Alfa Romeo Giulietta SVZ 1957
Brand: Alfa RomeoModel: Giulietta SVZ
Date of manufacture: 1957
Plate: ONJ 1
Colour: whiteCountry of registration: UNITED KINGDOM
Country of manufacture: ITALY
The original 1950s Alfa Romeo Giulietta (Tipo 750/101) was first produced in 1954 in a number of body styles, but one of the sportiest was the Giulietta Sprint Veloce (literally fast sprint), available from 1956. The story goes, that race driver Massimo Girolamo Leto di Priolo crashed his 4-day old Giulietta SV during the 1956 Mille Miglia. Rather than get the steel bodywork replaced by Alfa Romeo, he got a new lightweight aluminium body built by legendary Italian coachbuilder Zagato. Ultimately 16 (or 18?) of these Giulietta SVs would be re-bodied by Zagato, creating an unofficial model the SVZ. And the combination was so effective in competition that Alfa Romeo ran with it, launching their own official version, the Giulietta Sprint Zagato, or SZ, in 1959. This example has certainly been around a bit and raced extensively: initially sold in Switzerland before spending time with owners in Italy, Portugal, Belgium and the UK. It is currently fitted with a period correct 1290cc Alfa Romeo straight-four engine and is seen here ready to go at Silverstone August 2022.
