Dr. Elio Zagato passed away in Milan, Italy, on September 15. The son of Ugo Zagato, founder of the famed Milanese coachbuilder, Elio played a significant role in both automotive design and the Gran Turismo racing scene in the post-war era. Having first raced in 1947 with a rebodied Fiat given him as a graduation gift by his father, Elio never stopped developing his beloved Gran Turismos.
Beginning in the early 1950s, he created some of the world’s most desired GT coupes, including the Fiat 8V Zagato, which he claimed as his favorite, the Alfa Romeo 1900 SSZ, the legendary Ferrari 250 GTZs, the Maserati A6G, the Aston Martin DB4 GTZ, and many more.
During a competition career that produced 82 victories from 150 races and five GT series championships, he competed against men with names like Ascari, Fangio, and Nuvolari, and was known to Enzo Ferrari as Zagatino. With his father he invented the celebrated double bubble, signature mark of the Zagato brand, the “Coda Tronca,” windows made of Plexiglas, and countless other innovations. The Zagato coachworks is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2009.
