1906 Zust 28/45 Spider Corsa by Sala

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Coral Gables, Florida | February 2025

Zust was a manufacturing company in Italy that was founded by Roberto Zust. They started off making tools and branched into other areas that required technical expertise. So when they moved into cars, launching their first in 1905, they made them well.

Their first car was the 28/45, which they built through 1908, and it is powered by a 7.4-liter inline-four that made 45 horsepower. It has a four-speed transmission and chain drive. These are sometimes called the Italian Mercedes, as they were well built machines.

This car is thought to have participated in the 1907 Targa Florio and wears coachwork by Cesare Sala. It is one of five Zust cars built before WWI that are known to survive. Zust was acquired by OM in 1917 and phased out. RM notes that Zust (which apparently still existed in some non-automotive fashion after 1917) sold this car to a wrecking yard in Germany in 1946.

It remained there until 2016, when it was restored. It now has an estimate of $800,000-$950,000. Click here for more info.