Craigslist: 1991 Alfa Romeo SZ – Sprint Zagato

alfa-romeo-sz-front
SZ, or Sprint Zagato, was a sports car based on the Alfa Romeo 75, or Milano as it was known in the United States. Typical of Zagato, it was more of a redesign of an existing a vehicle, a coach build, if you will. The SZ, or its RZ roadster sibling, were never sold in the U.S. but through the magic or time and internet, you can not have one!

alfa-romeo-sz-rear
From the ad:

1991 ALFA ROMEO SZ Sprint Zagato – Il Mostro exotic GT

1991 ALFA ROMEO SZ (Sprint Zagato)
(ECC-066C)

This incredible example was a recent find that we have just imported. Originally sold in Europe, this SZ was purchased by a Japanese collector. We discovered it in Japan and just brought it to the US. Currently in transit to our San Francisco facility, it will receive a full inspection and service as required as soon as it arrives. Should be ready to show early January 2017.
This SZ has 80K original kilometers (49K miles) and is in very good shape.
A very original, clean and straight SZ in quite presentable condition. Can be driven and enjoyed now, or used as a solid base for a straight forward and relatively simple 100 point restoration.
Please note this car cannot be registered in California. It will be sold with a valid Vermont title.
Very limited edition collectable Alfa, as only 1036 SZ coupes were made .. this is #560.
Also known as Il Mostro in Italy, and revered as one of the most exotic Alfa Romeos produced in the modern age.
Please contact me for more questions, or to set up a viewing appointment … Marco.
Price on request plus tax and DMV fees.
Now accepting deposits for first right of inspection and purchase.
>>>>>
These V6 powered GT coupes were sold only in Europe.
Created as a halo car for Alfa, overall performance/value ratio compared favorably with period Ferrari 348 model.
The Alfa Sprint Zagato was unveiled as a concept show car, the ES 30, at the 1989 Geneva automobile show. Reception was very positive and the production version debuted later that year. The SZ was a very significant flagship car for Alfa Romeo, developed as a high performance GT with a unique advanced styling featuring composite body panels, it was based on the chassis of the Alfa Romeo 75 model (Milano in the US market).
Styling was primarily done in house at Alfa, and production was sourced at the Zagato works in Terrazzano di Rho near the Alfa factory in Arese. Interestingly, the SZ was one of the first applications of the CAD process to automobile design. The SZ was envisioned as an experimental coupe and a return to Alfa Romeo’s legendary sporting image. It was also to be a symbol of pure sports car design without compromise. The production car was very true to these ideals and to the legacy of the extreme coupes that distinguish Alfa’s history and relationship with Zagato : the 1900 SSZ 1954, the Giulietta SZ (Sprint Zagato) 1960, the Alfa Giulia TZ and TZ2 and the 2600 SZ 1965, Junior Z and Alfa Z6.
The powertrain of the SZ features an all alloy 3-liter Alfa Romeo V6 and a 5-speed transaxle. The rev happy Alfa V6 produces 207 HP and is a joy to experience. The compact SZ is 160″ long, only 51.6″ tall and sits on a wheelbase of 98.8″. Curb weight is listed at 2,769 lbs. Performance is very strong with 0-60 mph in about 7.0 seconds and a top speed of over 150 mph.
The SZ featured some unique technical details. Handling is outstanding, as the chassis was tuned by Giorgio Pianta, engineer with Abrath racing and Alfa Corse, and team manager of the Fiat and Lancia rally teams. Many suspension components were taken directly from the Alfa 75 IMSA racer. Weight distribution is near the ideal 50/50 front / rear. Hydraulic dampers were made by Koni and offer a feature to raise the car by 50 mm for speed bump clearance, as the static ground clearance is very low. The front suspension is via torsion bars and the rear a De Dion tube with inboard rear brake discs. This combination produced outstanding qualities and the SZ can sustain over 1.1 G in cornering on road tires, and up to 1.3 G with race rubber. This remains excellent performance even by today’s standards.
The interior is entirely bespoke to the SZ and offers very sporting accommodations for two in well bolstered bucket seats. There is a definite “race car” ambience and emphasis on functionality rather than luxury, but the SZ is still a very comfortable GT. One nice feature is the considerable and useful luggage space under the rear hatchback.
Overall the SZ offers a unique combination of daring style, outstanding handling, GT accommodations and lively performance.
Please note this car cannot be registered in California.
It will be sold with a valid VERMONT title.
—————————————————————————————————————
EURO CLASSIX CARS — Driven by Passion
Specializing in Classic Italian Cars as Only the Passionate Can
We don’t sell cars. We sell history, nostalgia and style. We sell the classic Italian cars of yesteryear to an audience as passionate and enthusiastic as we are. If you love the Alfa Romeos, Fiats and Lancias of old as much as we do, take a look at the beauties we offer. . .or let us know if you’re in search of a particular car. We’re always looking–we just might find it!
We tap into our extensive network to scour Italy, hunting through old barns and garages, to find these vintage Italian cars. Once we find a treasure, it’s shipped to our warehouse location in Northern Italy where a specialist with 40 years’ experience meticulously reviews the car and reconditions anything that is not as it should be. This precious cargo is then shipped to the U.S. in small numbers, to our San Francisco location.
This is not strictly business for us — we have daytime jobs. This is love. We are not your typical car dealers. We are the real deal, men with such enthusiasm for these classic Italian cars that we’re going to great lengths to find and preserve them. Why? Because these cars are as familiar to us as our childhoods. Our passion for these cars knows no bounds. We seek them out. We hunt them down. We lovingly recondition them. Our goal is to offer the best authentic, original classic Italian cars, and to build a network of car enthusiasts like us across the globe.
EURO CLASSIX CARS
San Francisco
www EuroClassixCars com

alfa-romeo-sz-seats

Price is not listed, for obvious reasons. Check out this dealer’s website for a lot of other interesting Euro cars.

Source: San Fran CraigsList

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 64 MB. You can upload: image, audio, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here

11 responses to “Craigslist: 1991 Alfa Romeo SZ – Sprint Zagato”

  1. Lokki Avatar
    Lokki

    Oh HELL YES!

  2. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    Imported from Japan?
    Domo arigato, Mr. Zagato.

    1. Alcology Avatar
      Alcology

      Domo.

  3. mdharrell Avatar

    This must be an illegal import, as I refuse to acknowledge that 1991 was that long ago.

  4. JayP Avatar
    JayP

    Loved it 25 years ago, even more now.

  5. outback_ute Avatar
    outback_ute

    Saw one at a car show a couple of years ago, striking – yes, and interesting, but it didn’t really grab me.
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8e248130ca1dd81b8aca661ef7f762deaa4a427fdf25825db8e530af971e24a7.jpg

  6. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    http://az413908.vo.msecnd.net/5/photos/import/201701/0406/1328/4734e873-d0f2-41a8-9b17-73c2c4385c5b.jpg?w=800&h=600
    http://www.autotrader.ca/a/Alfa+Romeo/Unspecified/Montr%C3%A9al/Quebec/5_30185171_CT2004414113131706/?showcpo=ShowCPO&orup=29_60_31
    Hell, buy this one too, make it a pair! For what it’s worth, this one has been for sale for months. I bet they’ll cut you a deal, you might luck out and get it for $94k.

  7. wunno sev Avatar
    wunno sev

    the SZ is a practical joke.
    i’ve heard it all – it’s misunderstood, it’s avant-garde, you just don’t get it, there’s an eerie beauty in its shocking discord.
    nope. i’ve spent a long time staring at it and it’s just ugly. alfa has been responsible for some cars that are beautiful in their ungainliness, and this is not one of them.
    here, let me ruin it for you: look at the roofline. the profile of the greenhouse. the shape of the windshield. what a fucking nightmare.
    i feel strongly about this subject.
    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xC5UZIWuPN0/TqsRR2m92kI/AAAAAAAFV9w/6siVwPum_r0/s1600/Alfa-Romeo-SZ-Carscoop-R-11.jpg

    1. wunno sev Avatar
      wunno sev

      now the convertible version, the RZ removes that roof. it retains the idiotic windshield, but it looks a lot more cohesive. a lot more correct. it’s still uggos, but purposefully so.
      http://racem.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Alfa-romeo-rz-7.jpg

      1. wunno sev Avatar
        wunno sev

        missing a comma there, my bad

  8. salguod Avatar

    Brutal looking cars, not sold in the US and only 1,036 made.
    And that dealer has two.
    This 80K KM example:
    http://euroclassixcars.com/index.php/site/car/139
    And this one with only 30K KM.
    http://euroclassixcars.com/index.php/site/car/140