Pagani Zonda Absolute Evo, Satin Carbon

When the Zonda C12 appeared at Geneva in 1999 it used a 6.0-litre Mercedes-Benz V12. The Zonda F moved to a 7.3-litre Mercedes-AMG V12, and by the time Pagani was building one-off cars for individual clients that engine was giving 760 PS and 780 Nm. Regular production ran from 1999 to 2019, and special editions and one-offs have still been built in small numbers since, some on existing chassis. The Absolute belongs to that late, bespoke chapter. Script on the flank of this model reads Zonda Absolute and 1 of 1, the base plaque names it Zonda Absolute Evo, chassis 76061, and the specification is about bare carbon and a single thread of national colour.

Here the carbon is satin rather than gloss, a dark grey weave that covers every panel, with gloss carbon kept for the louvres, the mirror housings and the lamp surrounds. A thin green, white and red stripe runs from the splitter over the bonnet and roof to the fin of the rear wing. The multi-spoke wheels are black, the round tail lamps have turbine-style centres, and the cabin shows a Pagani-badged steering wheel in front of a full set of dials. The base has a carbon top and a plaque flanked by Pagani's oval badge and the Henson & Heaven mark, stating an edition of 30. H&H builds it as a large-scale model.