Wednesday 30th March 2011

You know you want to... Alfa Romeo SZ

Italian chic or best-forgotten horror from the house of Zagato?

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Even the hardest of hard-core Alfisti weren't sure about the SZ when it came out back in the late-Eighties. Somewhere between the trio of headlights on each side, the high waistline, and the stubby wheelbase, it just didn't capture the public's imagination at a time when other exclusive Italian exotica was unconditionally worshipped wherever it was seen. Even in its home country it was known as 'Il Mostro' (The Monster).

Reports at the time suggested that the SZ performed well and generated truly phenomenal amounts of grip, but to say that its looks polarised opinion is a big understatement. Whilst some loved it, Car Magazine went so far as to call it "ugly, ghastly, ridiculous, monstrous". The thing is... that was in 1989.

Looking at one today, however, we'd argue that it's a cool car. Alfa only made 1063 of them, so they score big exclusivity points, and the styling seems to have improved with age. The body, which was designed by Zagato and made from methacrylic resin (or 'plastic' to you and me) would be a nightmare to repair, so it may not be an ideal continental mile-muncher.

But as an appreciating asset and superb piece of engineering to play with now and then (they could pull 1.4g in the corners due to a race-derived, shortened Alfa 75 platform), we can see a lot of appeal in owning an SZ today.

The one you see here was built in 1991, has quite literally just arrived in the UK from Japan and is described as 'like new' by the dealer, who has sold several SZs and who also tells us that it was first-registered in 1996.

It's on offer at £29995, and will come with a full service (including the vital new cambelt) and a mileage guarantee.

But would you pick one over, say, a similarly priced Ferrari 328? That's the question...

 

[pistonchris]

I think these are stunning.
Way ahead of there time when you look at the new hondas and toyotas it look's like it should have been released in today's market.

[Noel]

I love the styling and always have done. Are there any PH owners? I'd be keen to hear what they're like to live with.

[robsco]

Jamieboy has an RZ, and a rather stunning one at that. Fabulous looking car; so ugly its beautiful.

[rottie102]

st or not - Alfa Romeo always knew how to make good looking interiors...

[Speedracer329]

Iam a big Alfa fan, & have owned one or two down the years, but I have never understood the appeal of this model. Just looks horrid from any angle, no contest, 328 all day for me.

[Wills2]

I love these, if I had a collection it would include one. (goes off to dream about having a collection)

[Al W]

I delivered one for a friend in the trade many years ago. That drive, chasing his modified 964 across the Cotswolds, remains a vivid memory. The SZ is brutally ugly IMO, but a great drive and incredibly composed in fast bends

[SD1992]

I am not a fan... But then I am not a fan of most Alfas! Each to their own I guess.

[thinfourth2]

Doesn't look like a golf so it must be ugly

[fatboy69]

We had one when i worked for the Patrick Collection in Birmingham. As the previous poster put it so succintly 'so ugly it's beautiful' & i have to agree with him.

Extremely ugly car - it must have fallen from a very tall ugly tree - however, & somewhat bizarely, it was a fabulous car & i loved driving it.

From what i re-call the panel fit was something of a joke. In as much that the words 'panel fit' breached the trades description act!!!'

[Jacobyte]

I've always wanted one of these; just a superbly unique car in many ways.

Depreciation stopped a few years ago, so now is about the time to get one.

They did a run of 25 or so racing versions for their own one-make series, including an F1 support race; those ones are massively appreciating, so the road ones will no doubt pick up soon.

[B.J.W]

robsco said:

Jamieboy has an RZ, and a rather stunning one at that. Fabulous looking car; so ugly its beautiful.

There was an SZ at the PH meet at Oxford - maybe his?

Stunning cars (even if beauty is in the eye of the beholder) and I think the design has worn very well.

[muppet42]

I've always liked the SZ myself - still have the Matchbox scaled down version of it somewhere

Have had the privilege of seeing a fair few of the UK ones at various shows around the country and I reckon they look even better in the metal. Nice little collection at Stanford last year for example...



Also viewed one of the convertible versions, which I don't think looks quite as good as the coupé, but still...

[Toffer]

The word is "handsome"...not "ugly" or "beautiful".

That car is a hench looking guy and he is handsome!

[robsco]

B.J.W said:

There was an SZ at the PH meet at Oxford - maybe his?

Stunning cars (even if beauty is in the eye of the beholder) and I think the design has worn very well.

No, its definitely an RZ, the "spider" version of the SZ. Black with red leather. Gorgeous.

[Beyond Rational]

Advert says;

"Alfa Romeo SZ was a one-off production sports car designed and built by Zagato."

Does not compute.

Anyway, it was brave, I respect that a lot, and if you like the looks, which you can't really find elsewhere, then it seems worth the money. But if I had £30k, it would not be on the list.

[fatboy69]

It is a great car, just not pretty to look at from any angle. At least that is the case with the fixed head.

The drop top on the other hand is gorgeous to look at. & they sound pretty good as well when opened up.

[al1991]

I'd have one over a 328 easily.

[soad]

rottie102 said:

st or not - Alfa Romeo always knew how to make good looking interiors...

Yeah, i like this interior too!
Not sure bout the car though, styling-wise

[anything fast]

horror? eh..

more like masterpiece.. all it needed was bit more power and it would be perfection on wheels..

stunning, stunning, stunning car.. called "il monstro" for a reason.. it is a hairy chested RWD monster and I think it looks fantastic!