Having seen the success of this unofficial model,
the decision was made to design a production car with more overtly sporting
characteristics. It was decided to use the shorter chassis of the Giulietta
Spider combined with the mechanicals of the Sprint Veloce. Franco Scaglione,
working for Bertone, was chosen to design the new body, the resulting prototype
being displayed in 1957. This had an aluminium body and a much more aggressive
appearance than the steel bodied production cars which began to be built
in 1959. Small changes were made, such as the addition of bumpers, during production.
In 1961 Zagato began development of a revised SZ,
concentrating mainly on aerodynamics. The result emerged late that year,
known as the 'Coda tronca' (or 'clipped tail'). This was due to the new
rear end, employing a cut-off Kamm type design. Although this was the most
noticeable difference, in reality the entire body changed, it became longer,
lower and narrower, with a narrower front air intake, a lower roofline,
a lipped bonnet at the base of the windscreen and no horizontal ribs along
the sides. Mechanical changes included the adoption of disc brakes at the
front. The last 30 cars were built to this level.
Both cars were used extensively in various competitions
where they achieved many successes. Total production was 1,366 SS's and
200 SZ's, production of both models ceasing in 1963.
The SZ was replaced by the Giulia
TZ, whilst the Giulietta SS was re-engined and became the Giulia SS.
This used the new 112bhp 1570cc dohc engine from the Giulia
range, but apart from some detail changes (mainly concerning the interior
such as instruments and dashboard) remained essentially the same. Later
this model also received disc brakes at the front. This continued in production
until 1965, by which time 1,400 had been built.
The
story starts in 1956, when Zagato unofficially rebodied some Giulietta
Sprint Veloce's with an aluminium body supported by a frame of thin steel
tubes. The external style was almost identical to the SV production car,
although the different examples tended to employ different features, the
last versions becoming more different and looking like the later SZ. The
much reduced weight led to these cars performing significantly better in motorsport.
At the same time, Zagato reached an agreement with Alfa Romeo to use the same
chassis and mechanicals for a more radical racecar. The SZ was first shown
at the Geneva Motorshow in March 1960 and followed the lines of the earlier
SVZ cars. The Sprint Zagato used a steel spaceframe and aluminium panels
as well as perspex side windows and a relatively sparse interior to keep
the weight to a minimum. An engine producing 115bhp could also be specified
for those customers wishing to compete in their cars, which was the aim
of the SZ, the production run of 200 exactly that needed to homologate
the car. As with the SS, small changes were made during production, early
cars featured plastic fairings for the headlights which were then dropped
and the design of the door handles changed.
The Sprint Speciale, on the other hand, although conceived also as a light
weight competition oriented car, was produced as a more luxiourious GT
car with a fully equipped interior etc. These creature comforts, as well
as a lower price, resulted in considerably more SS's (1,366) being built.
Technical Details
| Driveline | longitudinal engine at front with rear wheel drive |
| Engine | 1290cc (74x75mm) dohc four cylinder with 100bhp @ 6,500rpm
Giulia SS : 1570cc (78x82mm) dohc four cylinder with 112bhp @ 6,500rpm |
| Suspension | front : wishbones with telescopic dampers and coil springs plus anti-roll bar
rear : rigid live axle with telescopic dampers and coil springs wheelbase : 2250mm front track :1292mm rear track : 1270mm |
| Brakes | front : drums (last 30 SZ's with discs)
rear : drums handbrake operating on the rear via cable |
| Gearbox | 5 speed manual |
| Steering | worm and roller |
| Kerb weight | Sprint Speciale : 860kg
Sprint Zagato : 770kg (last 30 : 785kg) Giulia SS : 950kg |
Identification
The Sprint Speciale was the 101.20 and the Sprint Zagato the 101.26. Both cars used the AR00120 engine..
Wallpapers/Desktop Backgrounds of numerous Alfa Romeo's also available to download.
Alfa Romeo
Giulietta books :buy them online here(in
association with
Amazon)
Covers the Berlina, Ti, Coupe
Sprint, Spider, Veloce, Zagato, 1600, SV and SS with over 300 illustrations
and numerous articles. (edited by R.M.Clarke, 1991) For more books on Alfa Romeo, see our Online Bookstore
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Alfa
Romeo Road Test Book : Alfa Romeo Giulietta Gold Portfolio 1954-65
