1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato

£ 395 995

Premier GT are delighted to present one of the most evocative and historically significant examples of Alfa Romeo’s golden-era competition cars: this 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato, chassis number 00031.

The Giulietta Sprint Zagato occupies an exceptionally rarefied position in Alfa Romeo history. Produced in extremely limited numbers between 1959 and 1963, before it was replaced by the tubular TZ model. It is widely accepted that around 200 examples were built in total, each hand-formed in lightweight aluminium by Zagato. Far removed from conventional series production, the SZ was conceived from the outset as a purpose-built competition car, developed directly from Alfa Romeo’s racing programme and intended for privateer drivers seeking maximum performance through reduced weight and aerodynamic efficiency. No two examples are truly identical, and those with genuine, well-documented period competition history sit firmly at the top of the model hierarchy.

Chassis 00031 is a particularly important example, being the 31st Giulietta SZ built. It was supplied new to renowned Italian rally driver A. Corio, who took delivery of the car on 18th August 1960. Corio campaigned the car extensively during a highly active and successful rallying career from February 1961 through December 1963, competing across Italy in some of the most prestigious events of the era. These included the Rallye di Chianciano, Coppa Riviera di Ponente, Rallye della Toscana, among many others, with the car achieving several class victories and numerous podium finishes during this formative period of Italian rally competition.

This competition history is exceptionally well supported by a comprehensive and compelling archive. Accompanying the car are original period racing photographs, contemporary newspaper and magazine articles, and signed official documentation from the Italian Car Championships, including the Diploma of Merit and Honor awarded to A. Corio. This level of provenance and supporting material places chassis 00031 among a very small number of Giulietta SZs with such a clearly traceable and substantiated competition record.

Coach-built by Zagato, the Giulietta Sprint Zagato is instantly recognisable by its delicately sculpted aluminium bodywork. These elements were dictated by function rather than fashion, yet together they resulted in one of the most celebrated and enduring designs of the early 1960s. Chassis 00031 exemplifies these qualities perfectly, capturing the purity, intent, and lightweight ethos that defined one of Zagato’s most successful competition cars.

In more recent years, the car benefitted from an extensive and carefully documented full restoration carried out between 2015 and 2016, following a prolonged period of storage in Switzerland where it had remained untouched in a private garage. At the outset of the project, it was clear that the bodywork, engine, gearbox, and electrics all required comprehensive attention in order to return the car to the standard its history deserved.

All aluminium bodywork repairs were entrusted to a specialist aluminium coach-builder in Switzerland, ensuring the Zagato panels were restored using correct period techniques. The paintwork was completed strictly in accordance with original Zagato specifications, using precise colour samples supplied by Lechler, Zagato’s former paint manufacturer, resulting in a finish that is both visually striking and historically faithful.

The engine and gearbox were fully rebuilt by Facetti in Italy, a name synonymous with Alfa Romeo competition expertise. The complete electrical system and wiring loom were fully restored, while all remaining mechanical components were thoroughly inspected and either refurbished or replaced with genuine parts by leading Giulietta specialist Peter Zahnd of Zurich. The total restoration investment amounted to approximately CHF 185,000, with detailed invoices on file documenting the scope and quality of work undertaken. Further mechanical refinement and development were carried out between 2015 and 2018 by Peter Zahnd and See Garage Portmann, ensuring the car was not only beautifully restored but properly sorted and a genuine pleasure to drive.

In April 2018, the car was granted its FIVA Identity Card, formally recognising its authenticity, specification, and historical significance. As a result, chassis 00031 is eligible for all the world’s premier historic motorsport and touring events, including Goodwood, the Tour Auto, and many other leading rallies and competitions, where it would be both welcome and competitive.

Throughout its life, this Giulietta SZ has resided in some of Europe’s most important automotive centres, including Torino and Savona in Italy, Helden in the Netherlands, Viterbo, and Zurich, before arriving in the United Kingdom in August 2024. This well-travelled history reflects a life spent in the care of knowledgeable custodians who clearly understood the car’s significance.

Today, this Giulietta Sprint Zagato represents a rare opportunity to acquire a genuine, period-raced SZ with outstanding provenance, extensive supporting documentation, and a no-expense-spared restoration carried out by acknowledged marque specialists. Universally regarded as one of the purest expressions of Zagato’s philosophy - lightweight construction, functional beauty, and motorsport credibility. It is not only historically important but also a delight to drive, offering an engaging and rewarding experience that modern cars simply cannot replicate.