Do Look Back: Minerbi

Showing posts with label Minerbi. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Alfa Romeo TZ1

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ and TZ models are well documented in Marcello Minerbi’s 1985 study, published by La Mille Miglia Editrice. In the book’s foreword, Giuseppe Busso outlined the somewhat tortured gestation of the TZ, from initial concept in 1955, through the ‘exploratory,’ but flawed, Abarth collaboration known as the 750 Competizione/Sport, on to the 1961 spider prototype.

Courtesy Alfa Romeo Automobilismo Storico

Despite the disappointment of the 750, Alfa Romeo design chief, Orazio Satta Puliga (Satta) and Busso determined that Alfa Romeo should create a lightweight, (tubular spaceframe chassis), sporting GT, with serious racing potential. Power would come from the four cylinder engine that was such a distinctive feature of the Giulietta saloons and coupes with which Satta had achieved much commercial and reputational success for the Marque. The model and its engine had enabled Alfa Romeo to gain a foothold in the mass market. Necessary as this was, both Busso and Satta remained true to Alfa’s romantic sport/racing heritage, the latter saying:

Alfa Romeo is not merely a make of automobile, it is truly something more than a conventionally built car. There are many automotive makes, among which Alfa Romeo stands apart. It is a kind of affliction, an enthusiasm for a means of transport. What it resists is definition. Its’ elements are like those of the human spirit which cannot be explained in logical terms. They are sensations, passions, things that have much more to do with a man’s heart than with his brain.

So, in 1960, Busso’s team built a prototype chassis, which, on completion, was shipped to Zagato. (Minerbi’s text is ambiguous, suggesting that there were two examples involved). The body fabricated by the carrozziere was a spider with removable targa-type hardtop. Progress was not especially rapid and it was not until the autumn that testing was begun. On track, at Monza, the car’s aerodynamics were soon found to be flawed. This consideration, coupled with handling issues – mainly related to the new (independent) rear suspension, saw the car turning disappointing lap times – unable to match those then being achieved by the established, but lower engine capacity (1300) Giulietta Sprint Zagato. I took nearly twelve months for a full solution to be found in regard to the rear suspension, but the drag problem was sooner resolved by the adoption of a fully closed, streamlined roof – a TZ now looked like a TZ! However, further experimentation with points of detail, such as the nose length/profile, delayed the emergence of the definitive TZ1 form until March 1963, after presentation at the Turin Motor Show in the previous October. Designated as tipo 105.11, series production was organised on a dispersed basis: chassis by SAI Ambrosini, a now defunct aircraft constructor, then seeking to diversify; body by Zagato; engine upgrading and suspension build was entrusted to Auto Delta, the business set-up by Carlo Chiti and Lodovico Chizzola after their departure from Ferrari following the infamous Night of the Long Lives saga of October 1961. Subsequently restyled as Autodelta SpA and integrated with Alfa Romeo SpA, Chiti’s enterprise also took responsibility for further development of the car together with its racing participation and evolution. In this role, Autodelta can be seen as a precursor to operations such as Porsche’s Weissach facility and BMW’s M Division. And an excellent team it was too, with many touring car (especially with the Giulia GTA/GTAm) and prototype sports car (Alfa 33) championship successes.

An account of the ‘birth’ and initial problems of the TZ1 appeared in the March 1992 issue of Autocapital magazine – it can be read here.

The number of TZ1s built from 1963-65 has been variously reported, with most estimates being close to the figure of 100, as was required for FIA homologation purposes. Based on the register included in Minerbi’s book, and taking account of some additional insight by Luigi Fusi, (lifetime employee at Alfa Romeo and the company’s archive curator), the correct number is 109. (The aspect which gives rise to most doubts is the period during which the TZ2 model emerged, with chassis numbers previously thought TZ1-related now attributed to TZ2s, and a few TZ1s physically converted to TZ2 specification.)

There is particular uncertainty about the very first production chassis number, #750001 – although Minerbi records it as ‘Restored. Showroom car. Present owner: M. Hayashi, Japan,’ it is elsewhere stated that it was destroyed during the production run, and, alternatively, assigned to a car not built until 1965. However, it is not unexpected for there to be a measure of vagueness and conflicting reports about such specialised cars built now so long ago. Mostly, the first dozen cars are described as race versions, initially owned/run by Alfa Romeo itself and/or factory-supported teams including Milan-based Scuderia St. Ambroeus. Both #750003 and #750006 were prepared for and run in 1964 high profile events such as the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Targa Florio and the Nurburgring 1000 kms. At Le Mans, several drivers were involved, including, Roberto Bussinello, Jean Rolland, Fernand Masoero, Giampiero Biscaldi, Giancarlo Sala and Bruno Bonini. #006 finished in 15^th place. Even better, #011 was 13^th and winner of the GT1.6 class, driven by Bussinello and Bruno Deserti. At the Nurburgring, Scuderia St. Ambroeus again ran three TZ1s, and although one suffered engine failure, #028 was the GT1.6 class winner, finishing 13^th overall, with #011 next up in 14^th. The team was also successful at the Targa Florio, #006 and #031 coming in 3^rd and 4^th, 1^st and 2^nd in class. From this selection of results it will be seen that the TZ1 was immediately a highly competitive race car at major events. Indeed, it had achieved its first class win – with Lorenzo Bandini at the wheel - before the close of 1963 at the (admittedly less prestigious) Coppa F I S A (Monza), with examples driven by, Bussinello, Giancarlo Baghetti and Consalvo Sanesi, finishing in overall 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th.

In 1965 the TZ2 entered competition and took the class honours in the Monza 1000 kms event. However, TZ1s continued to achieve consistent success in the GT1.6 class at several significant meetings – at that Monza race, for example, taking 2^nd to 5^th places in class. Lucien Bianchi and Jean Rolland drove a TZ1 to 7^th overall and 1^st in class at the Targa Florio, with 2^nd to 5^th places also claimed by the model. In the Mugello round of the World Sportscar Championship, Carlo Zuccoli and Guido Rava took the GT1.6 class victory. At Enna, Guido Rava won the GT1.6 class in the Coppa Citta. There were Hillclimb class victories at Stallavena, Bologna Raticosa, Coppa della Sila, Bolzano-Mendola and Desana-Sestrieres. Beyond Italy, the TZ1 was also racking up class victories in Germany – at the Avus DARM meeting, (Jochen Neerpasch), in England – at Donnington, (Boley Pittard), and was being campaigned in SCCA events in the U.S.

#108. Class winner, 1965 Targa Florio ©MotorsportImages

The results of the following year’s Targa Florio were salutary – an Autodelta TZ2 managed 4^th overall and the class victory, (with team cars also 2^nd and 3^rd in class,) whilst TZ1s were no higher overall than 24^th and 4^th in class. For the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, 2 cars were entered, but, as was the case with several TZ2s, they did not run. Broadly, the season was a disappointing one for the TZ1 – it was not matching the pace of the TZ2 or its direct competitors such as the MGB and the Lotus Elan. But as the TZ1’s achievements diminished, the TZ2 scored good results and, subsequently, the Giulia GTA became Autodelta’s winning machine through the latter half of the decade.

Minerbi’s register suggests that 9 cars were constructed as TZ2s, the final chassis number being #750117, built in 1967. The model had been launched at the Geneva Show in March 1965. Significant changes from the TZ1 and which were instrumental in how quickly and comprehensively the TZ2 displaced the superseded model’s race competitiveness, were the body’s fibreglass construction, general lowering of engine/suspension/body and adoption as standard of the Conrero-built 165 bhp twin spark, dry sump version of the 1.6, 4 cylinder engine. The body materials revision had been presaged by the use of fibreglass in the manufacture of the final three TZ1s, (#107-8 and #110). These bodies were made by Balzaretti Modigliani SpA. The kerb weights were: 658 kgs, TZ1; 630 kgs TZ2. Improved aerodynamics resulting from the lower body form were further enhanced by a switch from 15” to 13” (light alloy Campagnolo) wheels.

The significance of the TZ1 stands above and beyond its own performance and competition results. At one level, it provided the substance for Autodelta’s consolidation/development and accumulation of experience in preparing cars for, and running them on, the track. Perhaps even more importantly, it served as the basis for the development TZ2 model, which itself would inform the creation of both the legendary touring car successor, the Giulia GTA, and the sports prototype 33, which would, in 1975, enable Alfa Romeo to reclaim the accolade of ‘world champions’ for the first time since 1951.

An account of the 'birth' and initial problems of the TZ1 appeared in the March 1992 issue of Autocapital magazine - it can be read here.

Friday, June 4, 2021

Mirror, Mirror, on the Door

In 1979 I was in my eighth year at BMW Concessionaires GB, still revelling in driving the Bavarian cars, especially the 2002 Tii and 3.0CSLs. When I had started at the UK national base on the Chiswick High Road, not that many people, especially outside London, even knew what B M W stood for, let alone had driven one. On my first visit to the Munich factory, a senior executive, talking about the marque’s future, said that there was an aspiration to design and build cars with the character and performance of those built in Arese; (Mercedes were dismissed as being ‘old men’s’ cars). By ‘79, most people were well aware of BMW, and many longed to own one, so successful had the marketing been throughout the decade. And with sales ever-growing, by 1979 the UK operation was to be reconfigured as a factory-subsidiary company with a brand new, purpose-built headquarters in Bracknell. How fortunate for me – I happened to live just a few miles away and had been getting increasingly fed-up with the daily commute from there into West London. But when I was a boy, one of my most favourite possessions was my copy of The Dumpy Pocket Book of Cars and Commercial Vehicles. The most thumbed pages of that little volume were the two showing and describing the products of Alfa Romeo. I was especially intrigued by the Giulietta variants, though how I pronounced that model name in my head was far from what an Italian would be expecting. That Sprint Speciale model! It made a huge impression on me, the trigger for a lifelong devotion to the Milanese make. So, when I received an invitation to join Alfa’s UK operation, I didn’t hesitate. Industry friends and acquaintances, especially the several whose ambition was to work for BMW, thought I was completely barmy. After the first week of my new commute – now into Edgware Road and through even more congested roads – I began to wonder if they were right.

But, in fact, my sanity was well protected – right from Day-1 I found myself elated by the cars to which I now had access, not least my personal allocated Alfasud 1.5Ti. With the windows down, and revving up to the red-line, the rasping note of that car’s exhaust was nothing less than life-affirming. And for the next 13 years I saw and drove a great many Alfas, in England and in Italy. Nothing unexpected if I say that the Sprint Veloce, Alfetta GTV6, Alfa 75 3.0 and SZ were particularly intoxicating, both to drive and ogle. Though already rare by the time of my joining, I also adored the Junior Z, Giulia GTV and Montreal. In an all-time Alfa beauty parade you would have to add to these the Alfa 33 Stradale, TZ1 and Sprint Speciale. But, for me, the most perfect of them all is the Giulietta Sprint Zagato.

The Giulietta model had debuted in ’54 in Sprint form. Styled at Bertone by Scaglione, the Alfa Sprint Veloce was both good-looking and also competitive on the race track. In ’56 a driver badly damaged his racing Sprint Veloce and decided to ask Zagato to restore it as a ‘one-off’ rather than just rebuild it. The result was a car looking quite similar to the SV, but with body panels in aluminium.

1958 Giulietta SVZ – Courtesy of Sotheby’s

Both the owner and Zagato liked the result, the Carrozzeria enough to decide to use it as the basis for a new model, the SVZ. Between ’56 and ’59, Zagato built (as conversions of Sprint Veloces) 16, (some say 18), SVZs. The good reception of the model spurred Alfa Romeo to the decision to commission Zagato to series-produce the SZ. Envisioning a good level of demand and more substantial sales, it was agreed that instead of having to dismantle a Sprint Veloce as the basis for each car, the factory would supply just the basic chassis platform to Zagato.

This post is primarily intended as an introduction to the Giulietta SZ for those not already familiar with it. It is not an exhaustive history or explanation of the model. For that purpose there is nothing better than Marcello Minerbi’s superb book, Alfa Romeo-Zagato SZ TZ, (1985 La Mille Miglia Editrice). Some of the information and images reproduced here stem from that source, (marked ^MM).

The SZ was first shown to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in March ‘60. It would continue in production until ’63. 204 examples were built, of which 30, at the end of the run, featured a revised body shape with a ‘chopped’ tail – these are referred to as the ‘Coda Tronca’ version and to my eye this design is less harmonious. The initial version has a rounded rear section, ‘Coda Tonda,’ and it is this that I say is the most beautiful Alfa of them all!

In May 2019 Sotheby’s sold a set of original Zagato blueprints which included this of the SZ Coda Tonda:

These photographs^MM show an SZ under construction in the Zagato works on Via Giorgini, just a little further North West from Milan than Alfa Romeo’s factory at Portello:

This is an Alfa Romeo Press Photograph of the SZ on launch:

The Giulietta SZ proved to be a very successful car on the track. Marcello Minerbi lists 55 outright/class wins in significant race events, ’60-’63. Included were 3 class wins in the Targa Florio and 2 overall victories in the Coupe des Alpes. It was also the winning car in the Italian 1300 GT Championship in ’60, ’62 and ’63.

Recently offered/sold SZs include these gems: