Pick of the Day: Zagato Parana Z-One

I detest hyperbole or bold proclamations without some form of factual backing when developing an argument. After decades of listening to sports talk radio on KNBR 680 I’ve had more than my fill of sports reporters and fans giving their hot takes with ludicrous concepts. Settle down Boone from Cloverdale because I can’t imagine any scenario where Kyle Shanahan is a better coach than Vince Lombardi.

That said, I am going against my own code for debates when I maintain that the Zagato Parana Z-One is the greatest South African and Italian mashup the automotive industry has ever seen. Yes I broke my own code, but can you name another car penned by an Italian design firm (Zagato) for a South African performance car company (Parana Performance Group)? Didn’t think so.

The Zagato Parana Z-One is the biproduct of that collaboration and to add more intrigue to its already unique backstory its rides on a C6 Chevrolet Corvette chassis and is powered by a Corvette LS7 engine. It was a true international collaboration for a sports car that made its debut at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show with aspiration for 999 copies with a starting price under $100,000. Productions goals were never achieved and just seven were made for the United States.

If you like unique collaborations look no further than the Pick of the Day; a Zagato Parana Z-One listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Orange, California. This Parana Z-One is number five of seven built, and the only concept car produced.

“The side profile is of a fine sports coupe that had finely sculpted lines on the front fenders,” the listing states. “Those huge multi-spoke wheels sure did go along with its design appeal. The rear third quarter and rear fascia sure give out Aston Martin and TVR vibes with the bulky wheel arches and the rear tail-lamp layout. The design language, no doubt, is an inspiration for many iconic cars. Zagato did an impressive job of fusing all of it and giving it a unique character.”

From any angle the Parana is striking and exotic, but also has the performance to back up its demeanor. It’s powered by a 7.3-liter V8 LS7 engine that the listing states produces 600 horsepower, and the engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission with a ZF limited-slip rear differential. It has a well-designed interior with seating for two and features air conditioning, a back-up camera, and a navigation system.