Pagani Zonda With The Face Of Lionel Messi Was Built Out Of 100,000 Gold Coins Because Art

Over the past couple of years, the Art Basel event in Miami has become an increasingly important event on the automotive calendar, providing high-end brands with the opportunity to showcase their latest creations to the rich few who can afford them. As the event’s name suggests, there are plenty of art pieces on display, and this special Pagani Zonda-inspired creation might have been the finest piece at this year’s show.

This remarkable creation is the work of Uruguayan artist Joaquin Arbiza and is a full-scale replica of a Pagani Zonda F made entirely from Uruguayan pesos. Commissioned by car collector Jorge Gomez, it took three years to create, longer than it takes Pagani to build one of its beloved V12-powered hypercars.

Read: Is The Zonda 760 Roadster ‘Diamante Verde’ The Ultimate Pagani?

Every single part of a real Zonda has been replicated and formed out of the golden coins, welded together. All up, there are more than 100,000 coins and half a million weld points. Several of the coins up front have been painted black and arranged to create a portrait of Lionel Messi. Evidently, the artist and the owner of this special one-off are big fans of the legendary Argentinian footballer.

Photo Credits: IBP Media

Many of the coins have had to be bent to mimic some of the Zonda’s curves and design elements. The attention to detail is incredible, and even the wheels and tires are formed from the coins. The unique creation weighs around 1,250 kg (2,755 lbs), the same as a legitimate Zonda.

Obviously, the actual jewel of a normal Zonda is missing: its 7.3-liter naturally-aspirated V12, but that’s neither here nor there. Plenty of Paganis sit untouched in garages around the world, slowly rotting away. As this one has no engine, it can be used as a showpiece without letting the powertrain go to waste.