1960 Alfa Romeo Sprint Zagato Coupe

Born of fact or fable, the Giullieta body-styling by Alfa Romeo during the 1960s certainly fits well within the romantic mood of the 60s and the place Alfa Romeo holds in the heart of many of its passionate fans. One of the most passionate and evoking of the Giulietta body-styles would be the Sprint Zagato.

Boasting of elements from Alfa's extensive racing heritage, and yet, having supple and appealing lines, it would be little wonder the Sprint Zagato would be one of the most desirable of the Giulietta line.

Much of the draw and exciting surrounding the car would be the sheer amount of time Zagato would spend on each and every body that would be mated to the Alfa Romeo chassis. Apparently no fewer than 300 hours would be spent refining and making sure each body fit perfectly with its mate. For this reason alone it would not be at all surprising that just 200 examples were ever to be produced. And even smaller number of these would be the long-tailed 'Coda Tronca'.

Known as the 'Coda Tonda', the Sprint Zagato would be sporty enough to take to the race track. And many of the 200 produced would see time on the track. Unfortunately, that would mean many would not return with hardly any original equipment, or, they would not return at all.

Offered at RM Auctions' event at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco would be a rather rare Sprint Zagato. Of the 200 produced, chassis AR 00126 00051 would not see one moment on the race track, and therefore, would be one of the lucky ones to retain its original 135 bhp, 1300 cc inline four-cylinder engine.

This particular chassis was originally delivered to a Mr. Philip Vyvyan of London, England. Originally finished in Rosso Alfa Romeo and the traditional black interior, the car would be registered in the UK in February of 1961. Amazingly, the car still bears the same registration number it received all the way back in 1961. The owner, Mr. Vyvyan would keep the car away from the tough riggers of racing and would only use the car as a road car.

In 1965, the car would be sold via Taylor and Crawley, two London-based dealers, to another Brit, Michael William Stow of Henley-on-Thames. A Cambridge man by the name of Richard Anthony Springett would be the next to own the car before it was purchased by an Italian collector in the 1990s.

When the car was purchased it almost immediately underwent restoration. The majority of the car had never been touched ever since it left Zagato new back in '61. Therefore, the car had need of some restoration. However, while the restoration would get underway, it would never reach its destination. Still, the car remained with the Italian collector.

After much persuasion, and a lot of other efforts, the car would finally be sold to its current owner. The current owner of 00051 was certainly familiar with the car having owned three other examples, including a Sprint Zagato 'Coda Tronca' and a 'Low Nose' Giulietta SS. The restoration would be completed by an Italian specialist while under its new ownership. And while the process would take a long while, the restoration would bring back to life 00051 in all its former glory including its Rosso livery and black interior.

Boasting its original UK plates, this sprightly red machine would remind all of the pride many share for Alfa Romeo. And in many ways, the car is the perfect mate. It truly is Romeo's Juliet.

The clean and un-abused nature of the car would lend to 00051 earning a sale price of 257,600 EUR at the auction in May of 2012.

Sources:
'Lot No. 347: 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato 'Coda Tonda'', (http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=MC12&CarID=r352&Currency=EUR). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=MC12&CarID=r352&Currency=EUR. Retrieved 16 May 2012.

Acuna, Evan. '1959 Alfa-Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce News, Pictures and Information', (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z8946/Alfa-Romeo-Giulietta-Sprint-Veloce.aspx). Conceptcarz.com: From Concept to Production. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z8946/Alfa-Romeo-Giulietta-Sprint-Veloce.aspx. Retrieved 16 May 2012.

By Jeremy McMullen