Zagato brings back memories of Alfa Romeo TZ

Zagato brings back memories of both the TZ and SZ Alfa Romeo’s it created in the fifties and sixties through this Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato. Unfortunately, this is just a one-off.

The TZ models Zagato designed and produced for Alfa Romeo in the fifties, were built with racing in mind. The collaboration between these two Milanese powerhouses dates back to the twenties and thirties. That is when the Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeos were simply invincible in the Mille Miglia. In the fifties, the collaboration between the two brands reignited with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SVZ and later with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ.

Coda Tronca

In 1963, the first Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ (for Tubular and Zagato) followed. It was the result of Zagato’s principles to incorporate lightness and aerodynamic qualities in one car. Elio Zagato and Ercole Spada famously tested this last aspect in the ‘Coda Tronca’ SZ on the motorway. The SVZ and the succeeding SZ and TZ Alfa Romeos were straight winners in their classes in circuit racing, and they proved more than apt in the road rallies as well.

Giulia GTAm

In 2019, Zagato already made a reference to the TZ models with the Dodge Viper-based Alfa Romeo TZ3, but this time Zagato made the most of the existing Alfa Romeo material. With the Giulia GTAm, Zagato quickly found a sound, rear-wheel drive basis. The 2.9-litre turbocharged V6 puts out 540 hp. It comes with a manual gearbox too. Zagato cut a part of the wheelbase, thereby creating a short wheelbase Giulia, hence the SWB in the name.

Double bubble roof

In collaboration with Alfa Romeo’s own styling centre, Zagato created a carbon coupé body that carries clear references to Zagato history: the double bubble roof and the cut ‘Kamm tail’ rear. We see references to the bulky nineties Alfa Romeo SZ Zagato initiated as well. The front keeps the links close to the current Alfa Romeo family with the triple headlights, but we must admit that the treatment of the grille makes for a much better pronounced Alfa Romeo face than what we are used to seeing from Alfa.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato was a demand of one of the design house’s clients and comes purely as a one-off, for now. We can only hope a limited production can follow, a sexy coupé like this is just what Alfa Romeo needs.