In the 1950s, after dominating tracks and winning championships all over the world, Alfa Romeo quit racing. Its formula car engines were no longer competitive, and the company was suffering financially. It had to refocus on selling cars, and fortunately, its new Giulietta was resoundingly popular. The Giulietta refilled the company’s coffers, allowing Alfa the scope to consider new ventures. The first of these happened by accident, and we mean that literally: in Milan, Massimo Leto di Priolo had crashed his Sprint Speciale. He asked Elio Zagato to rebuild the body so he could get back on the track. The new car, a lightweight egg-shaped phenomenon, was christened the SZ. A negotiation between Alfa, Zagato, and Bertone – Alfa’s anointed coachbuilder at the time – allowed the SZ to enter production. The SZ was wonderful – but it sat on a mundane chassis, one that underpinned a sedan, for Pete’s sake. Alfa turned to in-house talent to build a tubular chassis, then outsourced the body to Zagato. The company’s motorsports factory – Autodelta – assembled the new car, which was dubbed the Giulia TZ. Only 112 were made, and every example was race-worthy, with most posting significant wins from the mid-1960s onward in rallies, on tracks, and up hills. Chassis 750067 will be sold at Gooding Christie’s Amelia Island auction on March 5. The estimate is $1.2 to $1.4 million, but this is a no-reserve auction. The car is part of the Tommy Trabue collection; Mr Trabue, an enthusiastic vintage racer, passed away in late January 2026. Araknid78, we appreciate the tip!
The key to the TZ’s success was its lightweight, aerodynamic body and Alfa’s fantastic 1570 cc twin-cam, twin Weber’d four-cylinder engine. Road-going versions saw output of 112 hp, but race trim increased that to 160 hp, particularly when equipped with Alfa’s twin-spark cylinder heads. The car weighed 1450 lbs, sat on independent suspension with disc brakes (rears inboard), and was supplied with a five-speed gearbox. This combination led to convincing wins in its class and Alfa’s definitive return to racing. Chassis 750067 has a resume that would shame many Ferraris, and its ownership history, known from new, includes at least two racing celebrities of the 1970s and 1980s.
The interior is all business, with slender bucket seats, the requisite fire system and roll cage, no carpet or insulation. Mr Trabue was well-regarded in Porsche and vintage racing circles and had owned this car for just two years before becoming ill. The car attended the Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca in 2024, for both the pre-reunion and the later “official” race series.
The TZ began life as a spider. But Zagato, working with his young charge Ercole Spada, was dissatisfied with the aerodynamics of the open bodywork. Creating a coupe and applying Wunibald Kamm’s theory that a cut-off tail would yield a faster car resulted in what we see today. The splendid aluminum coachwork and signature greenhouse set the TZ apart. Whether its looks and history will be enough to boost bidding to within the estimate range is a question mark. Recent sales of TZs have ranged from around $770k to $800k for examples with needs to a solid $1.16 million for this car still married to its matching-numbers race engine. What do you think of this rare Alfa? Would it be welcome in your garage?
I want it.
Years ago, I drove an Alfa SZ, and was captivated. Everything about that car –from the way it looked to the sound and, in fact, the entire driving experience — was right on the border of perfection. I thought climbing into it was the worst part of the experience; getting out was the worst.
Those who have driven TZs told me it is in a different world: faster, lighter on its feet, and even lovelier.
Whatever someone pays for this car, it’s worth it. IMO, Alfas are always worth what someone pays for them — this one is worth more.
Probably more than just a few of us are envious of you, RayT and appreciate your sharing your experience with driving such a fine machine for comparison.
Being in the right place at the right time can be the best thing to ever happen.
It was a great deal of fun while it lasted, Nevadahalfrack, and sharing the memories gives me much pleasure. A lot of the credit goes to the owners and manufacturers who entrusted them to my care….
My main regret is that I never was able to OWN any of the great machines I was privileged to drive — some for a few miles only, some for a week or more — and still can’t.
Hard to think there might be a car out there better looking than this car.
Really is captivating to look at. What a car!
These are beautiful; if you’ve never seen one in the flesh, I urge you to do so!
The TZ stands for “Tubolare Zagato”, I believe.