Trip to Pagani

[Chris L]

Seeing as I haven't posted up here for a while, I thought would add these pics :)

A couple of months ago, I had the chance to go and visit the Pagani factory and meet the man himself. All I can say is that it will live long in the memory - very much a tick in the box, life-is-good kind of day :) Especially as Horacio took me out for a blast as well :)

Here's a few pics for you. The red one is Horacio's personal car

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/cleppard/Zonda/IMG_0114.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/cleppard/Zonda/IMG_0099.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/cleppard/Zonda/IMG_0089.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/cleppard/Zonda/IMG_0070.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/cleppard/Zonda/IMG_0061.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/cleppard/Zonda/IMG_0053.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/cleppard/Zonda/IMG_0057.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/cleppard/Zonda/IMG_0056.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/cleppard/Zonda/IMG_0134.jpg

[Gastro]

Wow ! - Nice one Chris....... looks amazing :)

[omen666]

Outragous

My god, what a life he has

[Glenn Mc]

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing:thumbsup:


that is pure car porn :squintdance:

[Blow Dog]

Wow now THAT'S a privilege! Being taken out for a spin by the man himself!!

I'm about to plan a trip for the big 3 in Italy, I need to speak with you for advice etc. I hear that Pagani are very accomodating.

[UmitG]

Not sure I would have gone for the wood interior as I just don't think it suits the image of the Zonda but from the outside, those 2 are some of the most fantastic looking cars I've seen. Pure automotive porn.

Just one question though, what is that strange looking contraption in the middle of the drivers seat? Looks very bizarre! :confused:

[SimonSays]

Just one question though, what is that strange looking contraption in the middle of the drivers seat? Looks very bizarre! :confused:

If i'm not mistaken, this if for the 6 point harness

[UmitG]

If i'm not mistaken, this if for the 6 point harness

Aha, of course. All makes much more sense, and here was me thinking that the exorbitant price tag meant you got thrown some special extras your way like some sort of kinky sex toy which gave you sexual stimulation while you were driving, not that you'd need it while drving a Zonda :D

[Chris L]

Cem - no problem. Drop me a PM sometime. I should be able to put you in touch with Horacio's PR lady (her husband used to work for Ferrari and now Lamborghini, so she would be a good person to have a chat with). They are incredibly friendly at the factory and they are used to people just turning up, but it would better to arrange a visit.

What strikes you about Horacio is his enthusiasm and absolute attention for detail. When you consider that these cars are almost totally hand built (much of it in the factory), then the fit and finish they achieve becomes even more astonishing. You do start to understand that first and foremost, he is an engineer - and a very good one.

Every metal component in the car is x-rayed (similar to the techniques used in the aircraft industry) before fitting. Every nut and bolt has a specific torque setting which the engineer who fits it will sign with a coloured marker. The quality of the carbon fibre has to be seen to be believed (compare it to that in the Enzo!)

I would never say that they are the best looking cars, but I don't think anything comes close for sheer presence. They are automotive works of art.

Couple more pics for you

This is the first motor vehicle that Horacio built. He was 14 when he made this! He fabricated the entire scooter by hand (bar the engine).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/cleppard/Zonda/IMG_0071.jpg

The man himself. The huge watch on his wrist is a prototype of his next project!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/cleppard/Zonda/IMG_0139.jpg

And finally, a short vid, taken on my phone. Mostly you can just hear me laughing, but you get the idea. The engine note is to die for :)

You Tube vid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FODSM3hJjo) :)

[Blow Dog]

Truly a life experience :D You must feel fantastic.

[Blow Dog]

Just seen the video - oh boy!
wow is all I can muster...

[Chris L]

:) I've got a couple more vids - some showing Horacio talking about the car (fine for those of you who speak Italian) and a much longer one shot in the car.

The man can drive as well - he really knows what he is doing.

It was a great day - so nice to meet such a genuine guy who is a total petrolhead and very down to earth.

[Elite]

Awesome pictures. I was lucky enough to work on one of these babies. I was speaking to the owner and he said that he tried the Veyron, Enzo and Zonda. He didn't like the Veyron because it sounds like a "truck," the Enzo he loved but it was too "common" and finally chose the Zonda because it gave him the warm feeling inside.

Aparently its one of two in the world because its a right hand drive. I can't find the picture with the plaque showing the actual no. but I think there are only 40 Roadster Zondas in the world, of which two have been written off. You really do need to see these in the flesh as there are so many tiny details on them. The bonnet and boot are both attached by a leather belt type buckle. Even the Clarion Speaker pod enclosures are carbon fibre. You could spend hours just looking at it and it really is a work of art.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/elitedetailer/IMG_0421.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/elitedetailer/IMG_0405.jpg

[Chris L]

Couldn't agree more - the attention to detail with these cars borders on the obsessive. Again, it's a tribute to the design of the car that it is so easy to convert from left hand to right hand drive. Bearing in mind that they only make, on average, 17 cars a year! There was a cream and black RHD version being finished when I was there - it was due to be shipped to the UK at the end of the year, so no doubt, some lucky bugger is enjoying it now :)