Buy This Pagani Zonda Tricolore and Give It the Manual It Deserves

Few cars stand out like a Pagani Zonda, and few Zondas stand out like the Tricolore. Only three were built, and one of them is headed to auction. You’ll need deep pockets to be the winning bidder, but the new owner has the opportunity spend a bit more money to make this car even more special. 

First, you need to buy it. This Tricolore is currently being auctioned through RM Sotheby’s in a sealed auction, meaning details of the bid process aren’t available. In the Zonda world, the Tricolores were all the same—a mix of bare carbon and blue with stripes matching the Italian flag. The finish is an ode to the Frecce Tricolori, the demonstration team for the Italian Air Force and done to celebrate the team’s 50th anniversary.

Photo by: RM Sotheby’s

Photo by: RM Sotheby’s

Photo by: RM Sotheby’s

The Tricolores came very late in the Zonda timeline and are based on the Zonda Cinque. A big 7.3-liter Mercedes-AMG V-12 sits behind the driver, burbling out 670 horsepower through the Zonda’s iconic center-exit exhaust. The transmission is a six-speed automated manual, with cog swaps taking place on their own or through carbon fiber paddles. Here’s where the new buyer can make this car extra special.

Per the auction description, the new owner can request a transmission conversion from the automated setup to a true six-speed stick-and-clutch manual. Moreover, this isn’t some aftermarket conversion, but a swap performed by Pagani. We have no idea what such a conversion might cost, but if you’re able to buy the car, you can probably afford the swap.

That’s because this car’s final bid could reach eight figures. Extremely low-production, late-model Zondas have been bringing big bucks; Carscoops reminds us that a Zonda LM Roadster fetched $11 million last November. This one, with just 691 miles on the odometer, is essentially still a new car. Not that it would matter, considering it’s just one of three built. If you want a Zonda Tricolore, this is likely your only shot.

Bidding ends in just two days. Any guesses as to how high it will go?

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RM Sotheby’s