Ugo Zagato
Ugo Zagato (born June 25, 1890 in Gavello , † October 31, 1968 ) was an Italian automobile designer . He was the founder of the body manufacturer named after him Carrozzeria Ugo Zagato & Co in Milan .
Ugo Zagato grew up in poor conditions. After the early death of his father, at the age of 15, he had to take up a job in order to support the large family (five brothers). He initially worked as a guest worker in a foundry in Cologne . In 1909 he returned to Italy to do his military service. He then worked for the coachbuilder Varesina in Varese , which mainly produced bus and truck bodies in the classic style. He also studied construction engineering at the Santa Maria School. During the First World War he moved to Turin for the aircraft manufacturer Pomilio . This time was formative for his further career. He learned both the methods of lightweight body construction and the basics of aerodynamics .
In 1919 he and five employees founded the bodywork manufacturer Carrozzeria Ugo Zagato & Co. in Milan. Most vehicle bodies were still heavily influenced by carriage construction. Right from the start, Ugo Zagato focused on lightweight construction, a low center of gravity and low air resistance. Contacts were made with the automobile manufacturer Alfa Romeo, also based in Milan . Numerous Alfa Romeo sports cars that are successful in motorsport were created in cooperation with Zagato, above all the successful 6C and 8C series , which achieved several victories in the Mille Miglia and other races. Since then, the name “Zagato” has stood for sporty, exclusive automobile construction.
During the Second World War , the Zagato factory was completely destroyed. Then Zagato rebuilt the plant in Via Giorgini near the Alfa Romeo plant in Portello . In 1949 his two sons, Gianni (* 1929) and Elio (1921–2009) joined the company. The 1950s were extremely successful. In 1962 the company moved into a larger plant in Via Arese in Terrazzano di Rho , a suburb of Milan. The capacity was around 3000 vehicles per year. After Ugo Zagato's death and beginning with the 1973 oil crisis, the company found itself in an increasingly difficult phase. Today it is run in the third generation as a design company.
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Zagato, Ugo |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Italian automobile designer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 25, 1890 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Gavello |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 31, 1968 |