Quick Returns: Pagani Zondas trading over list
Pagani Zonda F Roadster – Click above for a high-res image galleryWhen times are good, it's not uncommon to see supercars trading hands at well above their retail price, especially for limited-production exotica. But you'd figure that with the economy in shambles such speculation would have been all but completely eliminated. After all, we've already brought you several reports of the owners of special-edition Bugatti Veyrons selling their limited-production hypercars to raise a little liquid capital. But according to the latest reports, one exclusive high-end supercar is being traded as a solid investment.
While the Pagani Zonda's price has risen dramatically over the years, its production numbers haven't. The original C12 launched in 2000 listed for £200k ($300k by today's money, but a lot more back then) and only four were made. The C12S was launched two years later with a £330k ($500k) price tag; coming in fixed-roof and roadster versions, 18 and 13 examples of each were built, respectively. By the time the Zonda F rolled around in 2005, prices had more than doubled over the original C12 to £470k ($700k), and over the past four years Pagani has built 25 coupes and 25 roadsters. The new Zonda R track special commands a huge £1.4m ($2m) price. But as much as the prices for new Zonda have skyrocketed, the trading price for used ones has defied the economy by shooting up, too. An original £200k C12 is now worth 150% more at £300k ($450k), while a £470k Zonda F recently sold for nearly a million pounds sterling (about $1.5 million at today's rates). Buyers reportedly see the Zonda, whose supply is far exceeded by demand, as a sound investment when more conventional choices have proven unreliable. So there you have it, Bernie Madoff has driven up the demand for exotic Italian supercars.
Gallery: Pagani Zonda F at Geneva 07
[Source: Croatian Times via Top Gear]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
matt 9:37AM (5/07/2009)
"whose supply is far exceeded by demand"...shouldn't it be the other way around?
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Josiah 9:41AM (5/07/2009)
No, pretty sure Noah got it right (albeit in an odd way).
zamafir 10:27AM (5/07/2009)
Actually, he didn't get it right. The reason prices are increasing on older models is because the minimum cost for a new Zonda is much more expensive than the old C12s cost. As a result, anyone looking to sell will be expecting buyers to meet them half way or better between their original price and the new base price of the cars. EVO, as usual, already covered this, in their long term Zonda report last month, and for the last three years of their long term report, dating back to the original purchasing article in 2006.
audi_arena 10:21AM (5/07/2009)
I'm not understanding how Bernie Madoff has "driven up the demand for exotic Italian supercars". Isn't this simple supply and demand?
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zamafir 10:29AM (5/07/2009)
yes, and the increased base price. It's been this way with zondas for years and years. maybe noah just learned of the car?
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audi_arena 10:55AM (5/07/2009)
... or just learned macroeconomics 101
zamafir 10:31AM (5/07/2009)
@audi_arena
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9600baud 11:17AM (5/07/2009)
thats where all the world's CF went!
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greenchile505 1:11PM (5/07/2009)
The only economy we're talking about here is the Zonda economy, a nano-economy. Economics 101, Bernia Madoff, the Global Recession, or how much Danica Patrick pays for web hosting at GoDaddy has nothing to do with the price of Zondas (or chickens).
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essjay 4:16PM (5/07/2009)
I don't want to be "that guy", and I know the economy is a bit eschewed at the moment, but £300k is not 150% more than £200k. It's 50% more, or 150% of.
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nzo 7:05PM (5/07/2009)
Who's surprised? These things are the definition of badass.
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