ALFA ROMEO

When manufacturers try to create the glories of their past, the results are often surprising.

The Jaguar F-type is, for example, not quite destined to be the enduring classic of automotive history as is the E-Type it reflects – but it is an amazing car in its own right. When Citroen relaunched the DS range of compacts a few years ago we sneered immediately. But the latest generation is a little goddess in its own right, we think.

One of the most successful of these nostalgic recreations came in 2010 when Alfa Romeo unveiled their TZ3 – to commemorate a hundred years of the Alfa Romeo brand – and evocative of their Tubulare Zagato series of sports cars.

The nitty gritty of the spaceframe and other lightweight tech.

As the name suggests, the TZ were made out of lightweight materials, including a tubular space frame, and its body was designed and built by our favourite craftsmen at Carrozzeria Zagato. With punchy six cylinder engines and weighing in at only 650 KG, these were produced in both Stradale and Corsa versions between 1963 and 67 – with the TZ2 versions coming with an even lighter fibreglass body.

To celebrate Alfa’s 100 years, Zagato designed a one-off car that was first presented and won the 2010 edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy.

This unique car, based on the 8C Competizione, was made for German collector Martin Kapp and is not intended for sale or for competitions.

The car weighs 850 kg (1,874 lb) thanks to its carbon fiber frame and hand beaten aluminium body and has 420 hp (313 kW) dry sump V8 4.2 litre engine. The car has a 6-speed sequential gearbox, it reaches a top speed of over 300 km/h (186 mph) and it can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.5 seconds.

Almost breadvanish, but in race trim no wagon

Zagato designed a one-off car that was unveiled and in the 2010 edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy. It weighs just 850kg, thanks to its carbon fiber frame and hand beaten aluminium body and has 420 hp (313 kW) dry sump V8 4.2 litre engine and is good for 180 MPH and a blistering pullaway of 3.5 seconds – a year later Zagato unveiled a TZ3 Stradale version of the car, which was based on the Dodge Viper ACR-X. It is powered by the Viper’s 8.4 litre 640 hp V10.

We think this is a rare occasion when the modern version outstrips the classic in its pure carnal appeal – though the tubular details of the original will never be beaten by CAD assisted pixels.

The evolution is smooth and fluidBut the tubular details of the original TZ1 are impossible to beatThe nitty gritty of the spaceframe and other lightweight tech.
Conceals a supremely attractive bodyAlmost breadvanish, but in race trim no wagonAnd these Zag lines are some of the prettiest they’ve ever penned…