1991 ALFA ROMEO SZ COUPÉ - BONHAMS GOODWOOD FESTIVAL of SPEED SALE

COMING TO AUCTION

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GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED SALE

GOODWOOD CIRCUIT, CHICHESTER

24th JUNE, 2016

1991 ALFA ROMEO SZ COUPÉ

Coachwork by Carrozzeria Zagato 

Registration no. H14 JUL 

Chassis no. ZAR16200003000338 

Engine no. 1394230000336

*Number '290' of 1,000 made

*Delivered new in the UK

*One owner

*4,267 miles from new

FOOTNOTES

• Reviving its tradition of building special-bodied Alfa Romeos, including the original SZ (Sprint Zagato) competition coupé of the late 1950s, Carrozzeria Zagato unveiled its outrageous new SZ at the 1989 Geneva Salon. Built at Zagato's factory at Terrazano di Rho, the SZ was a joint project that also involved the styling departments of both Alfa Romeo and its parent company, FIAT, whose Robert Opron was responsible for the initial sketches. 
  
  
  Originally typed 'ES 30' (Experimental Sports 3.0-litre) but known popularly as 'Il Mostro' (The Monster) the aggressive-looking two-seater coupé eschewed the rounded styling and aluminium-alloy coachwork hitherto associated with Zagato's high-performance Alfas in favour of an angular bodyshell crafted in lightweight moulded plastic - alloy roof excepted - by Carplast, which was bonded to the floor pan of the existing Alfa 75. Lessons learned from the latter's IMSA racing programme influenced the SZ's suspension, which endowed the car with superlative handling and roadholding, some drivers recording lateral cornering forces of up to 1.4G during testing. Suspension development was overseen by engineer Giorgio Pianta, formerly team manager of the FIAT and Lancia works rallying teams. There was power assisted steering but no ABS.
  
  
  Powering the SZ to its highly respectable 152mph top speed was a 210bhp version of Alfa's superb 3.0-litre four-cam V6, widely recognised as one of the finest power plants of recent times. This excellent performance was achieved thanks partly to the body's exceptionally low drag coefficient of 0.30 Cd, the product of many hours spent in FIAT's wind tunnel. 
  
  
  Demand for the 1,000-or-so SZs scheduled for series production greatly exceeded supply, and today this rare and highly individual supercar is much sought after. There was also an even rarer open spyder version: the RZ.
  
  
  The limited edition Alfa Romeo SZ was only manufactured in left-hand drive form, and this pristine example was purchased new by the current owner from Barfordia Motors in 1991. Serviced regularly, the Alfa has been used sparingly, covering only some 4,000 miles over the course of the last 25 years, and has been kept in a heated garage protected by an original SZ car cover. The only notified deviations from factory specification are the provision of superior Brembo brake discs, the installation of an alarm, and replacement of the original battery. The original brake discs have been retained. 
  
  
  Finished in red with beige leather interior, 'H14 JUL' is described by the vendor as in generally excellent condition, with 'as new' interior, and comes complete with its original beige leather bag for the car cover. Accompanying documentation consists of a V5C registration document and three MoT certificates (1997, 2010 and 2016). A wonderful opportunity to acquire one of these ultra-rare Zagato-built Alfa Romeos that can only become increasingly collectible.