Vehicle Description
Chassis No. AR10126 00043
Engine No. AR1315 45005
As researched by Marco Fazio of Centro Documentazione Alfa Romeo,
this Giulietta Sprint Zagato (SZ) completed production on 23
September 1960 originally finished in Grigio Metallizzato (metallic
grey) with a red leather interior. The car found a fitting home
with famed Italian jewelry designer Gianni Bulgari in Rome by
January 1961. Bulgari wasted no time entering his new lightweight
Alfa in the April running of the Stallavena-Boscochiesanuova
hillclimb, finishing a respectable fifth in class on its first
outing-likely as a warm-up for the second round of the World Sports
Car Championship. Just three weeks later the car was entered in the
Targa Florio, the second round of that year's FIA World Sports Car
Championship, by Bulgari's Campidoglio team for he and his
co-driver Maurizio Grana, in a hotly contested 1300 GT field
consisting of a large gaggle of other SZs. Unfortunately, the
Zagato was retired after six laps of the nearly 45-mile,
mountainous Piccolo Circuito delle Madonie course.
While a single Targa Florio appearance in period would be a
highlight for any historic racing car, the best was yet to come. A
pair of class wins soon followed at the Coppa Gallenga hillclimb
and the Strettura-Passo della Somma hillclimb. Following these
successes, the car entered the Trento-Bondone hillclimb in July,
finishing seventh overall. In August, Bulgari and Grana were
co-drivers during the 4 Hours of Pescara Coppa Acerbo, where they
finished 10th overall and second in class to Elio Zagato, racing
the latest SZ prototype. During this race, the car was fitted with
sleek headlight covers. The season's final event came in September
when Grana piloted the car during the prestigious Coppa
Inter-Europa at Monza.
The trio of Bulgari, Grana, and the SZ teamed up for just a single
race in 1962, yet it was the highlight of the year for many
European racing fans -the Targa Florio. The Alfa SZ, wearing start
number 12, raced in that epic event alongside the SEFAC Ferrari
Dino 196 and 246 SPs, Porsche Abarth Carrera GTLs, and heavy Alfa
Romeo competition in their own class, completing nine laps over 650
kilometers before ill luck led them to be classified as a
non-finisher on their final lap.
Following this, the car was sold to Gilberto Castagnini. Entered
under the name of Scuderia Settecolli, Castagnini's brother and
Corrado Ferlanio entered the Alfa in the Targa Florio for its third
consecutive year in 1963. Period photos from the race show the car,
number 26, was refinished in dark red while retaining the headlight
covers and unique combination of alloy Amadori rear wheels and
factory SZ front wheels - all features still present today. With
continued fierce competition from some of the best drivers in the
world, after five laps the duo were classified as a DNF.
On 11 August 1963, a declaration of sales document noted that the
car was sold to Antonio Bonanno. Bonanno was an Italian living in
Manhattan who imported the car to New York following his purchase.
Once in New York, the car was purchased by Lorenzo Garcia of
Laurelton, New York. Garcia used the car on a limited basis, and it
remained in the same condition as when last raced in Sicily with
two minor modifications. The grille was removed to increase the
engine's cooling, and a North American Racing Team (NART) sticker
was added that still adorns the front fender today. It should
additionally be noted that at some point, likely during its early
racing years, its original engine was replaced by a period 1300cc
Giulietta block. Garcia would ultimately place the SZ into storage
in late 1969, knowingly or unknowingly creating a virtual time
capsule...
The Zagato caused quite a stir when it emerged after 45 years in
storage at the September 2014 Sunday in the Park Concours d'
Elegance held during the Lime Rock Historics. While not on the
track that weekend, the SZ remained in such a highly conserved
state the judges awarded it a first in class award. Stanley Bauer
of Los Angeles, California, purchased the Alfa in January 2015 and,
with a true appreciation for its original cosmetic condition,
invested approximately $100,000 in a complete mechanical overhaul,
with painstaking effort not to disturb the many original finishes
still present on the car from its last Targa Florio over 50 years
prior.
With its engine freshly rebuilt engine as part of the restorative
efforts, the car was primed for road use during the 2016 running of
the Colorado Grand. After proving its merits over the 1,000-mile
tour, the car was entered into the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
the following year, where it was shown in the Preservation Class.
Armed with the satisfaction of having competed in two of the most
prestigious, yet varied automotive events on the automotive
calendar, Bauer sold the car in 2018 to its next caretaker,
Benjamin Clymer-best known as the founder of Hodinkee. At the 2019
Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, the SZ was part of the 75 Years of
Zagato feature, and not only did it win the Post-War Preservation
Award, but Andrea and Marella Zagato were on hand, and it is
reported that they assessed it as a reference car against which all
other SZs should be judged.
After its showing in Greenwich, the SZ received a major mechanical
service from Randy Elber's R&R Automotive of Mount Kisco, New
York. The engine was removed for another complete overhaul. While
the engine work was taking place, additional work was performed on
the suspension and electrics and the drive shaft was rebalanced.
When the work was completed in August 2022, an additional total of
around $30,000 had been invested in the car's mechanical
systems.
Purchased by the current owner in 2023, the SZ would be enjoyed
spiritedly during the 2024 California Mille. Following that event,
The Pit Stop of Brisbane, California performed a brake job, valve
adjustment, carburetor rebuild, and a shock rebuild, before it
would be presented on the lawn at the Hillsborough Concours
d'Elegance. Today, this SZ remains a truly captivating, highly
original example of a rare 1960s Alfa Romeo flagship draped with
authentic European FIA racing provenance. It has been remarkably
well preserved since its final entry into the Targa Florio over 60
years ago, with its race tech sticker and ACI Tassa di Circolazione
still present on the windshield. Highly prized by collectors and
enthusiasts for its sporting qualities combined with its rare
lightweight Zagato bodywork, the Sprint Zagato is an Alfa Romeo
icon. This example holds an even greater appeal due to its
remarkable provenance, fascinating and significant race history,
unrivaled originality and known ownership history from new.
