Z-Factor High Five: Beauties, beasts and... buggies?

When series-production models are outfitted by Zagato, the results can vary from sublime to borderline offensive. Classic Driver selects four of the Milanese firm’s design classics – plus one oddity – currently being offered for sale...

 

Alfa Romeo SZ: Il Mostro

When Alfa and Zagato reunited to follow on from their legendary TZ collaborations, there was no option for half-measure styling – especially given the source of the basic underpinnings: the sombre Alfa 75 saloon. The resulting SZ was clothed in plastic body panels seemingly as harsh and angular as possible, but this soon earned it a cult following; many saw it as a two-fingered salute to the sober lines exhibited by its peers.

Though Zagato’s input apparently leaned more towards production than styling, the SZ retained the ‘Z’ badges on its flanks and provided an unexpectedly refined driving experience.

Buy this Alfa Romeo SZ in the Classic Driver Marketplace>>

 

Aston Martin V8 Zagato Volante: Controversy sells

The V8 Zagato was conceived in a similar manner to the SZ: both companies were embroiled in financial uncertainty and in need of a healthy dose of publicity (and, of course, cash). Again, the combination of provocative coachwork over proven underpinnings was chosen, and despite much objection to the coupé’s awkward bonnet scoop and squared-off grille, the quirky V8 Zagato sold well enough to justify an unplanned production run of Volantes - albeit with a revised grille and deleted scoop.

Buy this Aston Martin V8 Zagato Volante in the Classic Driver Marketplace>>

 

Bristol 406: Leaner and meaner

To this day, Bristol remains a byword for old-school British luxury. Back in 1958, however, a handful of 406s was sent to Zagato to be re-clothed in sumptuous Italian coachwork, complete with faired-in headlamps and a bonnet scoop to feed the more potent, BMW-sourced straight-six. Zagato’s lightweight bodywork also trimmed a few hundred kilos from the kerb weight, further improving on the original 406’s restrained performance.

Buy this Bristol 406 in the Classic Driver Marketplace>>

 

Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato: Heyday hero

Unlike Bristol, the modern-day Lancia could hardly have strayed further from its roots; the days of understated excellence in engineering and design are now merely a fond memory.

The 50s heydays saw Pininfarina and Touring soak up the majority of Lancia’s coachbuilding requirements, but as the cars gained weight through luxury trimmings, Zagato was enlisted to construct a ‘Sport’ version of the Flaminia. Taking the shortened GT platform, Zagato used its expertise in aerodynamics and lightweight bodywork to make the most of the 2.5-litre V6’s performance.

Buy this Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato in the Classic Driver Marketplace>>

 

Zagato Milanina Tipo 'E': Shock tactics

Here’s that oddity you’ve been waiting for. Manufactured in the late 80s as a follow-up to the peculiar Zele of the 70s (the coachbuilder’s solution to the oil crisis), the electric Milanina seems perfectly suited for use as a golf buggy – provided you’ve got a more ‘traditional’ Zagato waiting in the car park to impress your fellow club-swingers.

Buy this Zagato Milanina in the Classic Driver Marketplace>>

 

Photos: Classic Driver dealers / auction houses

ERC :Victory for Loix on home soil ; Freddy Loix maître à Ypres

This year’s Geko Ypres Rally saw Freddy Loix collect his eighth win on his home event in a factory Skoda Fabia S2000 equipped with the latest Michelin Pilot Sport R tyres. Peugeot drivers Bryan Bouffier and Craig Breen survived the dramatic last stage to join the Belgian veteran on the podium.

Le Belge Freddy Loix a remporté pour la huitième fois le Geko Ypres Rally au volant d’une Skoda Fabia S2000 officielle chaussée des nouveaux pneumatiques Michelin Pilot Sport R. Les pilotes Peugeot Bryan Bouffier et Craig Breen complètent le podium, après une dernière spéciale mouvementée.

Former WRC factory driver Freddy Loix, 43, took his score in Ypres to eight wins from 16 starts, almost two decades after his first attempt at the event in the days when it was still known as the 24 Hours of Ypres.

The Belgian took the lead in his Skoda Motorsport-entered Fabia S2000/Michelin on SS1 before pulling clear of his chasers in the wet and muddy conditions that marked the first leg. He completed Friday evening’s six stages with a lead of 1m36.2s over Bryan Bouffier.

“This is a great result for me,” he said at the finish. “I felt good on the shakedown stage and I just kept going at the same pace throughout the rally.”

Ypres rookie Craig Breen (Peugeot 207 S2000) figured briefly in second place before being delayed on SS5 by a transmission problem which cost him two minutes. The 2012 S-WRC champion managed to fight his way back up to third place but was reported to have stopped on the rally’s final stage behind the Ford Fiesta of Pajunen and the Peugeot 207 of Vanneste which were in flames. Happily for Breen, the test was neutralised!

Bryan Bouffier, co-driven this weekend by Lara Vanneste, failed to crack under Breen’s pressure on Day 2. Despite sometimes contrasting tyre choices, the gap between the two Peugeot drivers remained stable from midday Saturday and, in the end, the Frenchman followed up his win in Corsica with another top ERC result. He is now expected to take part in July’s Sibiu Rally, an event which neither Craig Breen nor the Peugeot Rally Academy team are due to attend.

Following the retirement of Hayden Paddon (accident), there was an interesting fight for fourth place between Vanneste (Peugeot 207 S2000), Lefevere (Mitsubishi), Kobus (Ford Fiesta S2000) and Solowow (Ford Fiesta RRC). Flemish driver Andy Lefevere (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) went on to claim the Production Cup win after Andreas Aigner was slowed by a variety of problems (‘off’, brakes, etc.).

The two-wheel drive class was won by Xavier Baugnet (208 R2) and the Ladies’ Award went to Mélissa Debackere (Peugeot 207 S2000).

A 43 ans, l’ancien pilote « usine » en Mondial Freddy Loix a ajouté une nouvelle ligne à son palmarès en remportant son 8^e Rallye d’Ypres (en 16 participations), une épreuve qu’il a disputée pour la 1^ère fois en 1994 et qui s’appelait encore « 24 Heures d’Ypres ».

Au volant d’une Fabia S2000/Michelin engagée par Skoda Motorsport, le Belge a pris les commandes de l’épreuve dans l’ES1 et a très vite creusé l’écart sur ses poursuivants sur les routes détrempées et boueuses de la 1^ère étape. Vendredi soir, après six spéciales, il comptait déjà 1min36s2 d’avance sur Bryan Bouffier. « C’est un résultat fantastique. J’ai eu un super feeling dès le Shakedown et j’ai juste continué sur le même rythme », analysait Loix à l’arrivée.

Pour sa 1^ère participation, le Champion du monde S-WRC 2012 Craig Breen s’était installé en 2^eposition avant d’être trahi par une transmission (ES5). Relégué à plus de deux minutes, l’Irlandais est revenu avec autorité sur la 3^e marche du podium. Mais dans l’ultime spéciale, sa Peugeot 207 S2000 était signalée bloquée dans un fossé, alors que la Ford Fiesta de Pajunen et la Peugeot 207 de Vanneste étaient en feu. Heureusement pour Breen, la spéciale fut neutralisée !

Sous la pression de Craig Breen, Bryan Bouffier n’a rien lâché. Le match entre les deux pilotes Peugeot a duré une grande partie de la longue 2^e étape. Ils se sont rendus coup pour coup, ont tenté des choix de pneumatiques différents, mais les écarts sont restés stables à partir de la mi-journée. Après sa victoire au Tour de Corse, Bryan Bouffier (associé ce week-end à Lara Vanneste) poursuit sa belle saison en ERC. Il devrait être au départ du Sibiu Rally fin juillet. Craig Breen et l’équipe Peugeot Rally Academy ne seront pas du voyage en Roumanie.

Après l’abandon d’Hayden Paddon (Ford Fiesta S2000, sortie de route), la bagarre était très ouverte pour la 4^e place entre Vanneste (Peugeot 207 S2000), Lefevere (Mitsubishi), Kobus (Ford Fiesta S2000) et Solowow (Ford Fiesta RRC). Au volant de sa Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, le Flamand Andy Lefevere a remporté la catégorie Production Cup après les nombreux ennuis d’Andreas Aigner (touchette, freins…). Xavier Baugnet (208 R2) a remporté la catégorie 2-roues motrices et Mélissa Debackere (Peugeot 207 S2000) le Trophée féminin.

Deux nouvelles voitures de rallye ont effectué leurs premiers tours de roue publiques à l’occasion du Rallye d’Ypres. La Ford Fiesta R5 était pilotée par Thierry Neuville, alors que la Peugeot 208 T16 était confiée à Kris Meeke. Ces deux autos, équipées des nouveaux pneus Michelin Pilot Sport R, n’étaient pas engagées dans l’épreuve, mais ont pu parcourir les spéciales et accumuler des kilomètres avant leurs homologations. Elles seront bientôt les machines à battre en ERC.

raffinement

GARB: GREY AREA

These days, grey can go a long way.

Ugmonk T-Shirt ($26). Gucci Slim Corduroy ($550). Mucu Large Blank Notebook ($18).Vans Authentic Sneakers ($80). Leica M9 18MP Digital Range Finder Camera ($6,995).Huf Volley Cap ($45). Warby Parker Winston Sunglasses ($95). Nixon The Corporal Watch ($200).