1965 Alfa Romero SSZ First Prototype

[smestas]

I just saw this SSZ listed in a Russo and Steele Auction.

Here is a link to the listing page.
1965 Alfa Romero SSZ First Prototype - RussoandSteele.com

Copy from the link above:

This car is the first of four SSZ (Sprint Speciale Zat) prototypes built by Tom Zat, a world-renowned expert, on an A-R Sprint Speciale Chassis. The Alfa Romeo factory contacted Zat about building a car to win the SCCA National Championship. Zat proposed a racer based on the Bertone-designed Sprint Speciale. With factory blessings and support, Zat began work on this project by building four prototypes of what would later become a dominant and successful racecar line. The first four were built on Alfa Romeo SS chassis, and future SSZs were built on tube frames. Zat campaigned SSZ cars in S.C.C.A., and took home three national championships.

Zat’s first prototype was born from a 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale. It has a heavily modified racing suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, alloy body panels, low-nose bodywork, a locked 5.12 rear end, and a whopping 140hp! It is a matching-numbers car featured on the cover of the Alfa Owner Magazine and numerous other publications. Of four prototypes built by Zat, only two remain, this first prototype and the first tilt front clip car, still owned by Zat. The other two vehicles have been completely destroyed.

It was displayed for a decade in the Alfa Heaven Museum, which holds North America’s largest collection of Alfas. Additionally, it has been traced through all previous owners, and has a well-documented history.


Russo and Steele Collector Automobiles
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday
March 27th - 29th, 2008
Hollywood, Florida

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I have no affiliation with the car or sale I'm just passing information to the community as I think this is a interesting Alfa.

[italcarguy]

Didn't they sell that car at Monterey a couple years back?

[dretceterini]

Zat and Ray Milo brought the later, tube chassis, Alfa 164 powered car for display a few years ago. THe car was at Ray Milo's shop in North Hollywood, and both Charlie T. and I got to drive it before it went up to Monterey

[smestas]

Quote:

Originally Posted by italcarguy Didn't they sell that car at Monterey a couple years back?

[velocedoc]

I guess I must be living under a rock because this is the first I have heard of Zat's SS cars even existing. The pile of parts cars that existed that went to San Diego and eventually to APE, I was aware of. I also knew he had some Veloce spiders in the pile. However, here is the first time I have heard of his SS efforts. Can someone fill me in more about these cars and the racing history please? Photographs are appreciated.

[tubut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by velocedoc I guess I must be living under a rock because this is the first I have heard of Zat's SS cars even existing. The pile of parts cars that existed that went to San Diego and eventually to APE, I was aware of. I also knew he had some Veloce spiders in the pile. However, here is the first time I have heard of his SS efforts. Can someone fill me in more about these cars and the racing history please? Photographs are appreciated.

[velocedoc]

Interesting links. Thank you for sharing. My next effort will be to call Tom and introduce myself. I hope to have an interesting conversation with him, I am sure I will.

[tubut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by velocedoc Interesting links. Thank you for sharing. My next effort will be to call Tom and introduce myself. I hope to have an interesting conversation with him, I am sure I will.

[dretceterini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPF well, Tom's place is still called "Alfa" Heaven, and it's still packed with Alfas, and he's still selling Alfa parts... doesn't sound like TOO far a distance! -jason WA, USA

[JoeCab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPF well, Tom's place is still called "Alfa" Heaven, and it's still packed with Alfas, and he's still selling Alfa parts... doesn't sound like TOO far a distance!

[dretceterini]

I've know Tom for at least 25 years. He has always been a curmudgeon, like me. I never had any problems in dealing with him.

Tom finally got tired of a lot of the Alfa people, and basically, sold all the parts and a few cars to Mark Guinter.

Mark went out of business some time ago (at least 3-4 years). He was claiming he didn't get everything he paid for, and Tom said he wasn't paid for everything he sent. I told both Tom and Mark I didn't want to get in the middle of any dispute they had.

I have no idea where what was "left over" when Mark went out of business went to.

If Tom has some parts, it can't be very much. He still has a number of interesting cars, but as I said earlier, the stuff has been just sitting and rotting away for years.

[velocedoc]

Ape got Marks parts and left overs.

[2000 touring sp]

Tom Zat still has a web site
collector vehicles