1990 Alfa Romeo SZ – Auction Car of the Week
February 11, 2024
We seem to be having a bit of a Zagato love-in currently here at Car & Classic. Having recently featured an Alfa, a Lancia and an Aston Martin all bodied by the famed Italian coachbuilder you’d be forgiven for thinking we’re a bit obsessed. I mean, we are, unashamedly, but sometimes the planets align and certain cars just happen to cross our path all at once, looking for their new owners. We are the World’s largest classic marketplace after all. Well, the sun continues to shine on the Milanese carrozzeria because augmenting that holy trinity listed above is this sensational Alfa Romeo SZ. Does that make it a divine quartet? A sanctified tetralogy? Whatever the case, it’s a heavenly group.
Counter to its revered popularity and indeed desirability nowadays the Alfa Romeo SZ had a bit of a rocky beginning. Designed by Robert Opron (of Citroën 2CV and DS fame, among others) and finished at Zagato, its esoteric and somewhat brutal styling earned it the nickname ‘Il Mostro’, or monster. Not a great start then, but then that’s what you get when you use fledgling computer-aided design on a pocket calculator. Despite the contentious body, however, the SZ was, and still is, an absolute joy to drive. Built upon Alfa’s compact executive 75 chassis that angular body was made of plastic which naturally means that rust isn’t an issue. On an old Alfa? Unheard of. The chassis is steel though so it’s not all sunshine and rainbows…
Suspension came from the 75 too, but not the production car. Instead, the bouncy bits were lifted from Alfa’s Group A touring car, ensuring that the car handled like a dream. Of course, there was only one engine fit for such a beast and that was the 3.0-litre Busso V6. One of the greatest road car engines ever made this creamy, 207bhp six-cylinder has one of the best soundtracks to boot and allowed the SZ to get to 60mph from parked in seven seconds and on to a top speed of over 150mph. People may have had mixed feelings about the aesthetics but there was no doubting the SZ’s performance credentials and driving characteristics.
Not only is the Alfa Romeo SZ a stunning car to look at and a sublime one to pilot but it’s also incredibly rare. With a smidge over 1,000 examples ever leaving the factory it’s an incredibly exclusive classic and that generally means a sound investment for the discerning collector. The car we have available via our auctions platform is a two-owner example – testament to the car’s lasting effect on its custodians – and has covered less than 60,000 miles since it’s build date in 1990.
Currently residing in the UK the car has been lovingly cared for since it was imported from Milan in 2000. Having been kept in dry storage for the past few years this Alfa was entrusted to renowned SZ specialists Alfa Aid last year for a comprehensive recommissioning, including a complete brake overhaul, to the tune of almost £20,000, ensuring that the mechanicals are spot on. All of this is bolstered by an impressive history file, too.
The bodywork is in top condition as well and thankfully it’s a solid example with no signs of corrosion to the steel chassis. The original tan leather Zagato Design sports seats present well with only light wear to the usual spots making this a truly excellent specimen.
What we have here then is a rare, striking and mechanically sound Alfa Romeo SZ that is guaranteed to induce severe neck problems wherever it goes. Park this car anywhere and crowds will gather, whether it be in Sainsbury’s car park or at Pebble Beach. Buy it, enjoy it and watch as your return on investment continues to balloon. People have cottoned on and the Alfa Romeo SZ today is definitely more meraviglia than mostro.
