LOT 27
1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Chassis no. AR10126.00033 Engine no. AR00548.35328 (See Text)
Estimate: US$350,000 - US$400,000
Lot 27
1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ
1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ
Chassis no. AR10126.00033
Engine no. AR00548.35328 (See Text)
Chassis no. AR10126.00033
Engine no. AR00548.35328 (See Text)
1,779 cc DOHC Alloy Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
Twin Weber 40 DCOE Carburetors
Approximately 120bhp at 5,500rpm
5-Speed Manual Gearbox
Independent Front Wishbones, Rear Live Axle with Radius Arms
4-Wheel Finned Aluminum Drum Brakes
*One of approximately 200 produced
*First delivered to Italian privateer Rinaldo Parmigiani
*Raced at the 4Hrs of Pescara and Coppa Inter-Europa at Monza
*Previously owned by prolific collector Corrado Cupellini
*A fast, featherweight, giant-killing GT
THE GIULIETTA SPRINT ZAGATO
The 1950s sparked a renaissance period for Italian coachbuilding. Serving everyone from private owners to major manufacturers, Italy's carrozzerie were kept humming with a seemingly endless array of one-offs, low-volume specials, and production bodies. Among the countless partnerships, that of Zagato and Alfa Romeo was a particularly special one, dating back to the era of the mighty 6C and 8C sports cars of the 30s. In the late 1950s, a private owner approached Zagato with his crashed Alfa Romeo Tipo 750 Giulietta Sprint Veloce, requesting new lightweight bodywork for racing. A dramatic transformation took place, and the resulting Giulietta suddenly could rival much larger displacement GT cars. Customers took note and enough orders came in for the "SVZ" to become an officially sanctioned, limited-run – and highly successful – racing car.
The SVZ's logical successor arrived in 1960 as the SZ (Sprint Zagato). Based on a short-wheelbase chassis of the more gentlemanly, Bertone-skinned Giulietta SS, the SZ was a dual-purpose homologation special and the pinnacle of the Giulietta line. In typical Zagato fashion, the striking coachwork was minimalistic to the extreme, with smooth lines and sparse adornment. The thin alloy body with uprated finned drum brakes, a high-capacity fuel tank, 5-speed gearbox, and the high-performance tipo AR00120 engine made the featherweight SZ a formidable all-rounder. Initially, 100 examples were built to satisfy the rule book, though ultimately double that number (including the 30 or so revised "Coda Tronca" models) left Zagato to do battle on the circuits and slice up the world's most challenging roads. Their giant-killer reputation remains as strong as ever, as the SZ is favored by vintage racers, collectors, and keen drivers the world over.
THE CAR OFFERED
According to Angelo Tito Anselmi's book Alfa Romeo Giulietta, chassis 00033 is a genuine Zagato-bodied example originally finished in gray and delivered to Rinaldo Parmigiani of La Spezia, Italy, on August 25, 1960. Mr. Parmigiani was the archetypal Zagato customer, an amateur racer with ample prior experience driving Alfas in such events as Mille Miglia and Giro di Sicilia. The first known outing his recently minted SZ was on August 15, 1961, at the 4 Hours of Pescara. As one of six cars flying under the Scuderia Saint'Amboueus banner, Parmigiani and co-driver Sergio Pedretti (using the sobriquet "Kim") steered the new SZ to a highly respectable 7th in Class and 19th Overall. At the Coppa Inter-Europa that same year, Parmigiani finished 6th overall and 4th in class.
Documentation shows that this SZ remained in Italy throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and most owners are recorded in the history file. Along the way it was repainted and fitted with a larger tipo AR00548 1750 GT Veloce engine in place of the original 1300. In 1978, it was acquired by the noted Bergamo-based collector Corrado Cupellini, custodian of a great many significant Italian road and racing cars. It then came to the USA in the care of Alfa specialist Marvin Collins of El Cerrito, California, who in turn, sold it to Jerry Gamez of Castro Valley, California. Records show Mr. Gamez prepared the SZ for track duties and entered it in the 1980 Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Laguna Seca. He sold the car in 1984 to a private collector in San Antonio, Texas, where it remained largely unseen for many years, resurfacing in 2020.
The marvelous SZ has changed little since it arrived in the USA some 45 years ago. Following a period of static display, it was recently serviced and recommissioned, and the consignor reports it to run well. The cosmetics remain very good, and the car displays a light yet consistent patina and authentic detailing throughout. It is accompanied by file with Automobile Club d'Italia registration records, ownership history, and receipts.
The partnership of Alfa Romeo and Zagato is one the most storied in all of motoring, and this striking Giulietta SZ represents a high-water mark for that pairing in the postwar era. Easily one of the most collectible Alfa Romeos of the period, these rare cars deliver lively performance, stunning design, and thoroughbred competition pedigree.
Additional information
Looking for a similar item?
Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAuction Viewings
- 28 February 2024, 09:00 - 19:00 EST
- 29 February 2024, 09:00 - 12:00 EST
