MakeAlfa Romeo
Model1600 Junior Zagato
Year1972
ColorBianco Spino
InteriorLeatherette
Engine1.6-liter twin-shaft all-aluminum, bialbero
TimingTwo overhead camshafts
Fuel system2 Weber twin-choke carburettors
Transmission5 speed manual
Power116hp
Weight850 kg
OptionsGTA-style alloys, Hellebrand wooden steering wheel, tinted windows
Price80,000€
Other information Zagato, the most famous of the great Italian coachbuilders, was unrivalled in its ability to create very light sport bodies even before the war. They were renowned for their sleek aerodynamics way back in the 50's and 60's, at a time when CAD wasn't even a word.
So the tifosi who wanted to win in an Alfa Romeo went to Zagato to gain the few kilos and the few kilometers per hour that would make the difference in a race.
Elio Zagato was one of the first to understand and put into practice the discoveries of aerodynamicist Kamm, who advocated abruptly interrupting the airflow at the rear of a body to avoid the drag effect, which is detrimental to performance.
The first Alfa Romeo to be treated in this way was the TZ, followed by the famous Tubolare, and in the same vein a few years later by the Junior Z. 1132 examples of the 1300 were produced while just 432 1600s were made, of which this car.
It should be noted that these two versions received two different body styles, the 1600 being 10 cm longer, making it much slimmer and more elegant. These coupes are based on the short-chassis platform of the Alfa Romeo Spiders. When driving, the difference in behavior with a Bertone coupé is striking: the car is effectively much lighter and much better streamlined, so that you almost get the performance of a 2000 in this 1600. But performance is one thing, driving sensations another, and the feeling of driving a protoype, an off-the-shelf car, is quite striking here. Of course, it also has an electrically-operated tailgate, which can be opened while driving to let out the air that rushes in through the driver's window, which remains open. My car was imported to France over twenty years ago and is in very nice original condition, not modified with a 1750 or 2-liter engine like many. I'm planning to have a new paint job done when I get home, as I need to plug the holes in the huge original Italian rear license plate. I had a set of new bumpers made in Italy, but I'm going to remove them as I think she looks better without them.
This is a rare car for a connoisseur of the brand. Very affordable for a genuine Zagato body.
Do you know Gordon Murray? He's Mr. MacLaren, the man who created Formula 1 and road-going supercars... He has a fine collection of classics and we have one thing in common: this Alfa Romeo 1600 Junior Z, which he chose for its design and modernity. Here's a link to the video of him presenting his car.
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