1964 Alfa Romeo TZ1

The Alfa Romeo 105 Series Giulia range was introduced at Monza in 1962 and came with a chassis based on the previous Giulietta and 101 series. It had suspension upgrades and, for the first time, disc brakes. The front suspension setup was similar to the standard Giulia while the rear was given an independent competition type to minimize unsprung weight. A competition Giulia model soon followed and made its debut at the 1963 FISA Monza Cup where it captured the first four places in its class. It was called the Giulia TZ which referenced its 'Tubolare' spaceframe chassis and lightweight aluminum 'Zagato' coachwork. After FIA homologation requirements for the Gran Turismo category were satisfied, which required at least 100 units to be produced, it immediately began racing and winning in European and North American races.

The early TZ examples are known as the TZ-1 and later models as the TZ-2. The engine was a 1,570cc unit which it shared with the Sprint Speciale and Spider Veloce. The engine was tilted in the frame which allowed for a reduction in the bonnet height. It was mated to a transmission that had heavy-duty, close-ratio gears and a quick short-throw lever. The development was overseen by Autodelta, led by ex-Ferrari engineer Carlo Chiti. The aerodynamics were aided by the research of Dr. Wunibald Kamm, resulting in the rear bodywork called the 'coda tronca,' also known as the Kamm tail.

The lightweight coupe of just 658 kilograms had exceptional high torsional superiority and could achieve speeds up to 240 kilometers per hour. It offered excellent handling which helped it achieve many victories, including the Alpine Rally in 1964. It had class wins at the world's largest stages, including Sebring, LeMans, Targa Florio, and Nürburgring.

The new version of the TZ was introduced in 1964 at the Turin Auto Show. These had an even more streamlined fiberglass body that had lower drag and weighed less than the prior aluminum coachwork. These newer models are often referred to as the TZ2. Whereas the TZ1 was built for both the road and the track, the TZ2 was built for racing. Power was from an Autodelta-prepared twin plug 1570cc dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine offering approximately 170 horsepower.

Development of the TZ cars continued until the close of 1965, as the company turned its attention to the new GTA racing production. A total of 12 examples of the TZ2 were built. Between 1963 and 1965, Alfa Romeo built 112 units of the first TZ models.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2019