Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ Prototipo Berlinetta – 1965
Marca : Alfa Romeo
Modello : Giulia
Versione : TZ Prototipo Berlinetta
Anno : 1965
Telaio N. : AR10511 0003
Esemplari prodotti : 1
Progettista : Lodovico Chizzola
Carrozzeria : autodelta
Motore : 4 cilindri in linea
Cilindrata : 1.570 cc
Distribuzione : DOHC
Valvole Cilindro : 2
Alimentazione : 2 carburatori Weber 40 DCOE
Potenza : 160 CV a 6.500 giri/min
Top speed Km/h : 220
In response to Alfa Romeo's request for a TZ successor, Autodelta's co-founder Lodovico Chizzola built this prototype, only for Alfa Romeo to opt for its own design – the TZ2 – so the car remained a one-off. After completion this unique Alfa Romeo remained the Chizzola family's property until it was bought by the current owner.
Known in the Chizzola family as the ‘TZ1½', the car is a development of the original TZ. The un-numbered chassis is a one-of-a-kind tubular design – a modified ferrari F2 frame according to the late Lodovico Chizzola – but shorter and different to a TZ's. The glassfibre ‘gull-wing' coachwork is of an unusual design that corresponds to a scale model kept at the Alfa Romeo Centrostile museum. Both side and rear windows are of Plexiglas, and the cockpit features a wide transmission tunnel, the familiar TZ wood-rim steering wheel and TZ/Giulia gearlever knob, switches, etc.
The car has a genuine TZ-type ‘single-plug' engine, the latter breathing through twin Weber 45DCOE carburettors, and runs on 13″ diameter alloy wheels (à la TZ2). The engine is set low and well back in the chassis while the wheels are positioned at the extreme corners, thus achieving minimal body overhangs. The leading TZ2-owning authority acquainted with this car since new says that it drives very much like a TZ2.
This unique TZ prototype has covered only a minimal distance since completion, but Lodovico Chizzola's sister recalled one memorable drive with her brother over the standard test route along which he drove all TZs prior to delivery. Comprising 80 kilometres of twisty mountain roads, it typically takes 1½ hours but was covered in this car in just 40 minutes!
Auction Result
2011 – Parigi – Bonhams – € 94.300
