1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ-2

Alfa Romeo TZ and TZ2, 1963 to 1967

The Alfa Romeo TZ (often known as the TZ1) and TZ2 was originally named the GTZ (Gran Turismo Zagato) but soon became known as the Tubolare Zagato due to its tubular frame. A development of Ercole Spada's Zagato design of the Alfa Romeo SZ, the car used an ultra-lightweight body clothed in aluminium panels, mated to Giuseppe Busso's Giulia-based mechanicals and a novel independently-suspended rear axle to produce a fantastic racing car.

The 1,570cc all-aluminium twin-overhead camshaft straight-four series 00502 engine was identical to that in the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale road car but with the addition of twin Weber 45 DCOE 14 carburettors. Initially, a single spark-plug head was used, but after 1965 the twin-spark plug engine 00532/A used in the GTA was homologated for competition use. In this year, an updated version using a fibreglass body (all except one) and a dry-sump system which lowered the car, led to it being designated the TZ2, which were almost exclusively reserved for the Alfa Romeo works drivers.

The Alfa Romeo TZ was produced between 1963 and 1965, with a single version being built in 1966. The TZ 2 was produced between 1965 and 1966, with a single car built in 1967. Almost all of the cars are different in some way, having been assembled and prepared by Autodelta for each of their clients.

Today the TZ and TZ2 are highly collectable cars which are still seen regularly in historic racing. Their period alternatives include the Porsche 904, the Ferrari 250 GTO and the Jaguar E-Type Lightweight.