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Chassis:
Looking for an edge over the competition, this Giulietta SZ was used for aerodynamic testing during the fall of 1960. Zagato designer Ercole Spada eventually devised a cut-off tail following the principles of German professor Wunibald Kamm. As such this became the prototype for the second generation, Coda Tronca Giulietta SZ. The revised design increased the car's top speed by a whopping 20 km/h. Zagato sold the car to a Milan-based enthusiast and shortly thereafter, chassis 00170 was exported to the United States. The subsequent owner raced the car briefly and then placed it in storage.
The SZ Coda Tronca prototype was long believed to be lost until it was unearthed early in 2015 by Italian collector Corrado Lopresto with the help of Zagato's Paolo di Taranto. Chassis 00170 emerged from hiding virtually complete and very dirty. This inspired Lopresto to preserve the car using techniques used by restorers of paintings. The show what is possible, he opted to do only half of the exterior of the car. First the dirt was removed and then much of the loose paint was re-attached with glue developed for art restorations. Where the paint was actually missing entirely, period correct paint was applied. The interior was cleaned and the minimum was done to the mechanicals to bring the Alfa Romeo back to running order.
Once the work was completed, it was shown at the 2016 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. Not surprisingly, it attracted a lot of attention and it also received the Preservation Award from FIVA, the Federation International Vehicles Anciens. It was also signed by its original designer, Ercole Spada.
| Chassis details |
| Manufactured in |
1962 |
| First owner |
Elio Zagato |
| Last known location |
Lopresto Collection |
| Appearances |
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Giulietta SZ Coda Tronca
