This Is the Pagani Zonda We’ve Been Dreaming Of: Now It Could Be Yours

There are few cars that have so completely captured the imagination of the motoring world as Horacio Pagani’s Zonda. When it first appeared at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, its blend of aerospace precision, Italian artistry and uncompromising engineering signalled the arrival of a new era in the hypercar realm. By 2003, with the arrival of the Zonda C12 S 7.3, Pagani’s original concept had reached its most complete and intoxicating form.

The S 7.3 represented the culmination of a process of continual refinement, each iteration honing the Zonda’s balance, detail, and technical sophistication without losing the purity of its original concept. At its heart lay the 7,291 cc AMG-tuned Mercedes-Benz M120 V12, one of the finest naturally aspirated engines ever produced. The marriage of that legendary V12 with Pagani’s lightweight carbon chassis and hand-sculpted bodywork created a car that remains, even now, one of the purest expressions of performance art.

Chassis 31 – A Rare and Remarkable Example

The car offered here by Rory Henderson Ltd is chassis number 31, delivered new in March 2003 and one of only eight right-hand-drive C12 S 7.3 coupés ever completed. Finished in Zonda Blue, a hue reminiscent of the original prototype that remains in Pagani’s own collection, it features a beautifully appointed Blue and Beige leather interior, complemented by matching carpets and the unmistakable ambience of early-2000s Pagani craftsmanship.

Registered in the UK later that year, the car was supplied to its first owner under an agreement that it could be used for press duties, a vital contribution to the reputation-building efforts of Pagani’s fledgling company, which at the time was producing around ten cars per year. During this period, chassis 31 featured prominently in CAR magazine and appeared with Jeremy Clarkson, before taking part in EVO magazine’s landmark 100th issue test, where it was pitched against an all-time-great lineup that included the McLaren F1, Ferrari F40, Bugatti Veyron and Porsche 911 2.7 RS.

That early life was one of both enthusiasm and significance. The first owner participated in several ‘Vanishing Point’ tours, now known as the Pagani Raduno, while ensuring the car’s maintenance through the Pagani factory and local Mercedes-Benz specialists.

Provenance and Care

In February 2011, chassis 31 passed into the care of its second and current owner, just three miles from its original home. Recognising the importance of expert stewardship, the car was soon entrusted to Bob Houghton, the renowned Ferrari specialist, for ongoing maintenance. Later, when Pagani UK was established, the car returned to official care, receiving a major service in 2016 prior to its participation in that year’s Pagani Raduno through the Dolomites, where it was notably the only car driven to and from the event by its owner.

In 2017, the fuel tank was replaced with a genuine Pagani item, and in January 2024 the car received a comprehensive service by Pagani UK totalling £16,075, covering all fluids, filters, spark plugs and tyres. For usability, the car now rides on near-identical OZ Superleggera 19-inch wheels, though the original 18-inch set remains with it.

Throughout its life, this Zonda has been exercised as intended while maintaining its originality. It has graced events including the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court, the Wilton House Classic and Supercar Show, and the Goodwood Festival of Speed. At the 2024 Cartier Style et Luxe Concours, celebrating 25 years of the Zonda, chassis 31 triumphed in its class, a fitting recognition of its exceptional authenticity and condition.

The Definitive Expression of the Zonda Spirit

Now displaying 30,841 miles, this figure represents little more than ‘running-in’ mileage for the indestructible M120 engine. It is one of just 17 C12 S 7.3 coupés produced, and among only six examples worldwide known to remain completely original, unmodified and unblemished.

Its completeness is exemplary: accompanied by its original luggage, suit carrier, car cover, tools, service book, owner’s manual and history file, it presents a uniquely holistic example of the Zonda S 7.3 as it left Modena over two decades ago.

Offered for the first time in 14 years from a fastidious private collection, chassis 31 embodies everything that made the Zonda a legend: originality, artistry, and engineering purity. It remains an exceptional testament to the early days of Pagani Automobili, a time when a handful of artisans in Modena were quietly redefining what a supercar could be.