One of the most collectible postwar Alfa Romeo GT race cars is being auctioned off by Gooding & Company.
The vehicle in question is a 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato, a model that’s directly tied to none other than Elio Zagato. After the legendary Italian auto designer rebuilt a wrecked Guilietta Sprint Veloce with a lighter, more aerodynamic body in 1956, Alfa contracted the coachbuilder to manufacture factory-official models.
The resulting Giuletta SZ, of which only 200 were built, dominated 1300 GT endurance events, circuit races and hill climbs with its 1.3-liter in-line four-cylinder, five speed gear box, enlarged fuel tank and finned aluminum brakes.
Though other competitors had more power, Zagato’s implementation of thin aluminum panels, Plexiglas windows, simple vinyl upholstery, three-gauge binnacle, and sleek body kept weight down and gave the Guiletta SZ a competitive edge.
According to Angelo Tito Anselmi’s book, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, this SZ, chassis 00033, was originally finished in gray and sold new to an amateur racing driver in Italy before it was repainted in red and upgraded with Alfa’s 1.8-liter in-line four for the 1750 GT class.
It entered numerous private collections and was showcased in the 1980 Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Laguna Seca before its current San Antonio-based owner acquired the vehicle in 1984.
Having been parked for many years, some expert mechanical attention will be required prior to a drive, but its outstanding cosmetic condition and Zagato markings justify this 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ’s $495,000 price tag.
Head to Gooding & Company’s website to learn more.
