Gregor Wenner
Specialist Consultant
LOT 120
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Coupé Coachwork by Carrozzeria Zagato Chassis no. AR 10126 00146 Engine no. AR 00120 00632
Estimate: €250,000 - €300,000
Lot 120
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Coupé
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Coupé
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Zagato
Chassis no. AR 10126 00146
Engine no. AR 00120 00632
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Zagato
Chassis no. AR 10126 00146
Engine no. AR 00120 00632
• One of only 217 cars built
• In an Italian private collection 2009-2021
• Present ownership since 2021
• Recent restoration of body and paint
• Registered in Italy
To fully exploit the Giulietta's competition potential, Alfa Romeo knew that lighter and more aerodynamic bodywork would be necessary, a requirement which resulted in the ultimate Giuliettas: Bertone's Sprint Special and the Sprint Zagato, both built on the short-wheelbase Spider platform and powered by the 100bhp version of Alfa's classic, 1,290cc, twin-cam four. Conceived as an out-and-out competition car, the Sprint Zagato coupé employed lightweight aluminium-alloy coachwork and demonstrated its designer's commitment to weight saving in every detail, tipping the scales at an astonishing 770kg. With a top speed of around 200km/h the SZ was easily the fastest of the Giuliettas, and even today there are few 1.3-litre cars capable of matching this level of performance. The SZ's inherent stability and instantaneous response to steering input made it a driver's car par excellence. On the racetrack it proved virtually unbeatable, and the Sprint Zagato remains a major force to be reckoned with in Historic motor sport, being eligible for a wide variety of prestigious events.
Two series of Sprint Zagato were produced between 1959 and 1962, the second series (SZ2) cars being distinguishable by a redesigned, larger and more aerodynamically efficient body incorporating a 'sawn off' Kamm-type tail, a feature which gave rise to the model's Coda Tronca sobriquet (the first series became known as the Coda Tonda – Round Tail). Under the skin the new SZ remained much as before apart from the welcome incorporation of Girling front disc brakes. SZ chassis numbers ran from '001' to '217', a total of 217 cars, an estimated 44 of which were the later SZ2 Coda Tronca version.
The Alfa Romeo factory records indicate that the car was produced on 29 March 1961 in the colour "Bianco Gardenia" (the same as today), and according to The Italian Car Registry by John de Boer, this delightful SZ Coda Tonda was delivered new on 10 April 1961 to Alfa Romeo in Lugano, Switzerland. In 2009 it was purchased by a very well-known collector in Italy and remained in his private collection until 2021 when it was purchased for his private collection by our vendor, another noted collector based near Milan. Only recently the car benefited from restoration of the bodywork and paint, while the interior showcases the roll bar and lovely Zagato seats in black vinyl. The car will be offered for sale with Italian registration documents and a valid Italian Revisione (roadworthiness certificate).
A very rare Alfa Romeo with the lively Giulietta twin-cam engine and lightweight coachwork by Zagato, this little sports car ticks all the right boxes and is eligible for numerous events worldwide.
• In an Italian private collection 2009-2021
• Present ownership since 2021
• Recent restoration of body and paint
• Registered in Italy
To fully exploit the Giulietta's competition potential, Alfa Romeo knew that lighter and more aerodynamic bodywork would be necessary, a requirement which resulted in the ultimate Giuliettas: Bertone's Sprint Special and the Sprint Zagato, both built on the short-wheelbase Spider platform and powered by the 100bhp version of Alfa's classic, 1,290cc, twin-cam four. Conceived as an out-and-out competition car, the Sprint Zagato coupé employed lightweight aluminium-alloy coachwork and demonstrated its designer's commitment to weight saving in every detail, tipping the scales at an astonishing 770kg. With a top speed of around 200km/h the SZ was easily the fastest of the Giuliettas, and even today there are few 1.3-litre cars capable of matching this level of performance. The SZ's inherent stability and instantaneous response to steering input made it a driver's car par excellence. On the racetrack it proved virtually unbeatable, and the Sprint Zagato remains a major force to be reckoned with in Historic motor sport, being eligible for a wide variety of prestigious events.
Two series of Sprint Zagato were produced between 1959 and 1962, the second series (SZ2) cars being distinguishable by a redesigned, larger and more aerodynamically efficient body incorporating a 'sawn off' Kamm-type tail, a feature which gave rise to the model's Coda Tronca sobriquet (the first series became known as the Coda Tonda – Round Tail). Under the skin the new SZ remained much as before apart from the welcome incorporation of Girling front disc brakes. SZ chassis numbers ran from '001' to '217', a total of 217 cars, an estimated 44 of which were the later SZ2 Coda Tronca version.
The Alfa Romeo factory records indicate that the car was produced on 29 March 1961 in the colour "Bianco Gardenia" (the same as today), and according to The Italian Car Registry by John de Boer, this delightful SZ Coda Tonda was delivered new on 10 April 1961 to Alfa Romeo in Lugano, Switzerland. In 2009 it was purchased by a very well-known collector in Italy and remained in his private collection until 2021 when it was purchased for his private collection by our vendor, another noted collector based near Milan. Only recently the car benefited from restoration of the bodywork and paint, while the interior showcases the roll bar and lovely Zagato seats in black vinyl. The car will be offered for sale with Italian registration documents and a valid Italian Revisione (roadworthiness certificate).
A very rare Alfa Romeo with the lively Giulietta twin-cam engine and lightweight coachwork by Zagato, this little sports car ticks all the right boxes and is eligible for numerous events worldwide.
Footnotes
Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Coupé – 1961
Carrossée par la Carrozzeria Zagato
Châssis n° AR 10126 00146
Moteur n° AR 00120 00862
• L'un des 217 exemplaires produits
• Dans une collection privée italienne de 2009 à 2021
• Propriété de son vendeur depuis 2021
• Restauration récente de la caisse et de la peinture
• Immatriculée en Italie
Alfa Romeo savait que, pour exploiter à fond le potentiel sportif de la Giulietta, il lui fallait une caisse plus légère et plus aérodynamique ; c'est ainsi que naquirent les Giulietta les plus abouties, la Sprint Special de Bertone et la Sprint Zagato, toutes deux basées sur la plateforme à empattement court de la Spider et animées par la version 100 ch du classique 1 290 cm3 quatre-cylindres double arbre d'Alfa. Conçue comme une pure voiture de compétition, la Sprint Zagato coupé faisait appel à une caisse légère en alliage d'aluminium et affichait par chacun de ses détails la détermination de ses concepteurs à gagner du poids : elle atteignait ainsi la valeur impressionnante de 770 kg. Sa vitesse de 200 km/h faisait d'elle de loin la plus rapide des Giulietta et, même de nos jours, il y a peu de voitures de 1,3 litre capables d'une telle performance. La stabilité et la réactivité au moindre coup de volant propres à la SZ en faisaient la voiture de pilotage par excellence. La Sprint Zagato se révéla pratiquement imbattable en piste et elle demeure en matière de courses d'anciennes une actrice avec laquelle il faut compter et qui est éligible à une grande diversité de prestigieux évènements.
Deux séries de Sprint Zagato furent produites entre 1959 et 1962, la deuxième (SZ2) se reconnaissant à sa caisse redessinée, plus grande et plus aérodynamique, avec un arrière tronqué de type Kamm, allure qui lui valut le surnom de Coda Tronca (la première série étant la Coda Tonda, ou arrière arrondi). Sous cette livrée, la nouvelle SZ était restée quasiment inchangée, à l'exception de l'arrivée bienvenue à l'avant de freins Girling à disque. Les numéros de châssis des SZ vont de 001 à 217, soit au total 217 voitures dont on estime que les 44 dernières furent des SZ2 Coda Tronca.
Les archives Alfa Romeo indiquent que cette ravissante SZ Coda Tonda fut produite le 29 mars 1961, de couleur Bianco Gardenia (la même que l'actuelle) et, selon le Registre des voitures italiennes de John de Boer, livrée neuve le 10 avril 1961 en Suisse à Alfa Romeo Lugano. Elle fut achetée en 2009 par un collectionneur très connu en Italie et resta au sein de sa collection privée jusqu'en 2021, date à laquelle notre vendeur, un autre collectionneur notoire habitant près de Milan, l'acquit pour sa propre collection privée. Ce n'est que récemment qu'elle a bénéficié d'une restauration de sa caisse et de sa peinture ; son intérieur affiche un arceau de sécurité et de charmants sièges Zagato revêtus de vinyle noir. Cette voiture sera mise en vente munie de ses documents d'immatriculation italiens et d'un Revisione (certificat de contrôle technique) récent.
Cette petite voiture de sport, une très rare Alfa Romeo au vif moteur double arbre de la Giulietta et à la carrosserie Zagato allégée, coche toutes les cases, et est éligible à de nombreux évènements mondiaux.
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Please note that this lot is withdrawn.
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