Horacio Pagani is not Enzo Ferrari by any means… But he’s pretty damn close - at least in my book. Spending time with him and at his shop today was to see a passionate artist exude the kind of interest in cars and car culture that I had thought I was going to see at Ferrari but instead found at supercar manufacturer Pagani.
Located roughly 5 km down the street from Lamborghini, Pagani is the home of the Zonda, which as of right now is the world’s fastest supercar. It is by no means a cheap ride, coming in with a price tag that rests somewhere in the neighborhood of one million dollars per car. Oh, and they only make 15 cars in a given year. Overall the company has produced a total of just 68 cars. Now that’s some kind of exclusivity. Even if you’ve got the money, there’s no guarantee you’ll get one.
But ultimately what sets Pagani apart is not how ridiculously expensive or rare their cars are – what sets them apart is Horacio himself. He’s clearly an exception in the exceptional high-end car world. Personable, friendly and without a doubt a visionary. The man has lived and breathed cars since he was young and today he’s gone out and done something that’s absolutely remarkable. He’s not only running a truly independent car company, as in no multinational mothership support, but he’s also sticking it to just about everyone else. How the Zonda gets going the way it does is a stunning example that being different or being unique or just simply doing it your own way, can create something magical.
The car itself rides, drives and feels like something that mere mortals shouldn’t attain – It’s like you’re wrapped inside a Louis Vuitton handbag which Kate Spade detailed that’s now strapped on to a heat seeking cruise missile. If that doesn’t communicate the level of detail on this car, perhaps this will - I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to ride in a number of high-end luxury cars on this trip, but the Zonda was the first one where I felt compelled by all that’s right in the automotive world to wipe my feet before sliding over the gigantic doorsill and dropping into the seat.
Once the car gets going it’s a real treat. Snappy, fast, and delightfully wicked. The way it pins you back into the seat sends shivers down your spine. With each passing kilometer you feel quite certain that the car was engineered by an army of thousands – yet it wasn’t. It was built by a small team lead by just one man. One man who had a dream to build the world’s fastest super car.
Ultimately, I’m not sure what’s more impressive, the actual car or the independent spirit that created it.
Popularity: 3% [?]
RSS Feed
0 Responses to “Day 16: The Spirit Lives - A Visit to Pagani”