Alfa Romeo and Zagato finally revealed the highly anticipated TZ3 Corsa at the Concours d’Elegance Villa D’Este, and boy is it special. Every line in this car’s gorgeous body is drawn with Alfa’s 100 years of heritage in mind, it screams passion! This priceless one-off is a racing car inspired by the early TZ models and features mono shell carbon fibre tubular chassis, coupled with a tubular frame and a lightweight aluminium body. It’s commissioned by German collector Martin Kapp, and he is now officially the world’s coolest man!
Zagato Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa
The Zagato-penned and developed Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa, which has been rumored for a while, was rolled out in a world premiere at this past weekend’s esteemed Villa D’Este Concours. And please be aware that this is not a show pony. Zagato pointed out, the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa is not simply a design exercise, but a one off race special commissioned by German collector Martin Kapp.
The Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa was inspired by its 1960s ancestors, the first Alfa TZ and TZ2, the TZ3 Corsa. The current iteration is based on a mono shell carbon fiber tubular chassis (whatever that might be), joined with a tubular frame and a drop dead gorgeous lightweight aluminum body. It’s proportions are just spot on perfect, and the rear has a certain Kamm tail/GTO breadvan look to it.
Power comes from the Alfa 8c Competizione's 4.2-liter V8 engine. Situated under the alloy hood of the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa, said mill develops 420-horsepower. Zagato says the racing car tips the scales at a lightweight 850kg or 1,874 lbs. Combine that little weight with that much engine, and the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa is capable of accelerating from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in under 3.5 seconds topping out in excess of 300km/h or 187mph. Or so says Zagato.
The Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa by Zagato is not a design exercise, nor does it take inspiration from the 90 years of collaboration between Zagato and Alfa. The TZ3 Corsa race-car is basically a gift from Zagato to Alfa Romeo honoring 100 years of races and victories across the whole 20th century.
The TZ3 Corsa weighs in at only 1,870 pounds and is powered by a 4.2L dry sump V8 engine making 420-hp. Mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox. the TZ3 Corsa goes from 0-62 mph in less than 3.5 seconds with a top speed of more than 185 mph.
Tribute to the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo’s Racing Heritage:
Alfa Romeo and Zagato achieved the best results since the beginnings thanks to the Mille Miglia victories of the 1500 6C, the 1750 GS and the 8C 2300 Zagato of the Scuderia Ferrari. Already in 1933 an official advert of the Alfa Romeo 8C proclaimed: “The Spider that, with the trio Alfa Romeo – Scuderia Ferrari – Carrozzeria Zagato, brought countless victories in the homeland and abroad for the honour of Italy.”
Even the grandiose Quadrifoglio Verde was placed on the bodies of Zagatos of the Alfa Corse team numerous times. Among the most glorious moments is the victory of the Formula 1 championship of Juan Manuel Fangio, aboard his Alfa Romeo 159 bodied by Zagato, as well as the victorious Alfa Romeo 3000 CM bodied in 3 samples by Zagato.
During the 60’s, the list of absolute victories of the Giulia TZ and TZ2 by Zagato for the Autodelta of Ing. Carlo Chiti, was never-ending. Some of the most memorable victories included the 1964 12 hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio, the Nurburgring, and the 24 hours of Le Mans.
The single-brand Alfa Romeo S.Z. championship emphasized the Alfa Romeo ES30’s (Experimental SportsCar 3000) technical and dynamic abilities. The S.Z. delivered, and continues to so today, constant performance and driving pleasure to the Gentlemen drivers of the Alfa Zagato team, across the most important racetracks in Europe.