Sunday 10th June 2018

Alfa Romeo SZ: Spotted

It may not be classically beautiful, but then the appeal of the SZ isn't purely skin deep...

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Zagato. Was there ever a firm as capable of making some of the most achingly beautiful cars, and at the same time some that were so contentious? The company has always had that wonderful uncertainty to its monstrous talents - a terrible beauty, as WB Yeats had it.

So, what do you make of Il Mostro here? Well, if it's divisive you want, this little sports coupe serves it up in spades. And to add even more confusion it's not really a Zagato design, of course. Zagato built, yes, but the initial styling was the work of Robert Opron, and it was a talented young designer called Antonio Castellana who handled the finishing.

The result is stunning. Or awful - depending on your point of view. Whatever, there aren't many of them around (just over 1,000 of these coupes were made, and just under 300 of the roadster version), and if you are sired by Alfa Romeo and weaned by Zagato you're a classic without having to get out of bed, and sod the panel gaps.

As a further bonus, it was bloody good to drive, with its shortened Alfa 75 platform, race-car-inspired suspension and standard-fit Pirelli P Zeros. Under that extraordinary bonnet was a 210hp 3.0-litre V6, which made a wonderful noise and drove the rear wheels through a five-speed 'box and via a rear transaxle. Thanks to its lightweight composite body, it had a particularly hearty power to weight ratio, too - think 0 to 60mph in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 153mph. Even more impressively, it hung on in corners like a limpet - 1g plus was the order of the day here.

This example, plucked from the classifieds, is a rare treat. It's been well maintained, serviced every year, has only 30,000 miles on the clock and has had just four owners from new in 1996. At a tad under £50k it's not a bad price, either, and one which, plug-ugly design or not, is only going to go one way.

See the full ad here.

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SPECIFICATION: ALFA ROMEO SZ

Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 210@6,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 181@4,500rpm
Weight: 1,256kg
MPG: N/K
First registered: 1996
Recorded miles: 30,000
Price: £49,995

Mark Pearson

[1781cc]

Loved the look of this car when I was starting to drive, the nostalgic appeal is still there. Prices are Astro for a car with its credentials though

[ucb]

I’d disagree about the prices when compared to the contemporary 911 which are much more numerous.

[ducnick]

A wonderful thing and certainly a good way to stand out from the crowd. I remember having a passenger ride in a prototype one of these that was over here on secondment to Lotus for handling work. It was quite a thing back then and I remember it being more of a special one in a lifetime event than riding in some of the other development cars they had at the time such as the fwd elan, an esprit, an Isuzu something of other based on the elan, Carlton and the zr1 vette.

[anonymous-user]

Gorgeous. I’ve made it a mission to own one of these at some point.

[V88Dicky]

Love the idea of a manual, rear drive, great sounding V6, but I've never grown to like the looks.

Imho;

[Strugs]

Loved the concept, but wasn't a fan of these until I saw one in the flesh. Lucky enough to have a friend (who himself is lucky enough!) who owns one so have managed to spend a lot of time gazing at it and being in it (not had a drive yet.. here's hoping..) and it truly is a wonderful thing..

Here's the day I helped him pick it up.. one of the few times the VX has got less attention than another car near it! Had to keep on it to keep up with him, too!

[Helicopter123]

Always loved these but had forgotten how slow they were.

That's A4 diesel slow.

[andy_s]

Fab cars, I'm sure it will cling to value like st to a blanket, 'they don't make 'em like that anymore' etc.

[R400TVR]

Helicopter123 said:

Always loved these but had forgotten how slow they were.

That's A4 diesel slow.

How fast do you want to go?

[SpudLink]

If that was launched today, the internet would have ripped it to shreds for it’s ‘challenging’ looks. Even at the time it was called “Il Mostro”. But it was a great design. Not following any of the usual rules, but certainly not ugly.
I only ever saw one out in the wild, which was somethings parked in Uxbridge in about 1991. Really unlike anything else on the road at the time.

£50k to buy one now? Why not? I seem to remember someone paid of £30k for a Ford Escort recently.

[Leins]

Love these! Bonkers and special, plus apparently a great drive (I trust the opinion of PC’s Brian Laban greatly, so if it was good enough for him...)

I don’t personally subscribe to the whole “slow” argument when it comes to older cars, as for me it would be somewhat missing the point. 200-ish bhp in this period of car feels fast enough to me, mainly due to all the other sensations you won’t get with the likes of a new 320d

One question on the article though - why say the price can only go one way? Please don’t go all Modern Classics on us PH, the price could go two ways, or maybe go nowhere. For me it’s a very lazy way to finish off your story

Edited by Leins on Sunday 10th June 11:33

[InitialDave]

I've only seen one of these in the wild, outside a hotel in Tokyo of all places. Very much one of those cars that doesn't photograph well, but look good in the metal.

[ericmcn]

I love these, remember seeing them on AT about a decade ago when prices were around the £30k mark - now none to be seen, the RZ is even more rare since less were made, they went bust or something and pulled out of producing them.

Wouldnt fancy having a ding in one however.

[ericmcn]

Helicopter123 said:

Always loved these but had forgotten how slow they were.

That's A4 diesel slow.

with a remap and dpf removed? Id rather drive that than any rattly soul destroying no character diesel that everyone else owns any day.

[Snubs]

I used to live opposite a chap who owned one. Great thing to look at and sounded exotic. There's nothing like it and it's one of those designs that if someone described it to you in words, which would primarily be done with terms like 'straight edge' and 'right-angle', it would sound awful but somehow it just works.

I prefer it to the RZ, which looked like an unresolved aftermarket conversion.

[Mr2Mike]

Helicopter123 said:

Always loved these but had forgotten how slow they were.

That's A4 diesel slow.

New car as fast as 24 year old car shocker! If there were academic qualifications in missing the point, that would be doctorate level at least.

[ericmcn]

Snubs said:

I used to live opposite a chap who owned one. Great thing to look at and sounded exotic. There's nothing like it and it's one of those designs that if someone described it to you in words, which would primarily be done with terms like 'straight edge' and 'right-angle', it would sound awful but somehow it just works.

I prefer it to the RZ, which looked like an unresolved aftermarket conversion.

Due to the limited numbers of RZs and how they ended up I think they would be priced even more, I think they are all very cool.

[Plug Life]

Gopping...

[Andy665]

Was not that long ago these were around the 20k mark - another car that's slipped through my fingers

[Helicopter123]

Mr2Mike said:

Helicopter123 said:

Always loved these but had forgotten how slow they were.

That's A4 diesel slow.

New car as fast as 24 year old car shocker! If there were academic qualifications in missing the point, that would be doctorate level at least.

Not really, my point is I had always thought these has performance that was decent for its historic age. 5.5 to 60 and so on.

24 years on, it's no quicker than a rep special saloon, and wouldn't see which way a warm-hatch went.