"Many a racer felt the sting of being passed and finishing behind a car emblazoned with the Abarth scorpion," is how RM Sothebys describes the results of the 1957 Mille Miglia, where an Abarth Zagato Coupe took first place in the 750cc class. There is something wonderful about surprising people in a tiny car. We haven't run our Abarth in the Mille Miglia, but we do love dropping tailgating SUVs from sight anytime the road gets twisty.
This example has some upgrades over a standard Abarth Zagato coupe. Inside you will find a fire suppression system, racing belts, and a roll bar, while under the hood resides a 903cc engine from an 850. With the lightweight aluminum bodywork, even a modest power increase should make for a noticeable improvement in acceleration.
We have trouble keeping track of the various models, but it seems that Zagato has had a hand in a number of rare machines over the years. The examples that stick out to us are the various Aston Martin Zagatos, the Alfa Junior Zagato, Alfa 2600 Zagato, and the Lancia Sport Zagato. Then, of course, there is the Alfa Romeo SZ and RZ.
While Zagato played a role in building the SZ, the vehicle was actually styled in a joint effort between Zagato, Fiat, and Alfa. Utilizing CAD software and Fiat's wind tunnel, the team achieved an impressive 0.30 Cd, which led to a top speed of 152mph when all (or most) of the Busso V6's 210bhp were invited to the party.
Lancia dabbled in Greek letter naming of its vehicles at the turn of the century, making its way through a succession of Greek letters before moving on to the Roman roads naming convention. Among our favorite of the old Greek models was the Lambda, a 70mph 1920s unitary body feat of design and engineering. The Roman road names began (we believe) with the Astura, and continued through the end of Fulvia production.
The reintroduction of Greek letters was accompanied by a Fiat takeover and a new lust, by those responsible for the corporate coffers at least, to introduce scaled production and profitability. Lancia vehicles had, to this point, been the dreams of engineers, and sold with high prices to compensate for low production. With Fiat at the helm, the Beta series was introduced with lofty production targets and reduced development spending; understandably, many Lancia engineers walked out during this transition.
The Alfa Romeo RZ has always been an acquired taste - presently, and when it was introduced in 1992. See, despite production of the 278 examples of this roadster ending in 1993, it wasn't until three years later, in 1996, that the lot was finally sold off. Today? Well, for a car that seems to be mechanically equivalent to a nice Milano Verde with upgraded camshafts, they demand around 10 times the cash! For perspective, keep in mind that the RZ sold for over two times the list price of a 164 when new.
That isn't to say that the RZ isn't worth some consideration. Unique thermoplastic body panels, though not dead simple to tool up, allowed for more palatable pricing in the lower production run in both the SZ and RZ. And, compared to a Milano Verde, the engine features a further 27hp by means of improved camshafts, a bump in compression ratio, and altered engine management. To that, add the Alfa 75/Milano IMSA style suspension, with helper coilovers at the front to supplement the torsion bars, as well as coilovers in the rear. Rubber bushings were replaced with stiffer materials, and the DeDion nose bushing swapped out for a spherical bearing.
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Year: 1993 Model: Alfa Romeo Engine: 3.0L V12 Transmission: 5-speed manual Mileage: 9,090 Price: $115,000 Location: San Diego, CA
Individual History: Completed in 1993 and exported to Japan but not sold new until August 10th, 2001 when it was road registered privately for the first time on Aichi, Japan plates "301 4616." On March 18th, 2005 it was sold privately to the second owner also in Aichi and registered on new plates "301 759." On November 6th, 2009, the registration was renewed on plates "303 4183." On April 8th, 2010, this Alfa was sold and registered on Ouayma plates "300 4314." On June 10th, 2014, it was sold again and reregistered on Kangawa plates "335 130." On February 6th, 2015, this Alfa was sold and re-registered on Tokyo plates "331 5517." On September 29th, 2015 it was purchased corporately and reregistered on Tokyo plates "300 4417 Registration remained Tokyo "30 4417 in dealer inventory from 2015 until sale of vehicle in May of 2018. Mileage at time of initial registration was less than 100 kilometers and vehicle was registered as a new vehicle, no previous owners or registration. No mileage discrepancies at each time of re-registation. Mileage officially recorded and confirmed by Japanese road-registration authorities on September 21st, 2012 at 12,700 kilometers. Mileage officially recorded and confirmed by Japanese road-registration authorities on September 2nd, 2014 at 13,500 kilometers. Mileage officially recorded and confirmed by Japanese road-registration authorities on at time of sale in May of 2018 at 14,500 kilometers. June 2018, Japanese road-registatino canceled, vehicle formally exported and imported to the Unites States July 2018, all services, safety checks completed. New tires installed.
Engine Compression Test Results: Cylinder No Pounds per Square Inch 1 185 2 190 3 190 4 194 5 192 6 190
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RZs weren't available in many configurations; colors were limited red, black, yellow, and silver. Red seems to be the most common color for the coupes, while yellow fits the roadster a bit better. Inside, the Momo steering wheel is similar to a Montecarlo, but with an added pad around the horn button. We can attest that these look excellent when added to a GTV-6, and expect them to look just as good in an RZ.
While we would have a tough time talking ourselves into an SZ coupe over, say, a GTV-6, we can see the appeal in the RZ. It's the only transaxle roadster that Alfa produced, as well as the only factory Busso V6 roadster from the marque. Sure, it was a bit underpowered for 1993, but the overall experience is likely more than sufficient for a weekend roadster with some seriously edgy bodywork. We'll forgive a lot for that Busso exhaust note!
Here's a race series that we had never heard of: The Zagato Trophy. This 8-race series honored the 75th anniversary of Zagato in 1993. 13 cars were constructed for the series, with Alfa Romeo even offering a 25% discount on the price of a new SZ/RZ to be entered into competition.
The series cars were not drastically altered from their original state. Changes were limited to a kit, which included revised shocks and springs, a racing exhaust, upgraded brakes, revised engine management chip, and a balanced engine. As for rolling stock, the cars rode on three-piece OZ Racing wheels shod in Pirelli slicks. And finally, each car featured a roll cage, 4-point racing harnesses, a fire suppression system, and the requisite tow hooks for track recovery.
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Year: 1993 Model: Alfa Romeo RZ Trophy Race Car Engine: 3.0L V6 Transmission: 5-speed manual Mileage: 9,000 Price: $93,000 Location: Kingswood, SA, Australia
THIS UNIQUE ALFA ROMEO IS A MARTIN DAWES RZ TROPHY WINNING RACE CAR.ALWAYS GARAGED.FITTED WITH PERFORMANCE EQUIPMENT SUCH AS ARAGOSTA SUSPENSION,BREMBO 4 POD BRAKING SYSTEM , AFTERMARKET CPU CHIP,PERFORMANCE PISTONS AND CAMS,ROLL CAGE,SPARCO SEATS,OZ RACING ALLOYS,UPGRADED FUEL TANK ,PERFORMANCE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND MORE ,THIS CAR IS READY TO RACE. WORLD WIDE SHIPPING INCLUDED!
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Based on the scant information on these cars, we believe that the RZ pictured was prepared fro Duilio Truffo to enter into the race at Monaco. Preparation time was so precious that the racing exhaust was never installed, leaving the catalytic convertor installed for the race. In spite of the this disadvantage, the yellow car, whose graphics were designed by Ercole Spada, managed a third place finish.
We're delighted to have come across the Zagato Trophy. The racing liveries, such as Martin Dawes getup on this RZ, seem at home on the decidedly homely Zagato specials Likewise, the SZ and RZ look at home on the racetrack. $93k is steep for what amounts to a rebodied Milano Verde, but the it's right in line with the market for these. Even if the Zagato is a forgotten series in international racing, it adds a neat bit of history without compromising the car much at all. If anything, it's a nice excuse to take an RZ to the track without reservation!
Its very interesting to me how each of the styling firms in Italy has distinctive features that seem to carry across their different designs. Perhaps when you first see the shape you don't immediately recognize the designer, but once you know it makes sense. Vignale and Touring had inspired if conservative designs; increasingly both Bertone and Pininfarina captured the angular market. Giugiaro's work at multiple firms carrys a signature blend of angles and curves, but one of the most distinctive in my mind are the Zagato designs. Be it an Aston Martin or an Alfa Romeo, the Zagato brand meant one thing - tight curves that pared down the shape to a bare minimum, flowing tightly around the wheel arches with minimal overhangs front and back. Some of the best known Zagato work is with the Alfa Romeos and Aston Martins of the 1960s and 1970s, but one neat car they really added a lot of character too was the already colorful Lancia Fulvia Sport:
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Year: 1972 Model: Fulvia Sport 1.3 Zagato Engine: 1.3 liter inline-4 Transmission: 5-speed manual Mileage: 21,000 mi Price: $38,000
Here is for sale my 1972 Lancia Fluvia Zagato Sport 1.3, this car has a Florida clean title, I am first owner since it was import from Italy, runs good, looks great, all work on this car, take advantage of this opportunity, I am selling because need the space and the money too, any question please write to me at tony1961@msn,com
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When talking about really classic Italian designs, both the Fulvia and Zagato's work usually make the mark, and the combination here was both inspired and unique. Though certainly some aspects of the design are reminiscent of the NSU Ro80, the Fulvia Sport stands on its own as a truly neat design. This is the way to buy one; a one owner car that is in pristine condition - and the Zagato name doesn't break the bank here. Whereas an Aston will set you back the best part of a few million dollars, you can get into a similarly styled Lancia for just under $40,000. That strikes the middle ground on the Fulvia - cheaper than some of the most expensive models but about double what a condition 1 1.2 from the same year will set you back. It seems appropriate given the unique nature of the car that this should be the case, and I'd still consider $38,000 to be a reasonable asking price for such a cool car!
The Maserati Biturbo has always been a car that fascinated me; perhaps it's that I grew up in the 1980s where box-tacular designs were the norm, but there was something about the styling of the Biturbo that I always found appealing. It was tight and compact, sporty with enough flare that it really stood out. I was especially a fan of the dished wheels and still am. Compared to the somewhat oddly proportioned Quattroporte III, the Biturbo just looked right. That continued under the hood, where from a performance standpoint the Biturbo was fairly impressive; at least, on paper. In an era where 140-150 horsepower was considered "good", the twin turbocharged V6 put out a lofty 180 horsepower. Not all of that transferred into pulse-pounding performance, but still it was more than adequate for the time period; remember, that's more than some American V8s were pushing at the time. Still, the Biturbo didn't gain the best reputation, meaning you can pick up clean examples today for not much money, such as this clean example from Ocean Drive Motors:
STOCK #: 8029
ODOMETER: 29,008 MILES
EXTERIOR COLOUR: SILVER
INTERIOR COLOUR: TAN
VIN #: ZAMPM1106HA331332
PRICE: $9,500.00
FEATURES: SERVICE RECORDS, NO RADIO, CONV. TOP NEEDS REPLACEMENT, RE-BUILT ELECTRICAL RELAY BOARD,
*VERY LOW MILEAGE – EXCELLENT SHAPE*
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Though they look very similar to the sedan, the Spyder version of the Biturbo was styled by Zagato and rode on a shortened chassis, making it strictly a two seater. The color combination on this particular car is nice and understated; red and white were quite popular, so it's nice to see something a little different. While I'm not a fan of the overly-plush looking seats from 1980s Maseratis, overall the condition of this car inside and out is very clean. There are some needs, such as the replacement top, but if you're on a budget and want some unusual Italian fun in the sun, this Biturbo could be a fun sun project car. Overall it is priced pretty accurately in the marketplace for these Biturbos.
With the sun finally creeping out from behind the clouds and the last throws of winter grumpily making way for spring flowers, it's nice to think about an affordable Italian roadster. Sure, the Ferrari 550 Barchetta is a great option if you own some oil fields in the Near East, but for most of us the budget will be a bit more modest. One of the more interesting options that would really set you apart would be to look at the Lancia Beta Zagato; if for no other reason than not many remain. Quick depreciation, spotty reliability and rust-prone panels mean these have become a rare sight in the U.S. However, two have popped up on Ebay that are near twins, though being born two years apart. Let's look at the elder first:
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Year: 1980 Model: Beta Zagato Engine: 2.0 liter inline-4 Transmission: 5-speed manual Mileage: 39,838 mi Price: No Reserve Auction
Up for a NO RESRVE AUCTION is a 1982 Lancia Zagato vin ZLAFS00C3C0203559 the listing would not read this vin? sorry for the confusion one fine car! This car is out of an estate sale that has been consigned, has duplicte title paper work, clean, Has 39k original miles, Original paint, leather,top, outstanding condition, Everything in working order runs smooth, no leaks, the red paint gleams, the tires are original and have some weather cracks. This car has been in storage since 04. but started once a week!. The car has original tool kit, spare , car cover! please email me for any questions! selling as is! if you win please have the funds!
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Holy mackerel, it's got the original tires on it! What an impressive condition example; it certainly looks nearly good enough to have rolled off the showroom floor and displays none of the normal wear and tear that is associated with these budget convertibles. With under 40,000 miles on the clock and being a California car, the concerns about what's underneath that polished facade are put at ease. What about the second example?
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This 1982 also looks pretty stellar, sporting a different grill setup but otherwise nearly the twin of the earlier model. Condition also looks outstanding on this example overall, though unlike the earlier car it appears this car was resprayed at some point:
I have a very nice Lancia Zagato up for sale. This fun little Italian sports car reads only 66000 orig miles and runs and drives great with its peppy 4 cyl engine and 5 speed transmission,it's a joy to drive. The Targa and convertible top have been redone a few years back and look and work great. The paint on the car looks to have been redone at some point but not recent, it shines nice but not perfect. Bumpers and glass are near mint cond. the interior of the car is in very nice cond. no dash cracks,clean carpet,nice seats some seem separation on driver seat only .The engine is clean and runs smooth,the wheels are in nice cond tires should be replaced from lack of use. I have all books,manuals and some service records with the car. Please call or email with any questions. Thank You 1 603 387 1693
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So it's a little less than perfect; I have no problem with that, although life in New Hampshire for a Lancia would give me a bit of concern. In this case, I'd spend a little extra to get the all-original California example. Hagerty lists top value of these cars around $12,000 and I'd expect the 1980 is heading that way; the 1982, while nice, probably is closer to half that value or slightly more, but I'd inspect it closely underneath before buying.
One of the more memorable Abarth models are the so-called "Double Bubble" models; those "Bubbles" are the giant intake scoops that adorn the rear of the car to suck air in to feed that monster powerhouse 750cc Fiat-sourced motor. Okay, so it's not the fastest car in the world; but these little Italian coupes still were formidable race machines with good balance, lightweight and tenacity. Despite a great reputation, their polarizing looks have kept them much more affordable than equivalent Porsche models like the 356. Today, there's a nice 1960 example on Ebay:
960 Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato Sestriere
s/n 734541, engine number 100D.000 1372493
Red with Black Interior
Built using Fiat’s 600 as a basis, the Abarth 750 GT was an attractive and competitive Zagato-bodied car that helped establish Carlo Abarth’s firm as a manufacturer of sports cars and not merely tuning components, which is how the company started in the 1930s. Using the floorpan of the 600, Abarth fitted sleek and lightweight Zagato bodies and significantly revamped the motors, fitting lighted and balanced flywheels, and high performance internals including crank, high compression pistons, larger valves, upgraded valve train, and performance camshafts. The resulting displacement was 747cc instead of the 633cc of the standard engine, and nearly twice the power output.
Introduced in 1955, the cars were entered in races almost immediately and were quite successful on both sides of the Atlantic, achieving second in class at the 1956 Mille Miglia, and winning its class at the 1957 Mille Miglia. The cars also achieved class and overall victories at the 1958 and 1959 Rallye de Sestriere. Four out of five examples entered finished the 12 Hours of Sebring, one of which one its class, while another achieved second at the SCCA races at Palm Springs. As was common among Italian cars of the period, the 750 GT Zagato evolved continuously and the Sestriere variant arrived in 1959, which differed in detail and was named for the victories at the Rallye de Sestriere.
This particular example had a long term owner in Southern California for at least thirty years, and the car could be seen at the annual August festivities in Monterey for many years, having been driven up by its enthusiastic owner. Interestingly, the car is aluminum bodied, while most of this period were steel-bodied. Based on the serial number, it is likely that this car was produced in 1959, though it is titled as a 1960, likely the year in which it was first sold, which is a common practice for old cars.
Today, the car is in presentable and attractive condition, with some patina. The body is generally straight and solid, with a few minor areas of electrolysis, such as on the right C pillar and right rocker panel. There is a dent under the right headlamps and one in the right door as well. The body is straight with good fit, likely as good as if not better than when new. The paintwork is in good shape and is reasonably high quality, with some orange peel and a few signs of wear in the form of chips and small scratches. There is some checking present on the roof. The chrome is generally very good, although the hubcaps show some patina. The glass is in good shape, with minor wear to the windscreen. The car has Year of Manufacture yellow license plates.
The interior condition is consistent with the exterior, with strong overall presentation but some patina. The upholstery is in very good shape, while the carpets are good. The dashboard is nice, with lovely Jaeger Abarth instruments. The trim and controls are in good shape. The door weather seals have perished.
The engine compartment is very clean and has a vintage appearance with no untoward or inappropriate modernizations. It is fairly well-detailed and the motor appears to have been well-maintained. The engine is built on a 100D block, indicating it is a Fiat 600D motor. The front compartment is solid and has seen some restoration work in areas, but is unrestored in others. The spare and windscreen washer fluid bag are in place.
This is an extremely rare opportunity to acquire a Zagato-bodied Abarth with longtime California history. Fundamentally excellent, this example is in nice driver condition and can be driven and enjoyed as is, or sympathetically restored.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: This car is sold AS IS without warranty. A 10% deposit is due upon the successful completion of the auction. Remainder of payment is due within one week of the end of the auction, and prior to the delivery of the vehicle. Fantasy Junction reserves the right to end this auction early in the even of the sale of the car outside of eBay. Inspection is available and encouraged, and should be arranged and completed prior to the completion of bidding. A final bid (if reserve is met) is and should be considered a sale and acceptance of terms, and the vehicle is AS IS and WHERE IS. If you have NEGATIVE or ZERO feedback, please contact us prior to bidding. Please contact us for names and phone numbers of local professionals familiar with this type of car, whom you may interview and with whom you may arrange an inspection. If you are concerned with what the car may need, an inspection is an excellent way to remove surprises. Please allow for normal wear and tear items based on the age of any car and restoration if applicable. Please use your better (or even your best) judgment. We have done and will do our best to describe the car faithfully and correctly, and would like you to know and understand exactly what you are bidding on.
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I like that these cars have been driven and used - it's a nice change from the stereotypical roll the car out of a trailer for the show. As a result of that, it's not a perfect example; there's some botched paintwork and the shine on everything isn't condition one. But it certainly makes a special and unique driver in the current state. The best part is that you can get into a neat Abarth 750GT like this one for around the same price as a wreck of a 356; they share a lot of characteristics, but if you want to save a bit of money and stand apart from the crowd, the Abarth is the way to go!
