor und sport in Germany too...and its to good to let go, hm...saying that there where a lot of nice conceptcars that did not go in produktion
GTRene

[Twin Turbo]

The rear screen and side window are very similar to the DB7 Zagato

http://bestcars.free.fr/Mondial2002/A

That's a car you really need to see in the flesh, it's a stunning mix of curves.

[Twin Turbo]

More pictures here:

www.autovisie.nl/redactioneel/nieuws/archief/exclusief_ferrari_575_gtz/index.xml

[dinkel]

that bulb above the rear wheel . . . I'll give it a nights sleep.