It’s the supercar you’ve never heard of. Designed by legendary Italian coachbuilder Zagato, powered by an all-American GM small-block V-8, and hand-built in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the AC 378 GT Zagato comprises just 10 examples made between 2012 and 2013. Now, one of those rarities, a U.S.-spec machine painted Viper Steel Gray and fit with an upgraded, supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 packing around 600 hp, is being auctioned on the SBX Cars online site. Bidding ends November 12.
The car is being sold by Florida-based Hillbank Motorsports, whose CEO and founder, Lance Stander, was the vehicle’s original owner back in 2013. He tells Robb Report that he kept it for a couple of years before selling it to a Texas entrepreneur. Last summer, though, he had the opportunity to buy it back.
The 2013 AC 378 GT Zagato available at online-auction house SBX Cars.
SBX Cars
“I always loved the car, and when the owner called asking if I was interested in buying, I jumped at it. I have great memories of driving through the Colorado Rockies, enjoying its remarkable performance and handling. Trouble is, I have too many cars, so when SBX approached me, it seemed like a good idea to sell and let someone else enjoy the car,” says Stander.
The AC 378 itself started life as the Perana Z-One, which debuted as a production-ready model back in 2009. South African specialty builder Hi-Tech Automotive had commissioned Milan-based Zagato to design a front-engined, two-door coupe with a rear-wheel-drive configuration. The plan was to add to Hi-Tech Automotive’s fleet of Superformance replica and continuation models.
The interior features analog gauges, adjustable Recaro sports seats, and a sound system comprising Kenwood and Kicker audio components.
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Zagato design chief Nori Harada created the dramatic styling cues, such as the long-hood and short-rear lines of the Perana, with a front end clearly influenced by Harada’s design for the 2005 Ferrari 575 GTZ Zagato, of which six were built. The Perana used a steel-tube, space-frame chassis with that striking fiberglass, fastback body featuring Zagato’s trademark “double-bubble” roof.
Power comes from a 6.2-liter GM LS3 V-8, similar to the one used in Chevy’s Camaro, producing 434 hp and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. It rides on Zagato-designed wheels and features Corvette brakes, Eibach springs, and Bilstein dampers. Tipping the scales at just over 3,000 pounds, and with a front/mid-engine layout delivering a nearly 50/50 weight balance, the car can reportedly sprint from a standstill to 60 mph in under 4.0 seconds and hit a top speed of 185 mph.
Under the hood lies a 6.2-liter supercharged LS-Series V-8 engine.
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Intended as a grand tourer, it features as standard such creature comforts as leather-and-Alcantara upholstery, air conditioning, power door-locks and windows, and a 22.5-gallon fuel tank. Interestingly, safety features like traction control and anti-lock brakes weren’t offered.
Hi-Tech Automotive, however, put the Perana project on the back burner until early 2011. That was when Britain’s AC Cars, which had a relationship with Zagato dating back to the AC Ace Bristol Zagato from 1957, offered to help revive the vehicle and badge it as an AC model. The AC 378 GT Zagato was born with the first production example debuting on the AC Cars stand at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The following year, as part of Robb Report’s Best of the Best accolades, it was named 2013 Best Specialty Vehicles: Sports Car. At the time, its U.S. price was around $150,000.
The car has only 6,150 miles on the odometer.
SBX Cars
Stander believes the auction car was fitted with a polished Vortech supercharger by the previous owner about eight years ago. At around the same time, the interior—with its body-hugging Recaro sports seats—was retrimmed in black and coffee brown, using the same kind of leather supplied to Ferrari. The car has only 6,150 miles on the odometer, and its overall condition is described in the SBX listing as “exceptional.”
“For me, the appeal of the car is its exclusivity. People go crazy when they see it, but have absolutely no clue what it is,” says Stander. “Everywhere I park, it gets much more attention than any Ferrari. And, of course, with that big American V-8 and very loud exhaust, it does sound amazing.” Before listing the car for auction, Stander’s Hillbank Motorsports dealership had it for sale with a $224,995 asking price.
Click here for more photos of this 2013 AC 378 GT Zagato.
This 2013 AC 378 GT Zagato, one of only 10 examples built, is available at online-auction site SBX Cars.
SBX Cars