One to Buy: 1990 Alfa Romeo SZ
Alfa Romeo created the iconic second generation SZ to cash-in on the late 1980s collector car boom and add a little stardust to an otherwise rather pedestrian range.
A production run of 1000 units was announced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1989, all of which would be left-hand drive.
The SZ was based around a steel monocoque to which fibreglass-composite panels were attached. In the engine bay was an all-alloy three-litre V6 that pumped out 210bhp at 6200rpm and 181lb-ft at 4500rpm.
Despite its superb handling and spritied performance, all the headlines focused on the SZ’s controversial exterior styling which, although often credited to Zagato, was primarily the work of Fiat’s internal design centre. Zagato simply made some detail contributions to the front and rear.
Currently on offer at the HooG Selections showroom in Katwijk aan Zee, Holland, is almost certainly one of the finest examples of an SZ available.
Delivered new on May 25th 1990, it is number 27 of the 1000 production units and has covered a little over 21,500km from new.
The car appears in superbly original technical and cosmetic condition and would make an ideal addition to practically any collection.
Furthermore, with their uncomplicated single overhead camshaft 12 valve engines and 75-based running gear, these models are both inexpensive to maintain and extremely reliable.
At €79,950, SZ number 27 looks good value for such a low volume, low mileage Italian classic.
