1992 ALFA ROMEO RZ Roadster Zagato

Description

1992 ALFA ROMEO RZ (Roadster Zagato)
Mileage 66,486 miVIN# ZAR16200003002257
Extremely rare, collectable Alfa, produced for only two years - just 278 RZ roadsters were made and it is believed that only 201 remain today. These V6 powered exotic sports cars were sold only in Europe.
This RZ has about 66K original miles and is is very original condition. The lustrous Giallo Fly exterior color is set off by a stunning black leather interior. Bodywork is in very good condition showing only minor scuff and scratches. The interior is in fine shape, all original except for the fitment of an upgraded audio system.
Recent service, new fluids, belts etc, full inspection and all minor issues found were resolved. Runs great, no problems or mysteries, ready to enjoy.
This very clean example was a recent find previously owned by a collector in Japan that we discovered and imported recently and are now offering for sale. There are no RZ’s in the US today other than this one to our knowledge.
The RZ roadster was introduced in 1992, several years after the introduction of the SZ coupe on which it is based. The SZ production was discontinued when the RZ was launched. The conversion to top down motoring was very comprehensive and expensive for Alfa and the RZ was both controversial in style and top of the market in price.
While very similar in design to the SZ coupe the RZ features basically an entirely new body with subtle styling variations. The interior offers comfortable seating for two. A simple canvas top stows under a dramatic cowl panel and the RZ presents a rakish wedge profile with the top folded. The windshield frame was reinforced to act as a roll bar. The front bumper and rocker panels were reshaped for additional ground clearance.
Created as a halo car for Alfa, overall performance/value ratio compared favorably with period Ferrari 348 model. The RZ and the SZ, also known as Il Mostro in Italy, are now revered as the most exotic Alfa Romeos produced in the modern age.
This car cannot be registered in California.The car comes with a valid Vermont registration, Vermont plates and a bill of sale.Please note that Vermont does not produce titles for cars that are more than 15 years old.(for more information visit http://dmv.vermont.gov/tax-title/vehicle-title).
Alfa Romeo RZ/SZ BACKGROUND
The Alfa Sprint Zagato was unveiled as a concept show car, the ES 30, at the 1989 Geneva automobile show. Reception was very positive and the production version debuted later that year. The SZ was a very significant flagship car for Alfa Romeo, developed as a high performance GT with a unique advanced styling featuring composite body panels, it was based on the chassis of the Alfa Romeo 75 model (Milano in the US market).
Styling was primarily done in house at Alfa, and production was sourced at the Zagato works in Terrazzano di Rho near the Alfa factory in Arese. Interestingly, the SZ was one of the first applications of the CAD process to automobile design.
The SZ was sold for three years 1989 thru 1991. Introduced two years after the SZ’s debut, the RZ was envisioned as true exotic roadster and a a symbol of pure sports car design without compromise. Expensive and featuring polarizing style, the RZ was produced in very limited numbers, fewer than 300 ever being made.
The powertrain of the RZ features an all alloy 3-liter Alfa Romeo V6 and a 5-speed transaxle. The rev happy Alfa V6 produces 210 HP and is a joy to experience. The compact RZ is 160” long, only 51.6” tall and sits on a wheelbase of 98.8”. Curb weight is listed at 3,042 lbs. Performance is very strong with 0-60 mph in about 7.5 seconds with passenger & luggage, and a top speed of over 150 mph.
The RZ featured some unique technical details. Handling is outstanding, as the chassis was tuned by Giorgio Pianta, engineer with Abarth racing and Alfa Corse, and team manager of the Fiat and Lancia rally teams. Many suspension components were taken directly from the Alfa 75 IMSA racer. Weight distribution is near the ideal 50/50 front / rear. Hydraulic dampers were made by Koni and offer a feature to raise the car by 50 mm for speed bump clearance, as the static ground clearance is very low. The front suspension is via torsion bars and the rear a De Dion tube with inboard rear brake discs. This combination produced outstanding qualities and the RZ can sustain over 1.1 G in cornering on road tires, and up to 1.4 G with race rubber. This remains excellent performance even by today’s standards.
The interior is entirely bespoke to the RZ and offers very sporting accommodations for two in well bolstered bucket seats. There is a definite “race car” ambience and emphasis on functionality rather than luxury.
Overall the RZ offers a unique combination of daring style, outstanding handling, and exciting performance.