Carrozzeria Zagato Was Founded in
1920 by Ugo Zagato, in Milan. Born in 1890, Zagato
Apprenticed to a German Coachbuilder at the Age of 15.
Returning to His Native Italy in 1909, He Joined
Carrozzeria Varesina. During World War I He Was a
Manager For An Aeronautical Company in Turin, Gaining a
Good Grasp of Aerodynamics and Lightweight Construction.
After the Year, He Moved to Milan and Went into
Partnership With Aldo Finzi.
The First Zagato Bodies Were Built in Aluminum in 1920
on Fiat 501 Chassis. Very Soon Zagato Added Alfa Romeo
As A Customer, While Also Building Bodies on Bianchi,
Diatto and Itala Chassis, As Well As Producing Aircraft
Parts For Pomilio, For Whom He Had Worked During the
War. Forced to Diversify During the 1930's, Zagato Took
On the Building of Truck Cabs For Isotta-Fraschini, a
Job That Kept Him Busy Until Allied Bombs Laid Waste to
His Workshops in 1943. A New Plant in 1946, However, Put
the Firm Back in Business and Ugo's Son Elio Joined the
Company.
Zagato Had Much Experience With Fiat, Having Built a 750
GT Coupe on the Fiat 500 Chassis From 1952. A Sports
Spider in 1953 Had a Tubular Frame and Power Trains From
Either the Fiat 1100 or 1400. Commissions From Alfa
Romeo and Ferrari Followed in Short Order. From 1955,
Zagato Took on the Production of Coupe Bodies for Carlo
Abarth's New Fiat-Based 750.
