To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The
Elkhart Collection event, 23 - 24 October 2020.
Estimate:
$400,000 - $600,000
- Built to commemorate 100 years of Alfa Romeo road cars
- The sixth of nine examples produced by Zagato for the world's
finest collections
- Tubular space-frame construction with full carbon-fiber
coachwork inspired by the original TZ
- Powered by a 600 hp ACR-X all-aluminum V-10 engine
- Only 201 actual miles at time of cataloguing
Alfa Romeo celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010 in grand
fashion with the introduction of the TZ3, a new sports car honoring
the infamous Tubolare Zagato models of the 1960s. A purpose-built
competition GT, the original TZ's development was guided by
Autodelta, led by former Ferrari engineer Carlo Chiti. The TZ
shared the same basic 1,570 cc engine with the Sprint Speciale and
Spider Veloce (later with the addition of a twin-plug cylinder
head). The transmission had heavy-duty, close-ratio gears and a
very quick short-throw lever. Reduced bonnet height was achieved by
tilting the engine in the frame. The front suspension was a similar
design to the standard Giulia, while the rear was an elaborate
independent competition type to reduce unsprung weight.
TZs competed in the most important races, were driven by some of
the best drivers at the time, and competed against the likes of the
Ferrari 250 GTO, Shelby Cobra, Maserati Birdcage, and Porsche 904.
At the 1964 Targa Florio alone, Porsche took the first two spots
with their 904s, while Alfa Romeo's TZs finished in 3rd and 4th
with the TZ. Ferrari, with their 250 GTO, followed in 5th, 9th,
10th, and 12th. Class wins at Sebring, Le Mans, and the N�rburgring
that year also solidified the TZ's name in the annals of
motorsport.
The new TZ3 was true to that spirit. Based upon the architecture of
the Dodge Viper, it featured unique Zagato coachwork designed by
Norihiko Harada and inspired by the original TZ, complete with the
classic rounded nose, covered headlamps, and coda tronca tail. The
fully carbon-fiber body was fit over a tubular space frame. The
8.4-liter all-aluminum V-10 under the long hood produced, in ACR
tune, some 640 bhp and 560 foot-pounds of torque at 5,000 rpm; the
power was delivered to the rear wheels via a Tremec TR6060
six-speed manual transmission. Other specifications of the advanced
chassis included front and rear A-arm suspension with coilover
shocks and stabilizer bars, two-piece StopTech brake discs with
Brembo calipers, and nimble power-assisted rack-and-pinion
steering.
"'Essential beauty' was what we wanted this Alfa Romeo's
carbon-fiber body to say," Andrea Zagato was quoted as saying.
"Because of the Fiat Group-Chrysler/Dodge partnership, the TZ3 can
be considered history's first 'American' Alfa Romeo."
Only nine road-going Stradale models of the TZ3 were produced, at a
cost of over $1 million each, and they were sold directly and
quietly by Zagato's US ambassador to some of the world's most
significant and prominent collectors. The car offered here was the
sixth such example and was built by Zagato from a Viper ACR-X
specifically for the current collection, where it has been well
maintained since. It is, in fact, virtually as delivered, showing
almost no noticeable wear to its bodywork, engine, and
undercarriage, and the interior still smells new! At the time of
cataloguing, the TZ3 had recorded only 210 actual miles. It is
accompanied by the original owner's portfolio (with Viper
manuals).
This Alfa Romeo, honoring one of the all-time great Italian racing
machines, is a highly significant automobile in the history of
Zagato, one of the world's most famous and revered coachbuilders.
Its offering here marks a rare opportunity to join some of the
best-known enthusiasts in enjoying the TZ's modern successor,
combining the very best of Italian style and American brawn.To view
this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please
visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20.