Alfa Romeo SZ

This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2025 on Saturday the 8th of November, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. , Reviving its tradition of building special-bodied Alfa Romeos, including the original SZ (Sprint Zagato) competition coupé of the late 1950s, Carrozzeria Zagato unveiled its outrageous new SZ at the 1989 Geneva Salon. Assembled at the Zagato works at Terrazano di Rho, the SZ was a joint project that also involved the styling departments of both Alfa Romeo and its parent company, FIAT.The car's original works designation was 'ES 30' (Experimental Sports 3-litre) but soon became known within the company as 'Il Mostro' (The Monster). The aggressive looking two-seater coupé dispensed with the rounded styling and aluminium alloy coachwork hitherto associated with Zagato's high performance Alfas in favour of a dramatically angular bodyshell, crafted in lightweight moulded plastic, alloy roof excepted, which was bonded to the floor pan of the existing Alfa 75. Lessons learned from the 75's IMSA racing programme influenced the SZ's suspension geometry, endowing the car with superb handling and roadholding, with some test drivers recording lateral cornering forces of up to 1.4G.Powering the SZ was a 210bhp version of Alfa's superb 3-litre four-cam V6, widely recognised as one of the finest power plants of its day. Despite its somewhat rectangular appearance, the SZ was quite slippery with a very low drag coefficient of 0.30Cd, the product of many hours spent refining the design in FIAT's wind tunnel. Demand for the 1,000 SZs scheduled for series production greatly exceeded supply, and today, this rare and highly individual supercar is much sought after.Offered here is a UK-supplied Alfa Romeo SZ showing fewer than 17,000 miles from new. From a total production run of 1,036 units, it is understood that just 100 were delivered to the UK, making this an ultra rare sports car with a documented and verifiable history.This SZ presents superbly and is offered directly from a well curated private collection, where all cars are correctly dry-stored in a purpose-built, temperature-controlled facility. The Rosso Alfa paintwork remains uniform across the car, and the Zagato hand-assembled composite bodywork is in good order. Inside, the Natural Brown leather upholstery presents as you would expect from such low mileage, with the quality and feel of an Italian classic intact. We are informed that the car still feels rapid and delivers the same excitement today as when new, with its powerful engine, 'Group A'-spec suspension, large brakes, and complete absence of driver aids providing an unfiltered driving experience.It's accompanied by a detailed history file including the original book pack and service book, which is stamped up to date. The SZ has had just three owners in total, the last of whom kept the car for 32 years. Following a period of little use, it has recently benefited from a thorough specialist recommissioning, with an invoice on file for almost £6,000.Meeting all the criteria for a true collector car with low production numbers, low ownership, low-mileage, modest maintenance requirements, original condition, and serious kerbside appeal. Examples rarely come to market, and this car would make a significant addition to any collection of landmark classics.