Zagato Zele History

The Zagato Zele was introduced at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show as an urban electric vehicle conceived to address city traffic and pollution. Production began in 1974, shortly after the onset of the 1973 oil crisis, lending the project unexpected commercial relevance. Its fibreglass body sat on a chassis and suspension derived from Fiat components, and the car was offered in three power variants — the Zele 1000, 1500, and 2000 — denoting battery capacity.

In North America the Zele was sold under the Elcar name and found a modest following during the energy-crisis years. A Nuova Zele followed in 1981 with a larger, more conventionally styled body and additional cabin space. Production of the Zele line continued in various forms until around 1991, with total sales of approximately 3,000 units across both generations — a remarkable output for an era when electric vehicles were considered curiosities.