alfasz.yourbb.nl

Harry_sz · Site Admin Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 276

Simple question I think, but I am hoping for some nice stories!
Mine is on the website already, but here it is the short version.

When I was a young boy, I already was a car fan and also bought car magazines. So in an important period in my life the Alfa SZ, the monster, was introduced and I was an immediate fan of this crazy supercar!! Finally Alfa Romeo came back in the sportscar scene and everybody knew that this was something special.
So in my room there was a poster of an SZ next to an F40. Another dreamcar for me, but sadly too expensive...

*Fast forward to the year 2003*

I had 5 cars and they all had some issues. My BMW 325i (e30) that I used for trackdays, had to get an MOT and also stopped while racing on the Assen circuit. There was a problem with the flywheel. This cost some money of course.
My classic Porsche 911 2.4T had to get an MOT also and that cost some money too. Then I also had a BMW 2002 Automatic that needed an MOT and all these things together made me decide that I did not need 5 cars. Smile

So I decided to sell 3 of them and started looking for one very cool car that I didn't own yet.
I looked at all kinds, but then I came across the Alfa SZ again and it was like falling in love for the second time!
I counted all my money and bought the best SZ that was for sale at that time and that was number 042!
And this is the first car that I have owned for such a long time and will keep very long.

PeterSZ · Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 3

Hello Harry,

You have a cool site here. My compliments. I also bought my SZ from Eduard. Mine has number 531. It had 2069km when I bought it from him. Now, four years later it still only has 8500km or so. My wife and I are both working and with three young kids very little time remains for the SZ...

I have chipped the engine with a chip from Squadra tuning, I can strongly recommend it. Also I have fitted exact copies of the original wheels in 17". That extra inch looks so much better on it. The wheels are specially developed by an English SZ owner. In these bigger wheels now fit the bigger AP grooved brakediscs with Ferodo pads. They squeal like hell but stop like you are throwing out an ancor, in contrast with the in my opinion quite feeble original brakes. These AP brakes are also specially developed for the SZ by a Dutch SZ owner.

The nice thing is that all these changes make the SZ even more desirable but at the same time are quite easy to undo to make the car 100% original again.

Wy did I buy it? It is a very special Alfa. And it looks like nothing else.

My other cars:
- Alfetta series 1 '73
- Giulia Super Nuova '77
- 147GTA (chipped) as the daily driver, very soon to be switched for a:
- Maserati Quattroporte V

Harry_sz · Site Admin Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 276

Welcome Peter!

So you bought the wheels from Steve? They look cool in 17". 18" is a little too big for the SZ, I think.
I would like to have those better brakes also, but I first have to buy those wheels then. Smile

An Alfetta is very nice too! I really like those pure l;ines of the early versions with the chrome bumpers. I have a nice Dutch Alfetta brochure. All those cars had great colours back then.

And a QP5 for the daily commute? Fantastic!!

Simon_SZ · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 124 Location: Switzerland

I saw the prototype SZ at the Birmingham motor show in the UK in 87 or 88. I loved it immediately. I was a big fan of Alfa and Zagato anyway so it was always in with a good chance Smile

I came across my SZ totally by accident. I had a Lancia Fulvia Coupe and thankfully the guy was willing to do a trade.

Have you guys ever played the game of picking your top ten cars of all time? The SZ was always a dream car of mine and always on the list even amongst cars such as Bugatti T59GP's, Alfa P3, Aston DB3S and Ferrari 512M etc etc etc

PeterSZ · Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 3

During my period in University the poster of the ES30 was on my bedroom wall as the example of the ultimate non-conformist but unreachable dreamcar. I told myself one day I would own one. Now I SZ531 is mine. Cool.

Top 10 cars of all time is an impossible task. It changes over time, too.
I like cars from the eighties more and more. In my top 10 are, fully at random:
- Ferrari 250SWB
- Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Le Mans
- Maserati 250F
- Bugatti T35
- Lamborghini Miura SV
- Lancia 037 Stradale
- BMW M1
- Porsche 959
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato (1986)
- Audi Quattro Sport

Simon_SZ · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 124 Location: Switzerland

Great choice Peter. The V8 Vantage Zagato Aston is on my list aswell.

You're right, it changes all the time but there are 6 or 7 cars that always appear on my dream list.

Aston V8 Vantage Zagato
Alfa SZ
Bugatti T59GP
Alfa P3
FIAT S72 Mephistopheles
Aston DB3S
Alfa 33 Stradale
Porsche 917
Ferrai 512 S or M
Countach LP400 or Lancia Stratos can't decide here Smile

PeterSZ · Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 3

Great list Simon.

Alfa P3 and Fiat Mephisto should be on my list too, see what I mean?
I am fascinated by these prehistoric chaindriven monsters.

Which number SZ do you have, by the way?

Simon_SZ · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 124 Location: Switzerland

SZ 698 is mine.

Harry_sz · Site Admin Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 276

"FIAT S72 Mephistopheles" Very cool!!
I read an article about that car in Classic & sportscar magazine.

My top ten list at this moment (in random order) :

Lamborghini Miura (any Miura is fine with me Smile

)
Ferrari 250 GT SWB
Alfa 33 Tipo Stradale (Real beauty!!)
Maserati 5000 GT Allemano
Countach LP400 is fantastic too (preferably that green museum car colour)
Talbot Lago Figoni et Falaschi teardrop coupé
http://www.supercars.net/cars/1787.html

I would choose the rest of my top ten from these pictures :
http://picasaweb.google.com/HarryZagato/VillaDEste2008

Tipo 33 :

Harry_sz · Site Admin Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 276

This fantastic Pegaso Thrill for example!

http://picasaweb.google.com/HarryZagato/VillaDEste2008/photo#5195026542444597298

Simon_SZ · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 124 Location: Switzerland

Harry that picture of the 33 Stradale is hanging above my desk at work.

Harry_sz · Site Admin Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 276

Cool!

It is from Classic and sportscars magazine if I remember correctly.
Fantastic car!!

Rogor · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 121 Location: Netherlands

wrinx · Joined: 24 Dec 2009 Posts: 243 Location: United Kingdom

Why did I buy an SZ.....does the question really need answering? Laughing

I started driving Alfas in 1998 with a 155 and have drivne nothing else since...neither will I drive anything else from now on! Smile

I went to Alfa shows in the UK and kept seeing SZs although they don't come out very often...I had never seen one before but decided I liked themdespite never thinking I'd ever own one as they always seemed to be so far out of reach and expensive.

Fast forward about six years and I bought an Alfa Matta (yes, really!) but after owning it for five years I wasn't using it and realised it could provide some of the funds for an SZ! The brief search began and I had bought one only three months after selling the Matta.

My SZ is low mileage, only 6,700 when bought it but that is increasing quickly as I really struggle to leave it in the garage!

wrinx

frankalfa · Joined: 05 Jun 2010 Posts: 78 Location: holland.

Hm, kind of same story here wrinx.

Since the first spyshots appear in car magazines (late 1989 I guess) I was triggered. What a monster! Shocked

Later, with the official release ,where all it's strangely drawed lines could be seen properly for the first time, I was sure: If possible (financially of course Wink

) I will own one!

A long period followed where I owned many different cars (up to 50 Embarassed

) , not only Alfa ,but f.e. Jeep Peugeot and Mercedes also... Confused

Untill last spring: I sold my gtv6 and checked my wallet; He, this could be the moment to start the search for an SZ...! Cool

The result is showed on these pages somewhere:SZ 044, with only 67k km on tacho. Wink

Regards,fRank
_________________
SZ No. 044