Which Italian sports car manufacturer produced the Zonda?

Horacio Pagani was born in Casilda, Argentina (10 November 1955) to Luca and Maria Pagani. His father was a baker from Italy.

He took an early interest in engineering and at the age of 12 took refuge in his “piecita” (little room) to make models of sports cars with wood and cuttings of chocolate cans. At 15, he built a working motorcycle.

He moved to La Plata to study Fine Arts and took some engineering courses. At 20 he had designed and built his first Formula 3 racer. At age 23, he built a Formula 2 car that competed in the official 'Renault' team.

After this success, in 1982, he decided to move to Italy and he was hired by 'Lamborghini'. Pagani began working basic jobs but he was able to work his way up in the company.

He built the 'Countach Evoluzione' concept as chief engineer at 'Lamborghini'. He tried to persuade 'Lamborghini' to buy an autoclave so they could extend the production of the carbon parts but they refused.

Pagani borrowed the capital to buy his own autoclave in 1987, and in 1991 he left the company and founded his consultancy 'Modena Design', which continues to make carbon fiber composites for Formula One cars and clients like 'Daimler', 'Ferrari' and 'Aprilia'.

'Pagani Automobili Modena' was founded in 1992. Pagani's first model was the 'Zonda' (a hot enervating north wind that sweeps down from the Andes over the Argentine pampas). The car's design was inspired by jet fighters and the famous 'Sauber-Mercedes Silver Arrow' Group C cars.