The Pagani Zonda->ke942 made its official debut in 1999 and was in production until 2011. In those 12 years, the Zonda was offered in a number of different variants, with three different Mercedes-AMG->ke8 sourced engines. The first model was dubbed the Zonda C12, and it debuted at the 1999 Geneva Auto Show.->ke228 It was offered with a 6.0-liter AMG engine, but that wasn’t good enough, and three years later, Pagani->ke66 released the Zonda S 7.3 – a better interpretation of the Zonda C12 with an AMG 7.3-liter engine. Just one year later, Pagani released the 2003 Zonda Roadster.

The Zonda Roadster shared most of its components with the Zonda S 7.3 that came before it, but it had the ability to go topless should its owner want to feel the breeze. The car was made possible thanks to a new central monocoque structure that was made entirely of carbon. Thanks to this monocoque, the car had optimal structural rigidity, even with the top removed. The overall design allowed for a dry weight of just 2,821 pounds, which wasn’t bad at the time. To give you an idea of the significance of that weight, the 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder tipped the scales at 3,351 pounds.

There was a total of 40 examples of the Pagani Roadster built. Each model was also different, as customers were allowed to specify things like materials and finishes according to their individual tastes. So, with that said, let’s take a look at a little piece of Pagani history.

Keep reading to learn more about the Pagani Zonda Roadster.

2003 Pagani Zonda Roadster

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2003 Pagani Zonda Roadster
  • Horsepower: 555@5900
  • Torque: 4050
  • Transmission: 6-Speed Manual

Exterior

As you can see from looking at the exterior, the Zonda Roadster was practically identical to the Zonda S 7.3 that came before it. It had the same front end. The nose slowly protrudes from the body and serves as a vertical louver inside the air dam. The front spoiler sticks out about an inch from the front fascia and continues along the side with its carbon fiber finish. There were dual, rectangular running lights on each corner up front, and round headlight units that were recessed but popped out of the body like chameleon eyes.

The wide front fenders dominantly make up the front wheel wells, while the wide top continues all the rear to the rear. Down below the doors, there is a small recess in the side skirts to help to channel air into the low-mounted air intakes on the rear quarter panels. Oddly, the rear quarters are actually are mainly smooth with only a crease the elevates as you move closer to the rear.

In the rear, we see the same exact rear end. There are dual, round taillights on each side, and the exhaust exits from the center of the rear through four small exhaust outlets that are surrounded by a brushed aluminum ring. The vents to each side of the exhaust outlet feature a fine black mesh. Down below there is a carbon fiber insert with the “Roadster” name on it.

The only real difference between the Zonda S 7.3 and the Roadster is that the A-pillars stop just ahead of the side view mirrors. Here, the roof panel locks into place at the top of the windshield. Instead of having that small, triangular piece of glass at the rear, a portion of fabric is used to close the back between the body and the removable top. All told, it was probably pretty easy to convert the Zonda S 7.3 into a roadster, which explains its quick debut just a year after the S 7.3 hit showrooms.

Interior

Inside, there is lots of carbon fiber to speak of. It can be round on the roll bars behind the seats, and the seats themselves are also constructed of carbon fiber. The entire center console is carbon fiber, as well as a good portion of the door trim panels and the steering column cover. The steering wheel was a rather simple unit, with brushed aluminum in the center, three spokes that are partially wrapped in leather and a flat bottom. The handbrake handle is wrapped in what looks to be yellow Alcantara with aluminum caps on each end. The shifter also got the Alcantara and brushed aluminum treatment.

Up front, the center console was primarily brushed aluminum with large analog gauges in the middle. There was a total of four HVAC vents, each of which were made out of aluminum. The center stack featured an integrated radio and heater controls that are all surrounded by another brushed aluminum insert. The flooring on this specific model also looks to be lined with Alcantara. It was a simplistic but elegant design that was perfect for your daily cruise or a day at the track.

Drivetrain

The Roadster was powered by an AMG-sourced 7.3-liter, 60-degree, 12-cylinder that delivered 555 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. It was matted to a mechanical, six-speed manual transmission with a twin plate clutch in between. The Roadster utilized a mid-engine configuration and was rear-wheel drive with a self-locking rear differential.

On the suspension side of things, the Roadster had four-wheel independent suspension with Double A-arms, helical springs and Ohlins adjustable hydraulic dampers. There were anti-roll sway bars in the front and rear, and the suspension arms were composed of aluminum alloy. The chassis was made from carbon fiber with Cr Mo steel space frames in the front and rear.

Steering was handled by a TRW rack and Pinion unit that was power assisted. Stopping power came in the form of a Brembo brake system that was composed of four-piston calipers and ventilated discs all the way around. ABS came as a standard feature. All told, the Roadster was able to hit the 62-mph sprint in 3.7 seconds. Top speed was originally announced at 210 mph, but according to several sources, testing revealed that the car tended to top out around 190 mph.

Prices

According to online sources, the Pagani Zonda Roadster originally retailed for $325,000, but a yellow example was listed for sale back in August of 2016 for as much as 2.2-million. With the Zonda Roadster being part of such a limited production run, and built to order, there is no way to accurately put a value on the car in general.

Conclusion

The Zonda Roadster was a very anticipated model, but Pagani fans had a pretty big concern about it’s handling capabilities with the top chopped off. But, because of that concern, the new carbon fiber chassis and roll bar allowed the car to retain all the rigidity of the Zonda 7.3 S. All told, the Zonda Roadster was a beautiful model, and if you’re lucky enough to see one, you should probably snap a couple shots of it because you may never see one again. With a limited run of just 40 examples, it’s no surprise that these babies are primarily garage queens that get out for the occasional venture around the block or to a car show.