Classic Van Auction Talk

Saturday, 9 May 2015

ALFA ROMEO TZ2 By GIORDANENGO- COYS , Ascot 16-0515

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ALFA ROMEO TZ2 By GIORDANENGO

Estimate: £155,000 - £180,000
Registration Number: Italian Registered
Chassis Number: AR 750150

Alfa Romeo presented the TZ model at the 1962 Turin Motor Show as a roadgoing racing car. It derives the T in its nomenclature from tubolare, a reference to its tubular spaceframe, and the Z from Zagato, the coachbuilders. A limited production run of no more than 102 was built until 1965, before the Alfa Romeo TZ2 would prove far more successful on the race track. Output had been raised to 165 hp, while its weight was once again whittled down, this time to 620 kg, and the chassis was also improved. Alfa Romeo clocked a breathtaking top speed of 265 km/h for its sports car. With the TZ2, coachbuilders Zagato turned out a significant example of Italian car design of the 1960s. By the time production ended in 1967, just 12 examples had left the construction hall.
Ing. Carlo Chiti was in charge of Autodelta during the creation of the Alfa Romeo TZ2 project. His resume included being former Chief Engineer at Ferrari. It is understandable that the inspiration and passion of the Ferrari 250 GTO bled into this project. The TZ2 (Tubolare Zagato) was constructed as a works car and there were no intentions of providing any examples to privateers. They were intended to challenge the GT category.
The chassis was from the original TZ, consisting of steel-tubed space-frame construction. Improvements were made to the original unit, with the TZ2 having lower suspension mounts and being more adjustable. The prototype car was given an all-alloy bodyshell designed by Ercole Spada for Zagato. The subsequent cars were molded from this and built with glassfibre. The total height of the vehicle was just a mere 41-inches. The aerodynamic design defied wind while maintaining an elegant stance.
Under the bonnet lay an Alfa Romeo dual overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine displacing 1570cc. The engines were tuned by Virgilio Conrero's Torino shop, Autotecnica Conrero. They were given larger valves, magnesium casings, upgraded camshafts, two side-draught Weber carburetors, dry sump lubrication, and a twin plug head. These improvements brought the horsepower to 170 and top speed in the neighborhood of 160 mph.
The cars made their debut at the 1965 Geneva Salon and production lasted until mid-1967. Some of the TZ2's were upgraded TZ's. Coachwork was handled mostly by Zagato. Chassis number 114, created in 1966, was done by Pininfarina. Another example, chassis 101, was done by Bertone. Bertone's example was done to test the feasibility of creating a road-going version. It was built atop a tubular steel space-frame and given Campagnolo 13-inch forged magnesium wheels. The body was very curvy. At the front were covered headlights and a wrap-around windshield. The body was constructed mostly from aluminum. The engine was from a Alfa Romeo TZ, producing 130 horsepower in standard guise.
The racing debut of the Alfa Romeo TZ2 was at the 1965 24 Hours of LeMans. There were three TZ2 models entered, and all three failed to finish the race. This would be their only outing for the season. In 1966, they re-appeared, and in very strong fashion. In each of the 1.6-liter GT races they entered, they emerged victorious.
Even with this new-found racing success of the TZ2, the program was dropped and efforts were reverted to the GTA and Tipo 33 program. Most of the TZ2 cars were later sold to privateers
The car that we have on offer today is a TZ2 built in the late 70s by the legendary coachbuilder Giordanengo, highly regarded for his fantastic 250 GTO and California Spyder's .This wonderful TZ2 Evokation was built using original Alfa Romeo components, even the chassis was built from an original TZ2 drawing. The bodywork is clothed in the original style fiberglass bodywork.

Mechanically the engine is a 2000cc twin sparks, dry sump, which runs smoothly. The car has been reconditioned after, most significantly, spending the last 40 years in the world regarded Milan Telecommunications Museum and is now ready to drive. Moving inside the cockpit the clocks are corrects like the original, and the black period correct bucket seats are fitted with 4 point harnesses
Only 12 TZ2 was made from Alfa Romeo and they form a parts of a few lucky collections worldwide . This example, offered at a fraction of the cost, and built by the world class Giordanengo is sold with Italian Libretto papers and it's ready to be driven on the road .
For further information or to arrange a viewing, please contact our sales department.

 219 -  Alfa Romeo TZ2 by Giordanengo 
219 -  Alfa Romeo TZ2 by Giordanengo 

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