Alfa Romeo Forums banner

Alfaholics Junior Z-R

11K views 29 replies 20 participants last post by  Peter A 
#1 ·
Would assume that most here have heard about the sensational Junior Z built by Alfaholics that was commissioned by Gordon Murray. The specs alone sound incredible: 2.1l TwinSpark engine, GTA-R suspension kit, LSD, competition rear end and on and on. Subtle but reimagined styling that I find sensational. Another one is being built right now for a LA collector. To me, this eats Signer's lunch. Just hope it will be limited to a few so we don't lose more original cars.

1603759

1603760

1603761

1603762
1603763
1603764
1603765
 
See less See more
7
#2 ·
mbaum said:
Subtle but reimagined styling that I find sensational.
I see Ferrari-style exterior door handles replacing the OE rectangular handles, body-color rear bumper, front bumper delete, and interior changes. What else has been changed styling-wise?

What sort of a steering column would tilt the wheel to the vertical like this? Well, one with a CV joint, I guess.

 
#3 ·
It appears Gordon Murray has no appreciation for classic cars. Surely considering he designed one of the fastest road cars performance would not matter when he looks at older cars? ... heck just drive a McLaren F1 if you want to go fast.

He's also ruined an original survivor 2 door Mk1 Ford Escort. Don't get it. If you don't like old cars, leave them for those that do. At least with this Alfa it could be returned to original if necessary, the Escort could do but it would be a mammoth task.

Wish I could buy a McLaren F1 and stick a Chevy in it ... and park it outside his house!
Pete
 
#24 ·
It appears Gordon Murray has no appreciation for classic cars. Surely considering he designed one of the fastest road cars performance would not matter when he looks at older cars? ... heck just drive a McLaren F1 if you want to go fast.
I understand your purist attitude, but he has plenty of original survivor cars that would also benefit from a resto-mod treatment and he has resisted the desire to do so and leave them pure, as-is though they arent up to the daily driver ability... I think his passion for lightweight vehicles and the fact that he drives this and the Escort quite often is a testament to his appreciation for these older cars.

 
#4 ·
Gordon Murray has the bona fides and the resources to do whatever the heck he wants to any car he wants. This little green thing is pretty sensational I'd say. As for a McLaren with a Chevy I bet he'd say "live it up, mate."
 
#5 · (Edited)
It's not Alfa Romeo anymore. Just another restomod which was done without any respect to the original car, to the car as the cultural heritage.

This Alfa can't be returned to the original one as he changed the floor of the car to allow him to sit comfortable.

The same as to put modern dress and make up on the face of the lady from 19th century artwork

This car looks silly now and will look very stupid in 10 years


Sent from my Z957 using Tapatalk
 
#8 ·
EB101, I don't know what this Junior Z looked like when he bought it, so maybe in this case it was not a good example of a survivor and needed a restoration ... anyway, so no harm done.

BUT the wonderfully original survivor Ford Escort Mk1 was an absolutely mint car that had never been F'ed with. Still had it's original skinny tyres, hubcaps, everything ............................... and then they cut it to pieces to stick a modern running gear in it, including independent rear suspension, etc. I'm sure it's now a great car, but why not start with a crashed rally car that has rolled down a hill, and leave the extremely rare survivors to those that actually like originality. Remember you cannot return a car to survivor condition; they are the rarest of classic cars.

Considering that Mk1 Escorts make great race cars, the fact that 1 had survived in original condition until the past 2010 is utterly amazing! ... but no more.

Just because you are loaded shouldn't mean you can do as you please to anything, but of course it does .... shame that
Pete
 
#11 ·
I get the drive to keep things original for rare cars like a Junior Z, but ultimately a car is a piece of private property not public domain.

Gordon doesn't have to "leave old cars to those who like old cars", he doesn't have to protect the car's cultural heritage. He is free to do whatever he wants with his own vehicle.
 
#12 ·
In a shocking update I can reveal he also has an SVZ with a NON ORIGINAL ENGINE! Although original is in reserve for when needed. His design studio is nearby to us (located next to the original Top Gear track) and we were once (accidentally) graced with his presence at a section meet.

The horror here and elsewhere at the sins done to original cars like these is misplaced IMO quite simply because while the cars are rare there are actually a reasonably large number of both still around - certainly in the hundreds, probably thousands worldwide. And their societal worth is somewhat less than a 2900B both in value and volume.

If it was being done to, for example a GTA or an escort with rally winning pedigree or significant history then it would be a different matter.

The escort was nowhere near a lovely original car when work started, the engine bay, interior and trim were all shot, from the look of the engine bay it was unlikely it ran. There was repaired crash damage with unwanted bondo, and big holes in the floor. The shell was, however repairable and mainly rust free (for the UK)

To see them all of them maintained as complete period originals would be quite boring. There are plenty of originals of both the Junior Z (we have a lovely example in exactly that Kermit green in the local section and I know of another under restoration again in green) or Escort. There's plenty of room for him to do this.

I'd like to see that junior Z pushed hard on a track. With the smaller body and possibly less weight. theoretically it could be quicker than the Alfaholics GTA-R replicas.
 
#13 ·
Nothing exciting about the very common hotted up old(er) car too.

All that people are doing is making them perform like moderner cars ... I just buy the moderner car when I want that feeling.

And when you discuss Mk1 Escorts and Alfas, I believe there are way more modified/raced up than standard as they suit being played with.

Anyway, I'm keeping my 1750 dead standard to do what I preach
Pete
 
#15 ·
it is all very personal.

I owned a JZ 1600 ( original ) but I would love to drive in this one !
Personally I think this Z-R it looks great and it will drive also great no doubt about that.

Mr. Murray can affort this and perhaps he has another JZ 100% original in his garage and has stocked all original parts for the future.

BTW; to my knowledge the JZ was not delivered with RHD configuration.
 
#17 ·
I wonder how they "shoe horned" a twin spark motor into the car; did they modify the lower cross member? The hood doesn't look modified (to gain clearance on the top). Dry sump maybe?. I have a "regular" 2L in my car and there isn't a lot of clearance; whats the twin spark - 20mm taller?
 
#20 ·
Just surfing the forums here. I'm a big fan of real "survivor" cars that are truly original-it's only original once and you can never return it to that state. I don't know if this one qualifies. A nice, older restoration does not qualify. In that case it's the owner's choice. I actually think this car could actually do some good, elevating the car out of relative automotive obscurity in the eyes of the general public. You can always return a non-survivor back to factory spec, If you really want (read: $$$).
 
#25 ·
we're here because we're passionate about Alfa Romeos especially the rare - the history performance design and as industrial art - let's promote preserving them rather than imposing our egos on them. stick a dick in something else or keep it digital.
 
#27 ·
stick a dick in something else or keep it digital.
Uuuuuuuh.........a car leaving the factory is just as long original as you fill it up or add some compressed air into a tyre.

If someone wants to keep a car historically original, you should today still use leaded fuel, drive on diagonal tires and fit non-automatic seat belts.

The AH JuniorZ restomod still fully is an Alfa Romeo.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top