06-29-2007, 02:47 PM
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Factory Zagato Prototype
Bear with me as this is my first try at uploading images..
These are original promo pictures (factory?) of a 2600 SZ prototype that never made it to production. I don't know which year these pictures are from or if this was a show car. Although some styling cues did make it into the final model, there are very few similarities to the actual production car. I see hints of the GTZ in the tail design, a C-pillar reminiscent of the Lancia Zagatos, and an early dash that looks to be from the 2000/2600 spider series? No one can ever accuse Alfa of playing it safe in the 60's! Can you imagine rolling up to a club meet in one of these?
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'62 Giulietta Sprint
'59 Fiat 1200TV
Last edited by phila3885; 07-01-2007 at 07:03 PM.
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06-29-2007, 03:05 PM
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This is AR 856001. The pictures were probably taken either in late February or early March of 1963, most likely just before the re-bodied car shown at the car show in Geneva. There are 2 more pictures from this series as can be seen here:
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Ruedi
'63 2600 Touring Spider (reassembly in progress)
'65 2600 SZ (resto project)
Maintainer of a 2600 SZ register (not the Dutch one).
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06-29-2007, 03:06 PM
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Phil,
Very interesting! I love these historical photos.
Thanks
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06-29-2007, 03:08 PM
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When the car was introduced at the Salone di Torino in October, 1962, it had a slightly different nose (no ugly bump on the hood, and no gaps through the side of the front fenders) and a very different rear:
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Ruedi
'63 2600 Touring Spider (reassembly in progress)
'65 2600 SZ (resto project)
Maintainer of a 2600 SZ register (not the Dutch one).
Last edited by tubut; 06-29-2007 at 03:16 PM.
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06-29-2007, 03:09 PM
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by tubut
This is AR 856001. The pictures were probably taken either in late February or early March of 1963, most likely just before the re-bodied car shown at the car show in Geneva. There are 2 more pictures from this series as can be seen here:
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Phil
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'62 Giulietta Sprint
'59 Fiat 1200TV
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06-29-2007, 03:10 PM
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Presumably in the 1970s, the car was further butchered by the Alfa Romeo museum (where the car is now located), when ugly hood scoops reminiscent of the 1900 SSZ were added and the car repainted:
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Ruedi
'63 2600 Touring Spider (reassembly in progress)
'65 2600 SZ (resto project)
Maintainer of a 2600 SZ register (not the Dutch one).
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06-29-2007, 03:16 PM
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So the car exists today, as modified in the Factory museum? Impressive research and great pics, too, Reudi!
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'62 Giulietta Sprint
'59 Fiat 1200TV
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06-29-2007, 03:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phila3885
So the car exists today, as modified in the Factory museum? Impressive research and great pics, too, Reudi!
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I'm still trying to find more and larger pictures (and hopefully in color) of the 1962 version for the 2600 SZ register. I know it was shown in several magazines, but was outbid on the auctions these pictures are from (any help identifying the sources would be greatly appreciated):
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Ruedi
'63 2600 Touring Spider (reassembly in progress)
'65 2600 SZ (resto project)
Maintainer of a 2600 SZ register (not the Dutch one).
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06-29-2007, 03:39 PM
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On the first version, and on the yellow car today in the museum, the whole engine hood tilts forward as on a TZ. The way the trunk opens is also different than on the blue car. I think the blue car is another prototype and not the same car with coachwork modifications..
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06-29-2007, 04:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dretceterini
On the first version, and on the yellow car today in the museum, the whole engine hood tilts forward as on a TZ. The way the trunk opens is also different than on the blue car. I think the blue car is another prototype and not the same car with coachwork modifications..
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The current information indicates that it is the same car, built on chassis 191575 under Zagato #629 and delivered on 30-Oct-62 for the salon in Turin, then re-bodied under Zagato #647, and delivered to Alfa Romeo on 03-Mar-63, for the salon in Geneva. A third Zagato number (#1884) exists for this car, probably from the 1970s when the hood scoops were added.
I have been trying to get information from Alfa Romeo to find out how many chassis were delivered to Zagato during that time, but Elvira did not get around to find out for me. No reliable information seems to exist from Zagato, and I was told Ercole Spada doesn't like to talk about the 2600 SZ because he wasn't happy with the design and/or the outcome.
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Ruedi
'63 2600 Touring Spider (reassembly in progress)
'65 2600 SZ (resto project)
Maintainer of a 2600 SZ register (not the Dutch one).
Last edited by tubut; 06-29-2007 at 05:40 PM.
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06-29-2007, 04:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dretceterini
On the first version, and on the yellow car today in the museum, the whole engine hood tilts forward as on a TZ. The way the trunk opens is also different than on the blue car. I think the blue car is another prototype and not the same car with coachwork modifications..
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Ruedi
'63 2600 Touring Spider (reassembly in progress)
'65 2600 SZ (resto project)
Maintainer of a 2600 SZ register (not the Dutch one).
Last edited by tubut; 06-29-2007 at 04:58 PM.
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06-29-2007, 05:01 PM
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Thanks guys for the interesting photos.
Does the info. gathered so far suggest that this car was a one off which was later reworked though? The only reason I ask is that if you look closely at the shot in the l/h top corner in post #8 you can see above the bonnet (hood) of the Alfa in the foreground a car with very similar tail treatment parked against the curb. Or am I mistaken ?
I agree about the "restyling" of the yellow car too. Leather hood straps ? What were they thinking.....??!!
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06-29-2007, 05:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arvorio 105
Does the info. gathered so far suggest that this car was a one off which was later reworked though? The only reason I ask is that if you look closely at the shot in the l/h top corner in post #8 you can see above the bonnet (hood) of the Alfa in the foreground a car with very similar tail treatment parked against the curb. Or am I mistaken ?
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With respect to the car in the background of the picture in post #8, I believe this is the Giulia TZ prototype that was also shown in Turin (these pictures may have been taken when the cars were loaded or unloaded from a truck before or after the show).
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Ruedi
'63 2600 Touring Spider (reassembly in progress)
'65 2600 SZ (resto project)
Maintainer of a 2600 SZ register (not the Dutch one).
Last edited by tubut; 06-29-2007 at 05:35 PM.
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06-29-2007, 05:31 PM
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It appears the main differences between the '62 and the '63 cars is the '63 has a front-tilting cowl vs. the conventional hood of the earlier car, and the later car has a modified rear panel (taillights appear incorporated in the flat panel rather than in their own fairings, comparing the photos)
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'62 Giulietta Sprint
'59 Fiat 1200TV
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06-29-2007, 06:07 PM
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I'm confused. Are you saying that the blue car in posts 4, 8 and at the bottom of post 11 was the first body, and that the car in posts 1 and 2, plus the yellow car (post 6) which is in the museum is the second body on the same chassis? If this is the case, I can see it being 2 different bodies on the same chassis. The car at the top of post 11 is a TZ prototype.
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