Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ

Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ
1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ
Overview
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Also called	Alfa Romeo TZ
Production	1963–1967
Designer	Ercole Spada[1] at Zagato (TZ1 and TZ2)
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car Racing car
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related	Alfa Romeo Canguro
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L DOHC I4
Transmission	5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,200 mm (86.6 in)
Length	3,950 mm (155.5 in) TZ 3,680 mm (144.9 in) TZ2
Width	1,509 mm (59.4 in) TZ 1,600 mm (63.0 in) TZ2
Height	1,199 mm (47.2 in) TZ 1,020 mm (40.2 in) TZ2
Curb weight	660 kg (1,460 lb) (TZ) 620 kg (1,370 lb) (TZ2)
Chronology
Predecessor	Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ
Successor	Alfa Romeo GTA Alfa Romeo Tipo 33

The Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ (also known as the Alfa Romeo TZ or Tubolare Zagato) was a sports car and racing car manufactured by Alfa Romeo from 1963 to 1967. It replaced the Giulietta SZ. In 2011, the name was reduced from Giulia TZ to TZ in the new TZ3 model.

Giulia TZ

Rear view of the Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ

The original TZ, currently sometimes referenced as TZ1 to differ from later TZ2, was developed in together with Autodelta, a company led by Ex-Ferrari engineer Carlo Chiti. It featured a 1,570 cc twin cam engine and other mechanical components shared with the Alfa Romeo Giulia and carried a 105 series chassis number,^[2] but was a purpose built sports racing car, with a tubular spaceframe chassis, light all-aluminium bodywork, disc brakes and independent suspension. The result was a lightweight coupé of only 650 kilograms (1,430 lb)^[3] and top speed of 134 miles per hour (216 km/h). The TZ was built both for street and racing trim, with the latest racing versions producing up to 160 brake horsepower (120 kW). Alfa's twin-spark cylinder head, as also used in the GTA, contributed to the speed of the TZ; the standard Giulia alloy block with wet steel liners was installed at an angle under the hood of the TZ to improve airflow.

Aiding the TZ in its quest for performance was the treatment of the rear bodywork. Incorporating the research of Dr. Wunibald Kamm, the TZ used a style called "coda tronca" in Italian, meaning "short tail.", otherwise known as the Kamm tail. The principle is that unless you are willing to incorporate an aircraft-like extended tail (not practical for an automobile), there is surprisingly little, if any, increase in drag and a marked decrease in lift or even some downforce by simply chopping off a portion of the tail. Zagato had previously proved the success of this tail treatment in their "coda tronca" Sprint Zagato sports-racing cars, and it was a natural evolution to adapt this to the Giulia TZ.

The car debuted at the 1963 FISA Monza Cup, where TZs took the first four places in the prototype category. At the beginning of 1964 the TZ was homologated (100 units were needed for homologation) to the Gran Turismo category.^[4] After homologation it started to take more class wins in Europe and North-America. Of the first TZ, 112 units were built between 1963 and 1965. Only built as limited amount these TZ models are quite collectibles nowadays, listed price around 150,000-200,000 US dollars.^[5]

Giulia TZ2

TZ2 at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Rear view of TZ2

In 1965 the car was updated with new fibreglass bodywork providing lower drag and reduced weight (620 kg). This new version was also made by Zagato. The new design was called the Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2. The TZ2 was only built as racing version; it was equipped with an Autodelta-prepared twin plug, dry sump lubrication 1,570 cc straight-4 DOHC engine producing around 170 brake horsepower (130 kW) at 7000 rpm. With this engine the car reached top speed of 245 kilometres per hour (152 mph).^[6] The rear window was also changed, now single unit rather than three part window in TZ. Development of TZ cars was stopped in the end of 1965, to make room for new GTA racing program. Only 12 TZ2s were built.^[6]

The car won the prestigious Gran Turismo Trophy at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

TZ3

Alfa Romeo Zagato TZ3
A 2011 Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa
Overview
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Also called	Alfa Romeo TZ3
Production	2011 (1 Corsa, 9 Stradales)
Designer	Norihiko Harada of Zagato
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car (S)
Body style	2-door coupe
Layout	Front longitudinal mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Related	Dodge Viper SRT-10
Powertrain
Engine	4.2L naturally-aspirated dry-sump lubricated 90-degree DOHC 4-valve V8 - Corsa 8.4L Viper naturally-aspirated all-aluminum 90-degree OHV 2-valve V10 - Stradale
Transmission	6-speed sequential - Corsa 6-speed Tremec TR6060 manual - Stradale
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,500 mm (98 in) - Corsa 2,510 mm (99 in) - Stradale
Length	4,345 mm (171.1 in) - Corsa 4,459 mm (175.6 in) - Stradale
Width	1,944 mm (76.5 in) - Corsa 1,911 mm (75.2 in) - Stradale
Height	1,200 mm (47 in) - Corsa 1,210 mm (48 in) - Stradale
Curb weight	850 kg (1,870 lb) - Corsa 1,450 kg (3,200 lb) - Stradale

The TZ3 was built in two forms, celebrating Alfa Romeo's centenary (1910-2010) in two different heritages.

Zagato TZ3 Corsa

Alfa Romeo TZ3 rear end

The Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa is the track version of the TZ3 (hence the name TZ3 Corsa, corsa meaning race in Italian) built to celebrate 100 years (a century) of Alfa Romeo in racing. The Corsa is a one-off car that was first presented at, and won, the 2010 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy. This unique car, based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, was made for German collector Martin Kapp and is not intended for sale or for competitions.

The car weighs 850 kg (1,874 lb) thanks to its carbon fiber frame and hand beaten aluminium body and has a 420 hp (313 kW) dry sump V8 4.2 litre engine. The car has a 6-speed sequential gearbox, it reaches a top speed of over 300 km/h (186 mph) and it can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.5 seconds.

The chassis is a carbon-fiber monocoque with some tubular elements. The suspension setup, front and rear, are double wishbones, with pushrod actuated coil springs, and dampers from Ohlins.^[7]

Zagato TZ3 Stradale

Jenson Button driving a TZ3 Stradale at Goodwood FoS 2012

The Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale is the road version of the TZ3 (hence the name TZ3 Stradale, stradale meaning road in Italian), designed by Norihiko Harada of Zagato, and was built to celebrate 100 years of Alfa Romeo on the road. The TZ3's chassis is based on the Dodge Viper ACR-X, and has been re-bodied to suit road conditions. Only nine units of the vehicle have been made.^[8]

The TZ3 is powered by the ACR-X's odd-firing 8.4-liter Viper all-aluminum 90° OHV 2-valve V10, but its power has been reduced, this time boasting 600 horsepower (450 kW; 610 PS) at 6100 rpm, and 560 pound-feet (760 N⋅m) of torque at 5000 rpm.^[8] Redline is reached at 6250 rpm. All of this power is delivered to the rear wheels, via a 6-speed Tremec TR6060 manual transmission.

The interior design is mainly the same as a regular Viper, but the badges change to Alfa Romeo.

The body and the frame come from the ACR-X, which are manufactured with SMC & rim panels over a tubular space frame.^[8]

The brake discs, which are 2-piece, come from StopTech, and the calipers are from Brembo.

The steering wheel is rack-and-pinion, with power assist.

The suspension setup for front and rear are A-arms, with coil-over shocks and stabilizer bars.

Giulia TZ4

The car will be built to celebrate Zagato centenary in 2019.

See also

• Alfa Romeo in motorsport
• World Sportscar Championship

Notes

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ and Alfa Romeo TZ3.

• Owen, David (1985). Great Marques Alfa Romeo. Octopus Bks. ISBN 0-7064-2219-8.
• Alfa Romeo Guides on QV500.com