Two corrections on this thread which I noticed today.
Post #2 from Matt is not a 1963 Giulietta Sprint Speciale. The front and wire wheels look out of fashion for the '60's Giulietta. I checked again and this pic actually shows a 1900 Sprint Speciale (1956-1958 model). Apparently Fiat does not know their own heritage by naming the picture wrongly
Same goes for post #9, pic 2. This is the front of the same car, check the radiator details versus the Giulietta.
I think your on to something, it looks to be the same as this 1956 1900 Super Sprint not the Sprint Speciale.
It might deserve it's own thread
Fixed
Last edited by Duell; 10-02-2013 at 01:00 AM.
This one of 16 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Zagato coupes built between 1956 and 1959. All slightly different in detail execution, and all built for competition purposes, they were tremendously successful on the racetracks, rallies and mountain circuits.
That the line began with an accident is fascinating and tells a compelling story of mid-20th century Italian racing. Massimo Girolamo Leto di Priolo was a gentleman racer who took delivery of a new Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce in May, 1956. Four days later, he drove his new car in the Mille Miglia, where he promptly crashed into a riverbed, essentially destroying the bodywork. Rather than having his car repaired to factory standards, Leto di Priolo had the remains taken to Zagato, who cut the wrecked panels off the platform and built a new body in its place.
With a more aerodynamic shape and an alloy body weighing over 100 kg less than the steel-panelled factory car, this Sprint Veloce Zagato coupe was soon racking up a string of victories through the remainder of 1956 and into 1957. It did not take long for his fellow competitors, especially those with Giulietta Sprint Veloces, to take notice. Turning a factory Sprint Veloce into an SVZ was not an inexpensive matter. On top of the 2.26 million lira cost of a new Alfa coupe, another 1.2 million lira needed to be added for the new Zagato body.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Zagato technical specifications
- 1,290 cc dual overhead camshaft inline four-cylinder engine
- dual Weber carburettors
- 87 kW (116 bhp)
- four-speed manual transmission
- independent front and rigid rear axle with coil springs suspension
- four-wheel drum brakes
- wheelbase: 2,248 mm
This is not the only 1495 model that was converted to SZ. Here is chassis 6716, a regular at the Monterey Historics.
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
First of all, thanks for sharing.
That is actually interesting and my eyes not that expensive.
What would be the most comparable car in Alfa's current line up in terms of price? A Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde? It costs 30.990€ and if back in the day rebodying cost about 50% over the factory price, then (if costs hadn't spiralled dramatically over the years) for around 50 grand I could have a Giulietta QV Zagato.
Where do I sign up?
Lack of charisma can be fatal.
Visca Catalunya!
That's a interesting thought.
Here is another way to do a conversion into today's monetary value.
Back then, a brand new Fiat 500 was priced around 500,000 liras. Using it as a benchmark, you can say that Zagato body was valued at 2½ Fiat 500s.
Therefore, in today's currency, a Zagato body should cost you 2½ Fiat Pandas or €30,000. It is still expensive, but not ludicrously expensive.
Looks like it belongs in this thread.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBEW5ACgraY"]The Alfa Romeo Sprint Speciale is a Racing Statement - YouTube[/ame]
It's so pretty! And he saved an old car to do this, so much props to him!
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)