Based off of the 1300 Series, the Junior Zagato was Alfa’s attempt to produce a more exclusive vehicle off modest mechanicals. It was a striking shape, with Perspex covered headlamps that surrounded the traditional Alfa grille and a fastback profile with a kammback design incorporated. The production process was rather elaborate, with the basic structure built at Alfa’s Arese factory before being shipped to Zagato in Terrazano di Rho to weld in a new trunk floor. Then the bodies were shipped to La Maggiore in Turin for further assembly than back to Zagato for finishing. As a result, production numbers were not very high, with only 357 built in 1971. There’s not many of these Junior Zagatos roaming US roads, so this one for sale in California is certainly a rare opportunity.

1971 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior Zagato

This Junior Z was originally Mello Yellow and remains so today. Paint is aging with some cracking. Floor pans are rust free with all jacking points solid. Glass excellent. Interior is complete including the 2 spoke wheel. Currently the original console is out (but photographed and included) substituted by a Alfa Berlina console.

A 2.0L with performance cams fitted with early cross style air cleaner (Duetto) Looks factory. Original number matching 1.3 liter engine included. Cars is crazy fast. New factory style steel GTA rims with new Pirelli rubber. No 2nd gear syncro grind, box shifts smoothly. Car runs fine and pulls up to high RPMS Drive anywhere. The Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato is the cheapest Zagato bodied car available. There are only a handful of these in the country as they were never imported. Fewer still are the number of times they become available for sale. Of all the 105 series period cars this is the best drive. I reserve the right to cancel this auction at any time.

This Junior Zagato is a good driver quality car that could be used as is or benefit from a bit of tidying up. The starting bid of $28,500 is about close to what an average example should sell for, with exceptional, show quality cars bringing close to $40,000. I’d suspect anything over $30,000 is a bit optimistic, but with GTVs commanding strong prices these days, we may see a coachbuilt Alfa such as this benefit from that trend.

-Paul