Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ
Encyclopedia
The Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ (also known as the Alfa Romeo TZ or Tubolare Zagato) was a small sports car
manufactured by Alfa Romeo
from 1963 to 1967. It replaced the Giulietta SZ
.
The original TZ, currently sometimes referenced as TZ1 to differ from later TZ2, was developed in together with Autodelta
, a company led by Ex-Ferrari engineer Carlo Chiti
. It featured a 1570 cc twin cam engine
and other mechanical components shared with the Alfa Romeo Giulia
and carried a 105 series chassis number, but was a purpose built sports racing car
, with a tubular spaceframe chassis, light all-aluminium bodywork, disc brakes and independent suspension. The result was a lightweight coupé
of only 650 kilograms (1,433 lb) and top speed of 134 miles per hour (59.9 m/s). The TZ was built both for street and racing trim, with the latest racing versions producing up to 160 bhp. Alfa's twin-spark cylinder head, as also used in the GTA, contributed to the speed of the TZ; the standard Giulia alloy block with wet steel liners was installed at an angle under the hood of the TZ to improve airflow.
Aiding the TZ in its quest for performance was the treatment of the rear bodywork. Incorporating the research of Dr. Wunibald Kamm, the TZ used a style called "coda tronca" in Italian, meaning "short tail.", otherwise known as the Kamm tail. The principle is that unless you are willing to incorporate an aircraft-like extended tail (not practical for an automobile), there is surprisingly little increase in drag by simply chopping the tail at an angle. Zagato had previously proved the success of this tail treatment in their "coda tronca" Sprint Zagato sports-racing cars, and it was a natural evolution to adapt this to the Giulia TZ.
The car debuted
at the 1963 FISA
Monza Cup, where TZs took the first four places in the prototype category. At the beginning of 1964 the TZ was homologated (100 units were needed for homologation) to the Gran Turismo category. After homologation it started to take more class wins in Europe and North-America. Of the first TZ, 112 units were built between 1963 and 1965.
Only built as limited amount these TZ models are quite collectibles nowadays, listed price around 150,000-200,000 US dollars.
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In 1965 the car was updated with new fibreglass bodywork providing lower drag and reduced weight (620 kg). This new version was also made by Zagato. The new design was called the Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2. The TZ2 was only built as racing version with Autodelta prepared twin plug, dry sump lubrication engine producing around 170 bhp. With this engine the car reached top speed of
152 miles per hour (68 m/s). The rear window was also changed, now single unit rather than three part window in TZ. Development of TZ cars was stopped in the end of 1965, to make room for new GTA
racing program. Only 12 TZ2's were built.
in Italy
.
This unique car, based on the 8C Competizione, was made for German collector Martin Kapp and is not intended for sale or for competitions.
The car weights 850 kg (1,874 lb) thanks to its carbon fiber frame and hand beaten aluminium body and has 420 hp dry sump V8 4.7 litre engine. The car has a 6-speed sequential gearbox, it reaches a top speed of over 300 kilometre per hour and it can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometre per hour in 3.5 seconds.
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
manufactured by Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
from 1963 to 1967. It replaced the Giulietta SZ
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
The Alfa Romeo Giulietta was a subcompact automobile manufactured by the Italian car maker Alfa Romeo from 1954 to 1965. The Giulietta was introduced at the Turin Motor Show in 1954 and almost 132,000 were built in the Portello factory in Milan.The first Giulietta model was a coupé, the Giulietta...
.
TZ
Autodelta
Autodelta SpA was the name of Alfa Romeo's competition department. Established in 1961 as Auto-Delta, the company was started by Carlo Chiti, a former Alfa Romeo and Ferrari engineer, and Ludovico Chizzola, an official Alfa Romeo dealer. The team was officially made a department of Alfa Romeo on...
, a company led by Ex-Ferrari engineer Carlo Chiti
Carlo Chiti
Carlo Chiti was an Italian racing car and engine designer. Chiti is best known for his long association with Alfa Romeo's racing department....
. It featured a 1570 cc twin cam engine
Alfa Romeo Twin Cam engine
The all alloy Alfa Romeo Twin Cam engine series was an inline-4 cylinder engine produced by Alfa Romeo from 1954 to 1994. For earlier Alfa Romeo engines featuring twin camshafts, refer to the main Alfa Romeo page...
and other mechanical components shared with the Alfa Romeo Giulia
Alfa Romeo Giulia
The Alfa Romeo Giulia is an Alfa Romeo automobile. Alfa was one of the first manufacturers to put a powerful engine in a light-weight car for mainstream production. The Giulia weighed about . The car was equipped with a light alloy twin overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine, similar to that of...
and carried a 105 series chassis number, but was a purpose built sports racing car
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
, with a tubular spaceframe chassis, light all-aluminium bodywork, disc brakes and independent suspension. The result was a lightweight coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
of only 650 kilograms (1,433 lb) and top speed of 134 miles per hour (59.9 m/s). The TZ was built both for street and racing trim, with the latest racing versions producing up to 160 bhp. Alfa's twin-spark cylinder head, as also used in the GTA, contributed to the speed of the TZ; the standard Giulia alloy block with wet steel liners was installed at an angle under the hood of the TZ to improve airflow.
Aiding the TZ in its quest for performance was the treatment of the rear bodywork. Incorporating the research of Dr. Wunibald Kamm, the TZ used a style called "coda tronca" in Italian, meaning "short tail.", otherwise known as the Kamm tail. The principle is that unless you are willing to incorporate an aircraft-like extended tail (not practical for an automobile), there is surprisingly little increase in drag by simply chopping the tail at an angle. Zagato had previously proved the success of this tail treatment in their "coda tronca" Sprint Zagato sports-racing cars, and it was a natural evolution to adapt this to the Giulia TZ.
The car debuted
at the 1963 FISA
Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile
The Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile was the governing body for motor racing events. The organisation's origins date from 1922, when the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile delegated the organisation of automobile racing to the CSI , an autonomous committee that would later...
Monza Cup, where TZs took the first four places in the prototype category. At the beginning of 1964 the TZ was homologated (100 units were needed for homologation) to the Gran Turismo category. After homologation it started to take more class wins in Europe and North-America. Of the first TZ, 112 units were built between 1963 and 1965.
Only built as limited amount these TZ models are quite collectibles nowadays, listed price around 150,000-200,000 US dollars.
Engine
- 1570 cc straight-4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
DOHC 112 bhp (82 kW) at 6500 rpm (road trim), 160 bhp (118 kW) (race trim)
TZ2
152 miles per hour (68 m/s). The rear window was also changed, now single unit rather than three part window in TZ. Development of TZ cars was stopped in the end of 1965, to make room for new GTA
Alfa Romeo GTA
The GTA 1300 Junior had a 1300 cc engine that was based on the 1600 engine but with a short stroke crankshaft. The GTA Junior in stradale form did not have many of the light weight features of the 1600 GTA, such as the plastic windows, magnesium engine components and alloy wheels. At start...
racing program. Only 12 TZ2's were built.
Engine
- 1570 cc straight-4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
DOHC (twin plugSpark plugA spark plug is an electrical device that fits into the cylinder head of some internal combustion engines and ignites compressed fuels such as aerosol, gasoline, ethanol, and liquefied petroleum gas by means of an electric spark.Spark plugs have an insulated central electrode which is connected by...
) 170 bhp (125 kW) at 7000 rpm
Zagato TZ3 Corsa
In honor of 100 years of Alfa's house, Zagato designed a one-off car that was first presented and won the 2010 edition of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'EsteConcorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este
Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este is a renowned elegance competition for classic and vintage cars. It has taken place every year since 1929 during the last weekend of April in Villa d'Este on the shores of Lake Como, Italy...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
This unique car, based on the 8C Competizione, was made for German collector Martin Kapp and is not intended for sale or for competitions.
The car weights 850 kg (1,874 lb) thanks to its carbon fiber frame and hand beaten aluminium body and has 420 hp dry sump V8 4.7 litre engine. The car has a 6-speed sequential gearbox, it reaches a top speed of over 300 kilometre per hour and it can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometre per hour in 3.5 seconds.