Ugo Zagato
Ugo Zagato (25 June 1890, in Gavello – 31 October 1968) was an Italian automobile designer, known for establishing and running the Zagato coachbuilder, famous for its lightweight designs. He had five brothers and lost his father (1905), forcing him to emigrate to Germany and metalworks employment in Köln (1905). He returned to serve in the military (1909) and joined car coachbuilder Carrozzeria Varesina in Varese, while studying at the Santa Maria design school.
Ugo Zagato
![1947 Isotta Fraschini 8C Monterosa Zagato and Ugo Zagato (rightmost person). Two unknown persons. There were ca 4 made by different coachbuilders. [1]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/1947_Isotta_Fraschini_8C_Monterosa_Zagato_and_Ugo_Zagato.jpg/1000px-1947_Isotta_Fraschini_8C_Monterosa_Zagato_and_Ugo_Zagato.jpg)
[2] · Public domain
- Name
- Ugo Zagato
- Born
- 25 June 1890
- Birthplace
- Gavello, Kingdom of Italy
- Died
- 31 October 1968
- Place of death
- Gavello, Italy
- Occupation
- Automobile designer
- Known for
- Founder of Zagato
- Nationality
- Italy · Kingdom of Italy
- Languages
- Italian
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Documentary summary
Ugo Zagato (25 June 1890, in Gavello – 31 October 1968) was an Italian automobile designer, known for establishing and running the Zagato coachbuilder, famous for its lightweight designs. He had five brothers and lost his father (1905), forcing him to emigrate to Germany and metalworks employment in Köln (1905). He returned to serve in the military (1909) and joined car coachbuilder Carrozzeria Varesina in Varese, while studying at the Santa Maria design school.
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wikidata · Q774780 · wikipedia · Ugo Zagato
In this article
Biography
Biography
During World War I, he moved to Turin and joined the Pomilio aircraft manufacturer, learning lightweight body construction (1915–1919). He established Carrozzeria Ugo Zagato & Co., a workshop in Milan (1919), where he built close ties with Alfa Romeo. His workshop was destroyed and rebuilt as La Zagato outside Milan after World War II, joined in 1946 by his sons Elio Zagato (1921–2009), and Gianni Zagato (1929–2020). Ugo's sons continued operations after his death in 1968.
1960s Ugo Zagato in 1930s Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 by himself, possibly a Gran Sport (GS).
[1]
Elio Zagato and Piero Facetti drove Fiat 1100 Panoramica at 1949 Coppa Intereuropa, Monza north of Milano on 29 May 1949, they seem to have ended in 5th place. In this picture, the four men next to the care are (from right): Elio Zagato and Piero Facetti (drivers), Ugo Zagato (founder of the Zagato company) and unknown.
[1]
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Ugo Zagato • Born — 25 June 1890 • Birthplace — Gavello, Kingdom of Italy • Died — 31 October 1968 • Place of death — Gavello, Italy • Occupation — Automobile designer • Known for — Founder of Zagato • Illustration — Ugo and Elio Zagato pictured with Fiat and Isotta Fraschini automobiles (1947/8) • Illustration — Ugo and his son Gianni in the 1960s • Illustration — Palazzo Grimani, Ugo Zagato plaque (Gavello)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1890
Ugo Zagato born at Gavello.
1968
Ugo Zagato died at Terrazzano.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Ugo Zagato”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q774780: Ugo Zagato
General reference · Wikidata
Awards
• Compasso d'Oro 1960 for the Fiat-Abarth 1000 Zagato
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General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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