Quattroruote Zagato

[Nicola]

There was one at the Alfa Deco this year in Tulsa. It was cream with black fenders. Not caring whether it was "stylized" or not, I thought it looked fantastic with the other Zagatos in front of Art Deco inspired buildings at the Water Treatment Facility where the concours was held. I believe it was a Dallas Texas car.
The one in Pullman Washington is owned by Bill Weed. I saw him at the 4th of July Historic Races in Seattle and he confirmed that he still owns the car. I'm not sure of the color scheme.

[SZRacer]

Luzzago have one for sale:

http://www.luzzago.com/index.asp?a=cars_detail&ID=8933


Regards,

James

[TX907]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicola There was one at the Alfa Deco this year in Tulsa. It was cream with black fenders. Not caring whether it was "stylized" or not, I thought it looked fantastic with the other Zagatos in front of Art Deco inspired buildings at the Water Treatment Facility where the concours was held. I believe it was a Dallas Texas car.

[twoliterlover]

Ken Shaff never owned the car. It was owned by his good friend Bob Shrader of Castro Valley just over the hill from Maraga toward the coast. Bob had that car (which he cleverly fitted with webers) at Quail Lodge for the 1994 Concorso Italiano where I first saw it (and Ken's beautiful blue 102 Touring Spyder). Later got to know both well enough to write to them and visit them when I came to bay area in California from Seattle when the kids were in college. Bob sold his beautiful car in 2001 for $45,000, so I know they hold their value (even if Stu says they don't look good and someone else said they needed larger size wheels). Another friend of mine took delivery on the dock in Seattle of a used one from Italy (he had paid $22,000 in 1980?) and drove it n the dead of winter to Boise, Idaho (fellow later moved to Portland area). NO HEATER. It was a terrible drive for him over the pass on the Blue mountains between Pendleton and Baker Oregon. He was wearing WWII leather flight suit so he would not freeze. But not only did the frost get on the outside of the window but on the inside too. A person can only drive so far with his head stuck out of the side (no roll up windows either). But CHOICE THING ABOUT CAR was use of standard Giulia mechanicals and the auspicies of Alfa factor in producing them. And having a body by Zagato is kind of keen too. Would love to have one. Fun to drive. Easy to keep running. A head turner, but not very practical in Seattle. It is known to rain here. A lot! (Always throw that in to keep more people from coming to this most beautiful city in the world with its green grass and trees and water and mountains and sky).

[arco27]

Italsedanman (Ben Muso) mentioned my 4R in Northern NSW, Australia. It has done less then 50000km and is completely original and believed to be the only rhd car built. It was never meant to be a replica of the 1929 1750GS Zagato. It was built by Zagato and Alfa Romeo on the instigation of the Italian car Magazine Quatroroute as a commemorative car to the great coach building tradition and workmanship of Italy. Mainly in response to various feeble attempts elsewhere to recreate Bugattis and Mercedes out of Fiberglass and plastic with VW Platforms and mechanicals or some US engines. The 4R was an official Alfa Model hand built by Zagato. No 2 examples I have seen are the same. Love it or hate it, you got to take you hat off to Alfa Romeo for having the guts to built those cars between 1966 and 68. For all those who knock it, I wish I could take you for a drive on country roads over our green hills here on a nice sunny day, I bet you would find it hard to wipe a smile of your face.
There are more pictures of my car here:
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/show...379#post299379

[dretceterini]

IMO, a much more attractive copy of the 6c1750, but not very many were made:

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/etceteri...03212821437/68

[arco27]

I hope you like this picture of the Zagato factory assembly line for 4R's in 1966.
Take special note of the transport robots and the carefully indexed spare parts

[zak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by M635dude My dad use to have one, I'll see if I can dig up some specs on it.

[aenlle]

This thread seems to be loaded wiht people that don't like the 4r. I would suggest that that individuals who don't like the 4R or any other particular model just don't post and just stick to what to the ones they like. No offense intended by the way.

[lacorsanostra]

I wish far more people disliked this car, so it'd come down in price and I could get one.

-Joe in SoFla

[italiansedanman]

I CAN understand why the car is disliked - but I promise after a close encounter you'll change your mind. Regard it as another Alfa Romeo 'first', and listen to the purity of the engine unimpeded by a fully enclosed steel body. It is a terrific car, perhaps not total justice to the Jano 1750, but in its own right its lovely.

[lacorsanostra]

You're not helping.

-Joe in SoFla

[dretceterini]

I prefer the Pettenella Leontina (see link on post 36). Only a handful were made, but it looks a lot more like the 6c1750 that the 4R. I'm not saying the 4R is a bad car; it just looks a little too much like a Siata Spring for my taste...

[arco27]

You are still missing the point. The car was never meant to be a copy of Janos 6C1750. In turn the Pettenella Leontina WAS supposed to be a copy, in other words a fake 6C1750 and atrociously expensive to boot.
The 4R in turn was conceived and built in response to a flood of fiberglass Bugattis and SLK Mercedes built on VW platforms.
The Italian car magazine Quatroroutes response was to approach Zagato and Alfa to see if a Vintage looking car with modern mechanicals could be properly built and could perform like a sports car. And I think they succeeded brilliantly.
The little 4R is all Alfa, its engine sings and it handles like a go-cart. There is no sign of fiberglass anywhere and no VW hay blower in the boot (trunk). Alfa Romeo is still the only major car company who dared to visit their past with a modern twist.
The SIATA Spring from the same period was just a fun car for cruising the Riviera and still miles better than a fake plastic Bugatti.
This is my final say in this matter and anyone who does not like the 4R does not have to buy one and can look the other way should one ever pass them, hopefully there will be a Chevy Corvair on the other side.

[lacorsanostra]

Dear 4R owners,

Resistance is futile.

It has been conclusively proven that the car is, frankly, awful. I feel for you. However, being a compassionate man, I'd hate for you to wallow in the self-pity that often accompanies such a harrowing waste of funds, time and energy and emotion...so I'll pay each of you a very generous $5,000 to help you maintain some semblance of self-respect and take the car off your hands. I'll even pay for shipping.

What ya say?

Contact me off list...

-Joe in SoFla, Mr. Charitable