Zagato Mostro powered by Maserati - 2016
Chassis n° YA9VZ3S00F0169036
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais 2020
Bonhams
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2020
Estimated : € 600.000 - 900.000
Unsold
"The Mostro, of which five are built, was born in 2015 to celebrate the Maserati centenary and to honour one of the most iconic race cars in the history of the brand: the Maserati 450 S Coupe Zagato Monster, designed in 1957..." – Zagato.
Over the course of an illustrious career spanning 11 decades, the famous Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Zagato has become synonymous with audacity in automotive styling. Indeed, Zagato has become the 'go-to' styling house for manufacturers intent of stealing the show at the most prestigious international automotive salons, producing a succession of breathtaking prototypes, concept cars and limited-edition models for the likes of Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini.
One of the oldest and most respected of automotive design firms, Zagato was founded in Milan in 1919 by Ugo Zagato, who used techniques learned in the wartime aeronautics industry to create a series of lightweight competition cars. Alfa Romeo immediately realised the potential of Zagato's designs and thus commenced a fruitful collaboration that lasts to this day. Legendary racing models such as Alfa's 1500, 1750 Gran Sport and 2300 8C were followed by luxurious coupés and roadsters on FIAT and Lancia chassis.
During the 2000s, its so-called 'Neo-classical' period, Zagato created a succession of bespoke designs for distinguished clients and gentlemen drivers, working on special projects for Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Spyker, Diatto and Alfa Romeo. The company is now nearing the end of its 'Iconic' decade, which has seen it concentrate on projects inspired by the most iconic models of automotive history. One of the most sensational of these hyper-exclusive creations is the Mostro, which was unveiled to a suitably awe-struck audience at the prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in 2015.
Celebrating the centenary of Maserati, the Mostro was inspired by one of the most iconic racing cars in the Trident marque's history: the Zagato-bodied 450 S Coupé known as il Mostro (the Monster). Designed by Zagato in collaboration with the famous British aerodynamicist, Frank Costin, the Monster had been commissioned by Stirling Moss specifically to contest the 1957 Le Mans 24-Hour Race.
Il Mostro was, until the 1990s, the most powerful front-engined racing car ever built. At the 1957 Le Mans race, in a field dominated by light, open-bodied barchettas, it was the only sports car with closed bodywork capable of competing for overall victory. The Monster's elegantly streamlined low-drag body was designed with maximum aerodynamic efficiency in mind to take advantage of the long Hunaudières straight at Circuit de la Sarthe. Sadly, the car was forced to retire after 32 laps when the axle broke.
Just as the original Mostro was built for racing and subsequently converted into a road car, so the modern-day Mostro has been created primarily for track use using racing technology, while also being useable on the road. The chassis is of carbon fibre 'MonoCell' construction, supplemented by a mid-structure of steel tubes forming the cockpit and a sub-frame supporting the fuel tank, exhaust system, rear suspension and gearbox. Made in Italy, the bodywork is entirely carbon fibre.
Set back in the chassis, the 4.2-litre Maserati V8 engine has dry-sump lubrication and is equipped with a programmable engine management system. Power (undisclosed but estimated to be in the region of 460bhp) reaches the ground via a semi-automatic, six-speed rear transaxle, an arrangement that optimises front/rear weight distribution. Suspension is by double wishbones front and rear with pushrod actuation of the springs/dampers. The alloy wheels are 19" in diameter and there are large disc brakes all round.
In creating the new Mostro, the designers at Zagato Atelier decided not to copy the original body, but rather implement the same instinctive approach to volume; thus the final design is not nostalgic, but iconic. The proportions of the new Mostro are similar to those of Zagato's 450 S Coupé of 1957: a lengthy bonnet section housing the engine, which is centrally positioned for optimal weight distribution, complemented by a compact cabin with integral rounded tail. Other noteworthy features include fixed glass side windows; doors opening forwards and upwards; and a large rear fixed-wing. Only five examples of the Mostro were made, all of which had been assigned to selected Zagato connoisseurs before deliveries commenced.
One of the five built, this example was bought new from Zagato by the current vendor (at a reputed cost of around €1m) and has covered fewer than 1,000 kilometres since it left the factory. The car has never been registered but it can be homologated by Messrs Gillet in Belgium (some are already registered in Japan and Switzerland), though should the purchaser wish to proceed it will be at their own expense.
'A possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' is a somewhat overused phrase in the world of collectors' motor cars, but most definitely not in the case of this utterly gorgeous Zagato Mostro.
Zagato Mostro powered by Maserati - 2016
Chassis n° YA9VZ3S00F0169036
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais 2020
Bonhams
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2020
Estimated : € 600.000 - 900.000
Unsold
"The Mostro, of which five are built, was born in 2015 to celebrate the Maserati centenary and to honour one of the most iconic race cars in the history of the brand: the Maserati 450 S Coupe Zagato Monster, designed in 1957..." – Zagato.
Over the course of an illustrious career spanning 11 decades, the famous Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Zagato has become synonymous with audacity in automotive styling. Indeed, Zagato has become the 'go-to' styling house for manufacturers intent of stealing the show at the most prestigious international automotive salons, producing a succession of breathtaking prototypes, concept cars and limited-edition models for the likes of Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini.
One of the oldest and most respected of automotive design firms, Zagato was founded in Milan in 1919 by Ugo Zagato, who used techniques learned in the wartime aeronautics industry to create a series of lightweight competition cars. Alfa Romeo immediately realised the potential of Zagato's designs and thus commenced a fruitful collaboration that lasts to this day. Legendary racing models such as Alfa's 1500, 1750 Gran Sport and 2300 8C were followed by luxurious coupés and roadsters on FIAT and Lancia chassis.
During the 2000s, its so-called 'Neo-classical' period, Zagato created a succession of bespoke designs for distinguished clients and gentlemen drivers, working on special projects for Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Spyker, Diatto and Alfa Romeo. The company is now nearing the end of its 'Iconic' decade, which has seen it concentrate on projects inspired by the most iconic models of automotive history. One of the most sensational of these hyper-exclusive creations is the Mostro, which was unveiled to a suitably awe-struck audience at the prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in 2015.
Celebrating the centenary of Maserati, the Mostro was inspired by one of the most iconic racing cars in the Trident marque's history: the Zagato-bodied 450 S Coupé known as il Mostro (the Monster). Designed by Zagato in collaboration with the famous British aerodynamicist, Frank Costin, the Monster had been commissioned by Stirling Moss specifically to contest the 1957 Le Mans 24-Hour Race.
Il Mostro was, until the 1990s, the most powerful front-engined racing car ever built. At the 1957 Le Mans race, in a field dominated by light, open-bodied barchettas, it was the only sports car with closed bodywork capable of competing for overall victory. The Monster's elegantly streamlined low-drag body was designed with maximum aerodynamic efficiency in mind to take advantage of the long Hunaudières straight at Circuit de la Sarthe. Sadly, the car was forced to retire after 32 laps when the axle broke.
Just as the original Mostro was built for racing and subsequently converted into a road car, so the modern-day Mostro has been created primarily for track use using racing technology, while also being useable on the road. The chassis is of carbon fibre 'MonoCell' construction, supplemented by a mid-structure of steel tubes forming the cockpit and a sub-frame supporting the fuel tank, exhaust system, rear suspension and gearbox. Made in Italy, the bodywork is entirely carbon fibre.
Set back in the chassis, the 4.2-litre Maserati V8 engine has dry-sump lubrication and is equipped with a programmable engine management system. Power (undisclosed but estimated to be in the region of 460bhp) reaches the ground via a semi-automatic, six-speed rear transaxle, an arrangement that optimises front/rear weight distribution. Suspension is by double wishbones front and rear with pushrod actuation of the springs/dampers. The alloy wheels are 19" in diameter and there are large disc brakes all round.
In creating the new Mostro, the designers at Zagato Atelier decided not to copy the original body, but rather implement the same instinctive approach to volume; thus the final design is not nostalgic, but iconic. The proportions of the new Mostro are similar to those of Zagato's 450 S Coupé of 1957: a lengthy bonnet section housing the engine, which is centrally positioned for optimal weight distribution, complemented by a compact cabin with integral rounded tail. Other noteworthy features include fixed glass side windows; doors opening forwards and upwards; and a large rear fixed-wing. Only five examples of the Mostro were made, all of which had been assigned to selected Zagato connoisseurs before deliveries commenced.
One of the five built, this example was bought new from Zagato by the current vendor (at a reputed cost of around €1m) and has covered fewer than 1,000 kilometres since it left the factory. The car has never been registered but it can be homologated by Messrs Gillet in Belgium (some are already registered in Japan and Switzerland), though should the purchaser wish to proceed it will be at their own expense.
'A possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' is a somewhat overused phrase in the world of collectors' motor cars, but most definitely not in the case of this utterly gorgeous Zagato Mostro.