1964 Alfa Romeo TZ
One from the Vault: The Petersen Museum’s Alfa Romeo TZ at Dolce e Veloce
The 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ, officially known as the Giulia TZ or Tubolare Zagato, is one of the most exotic and purposeful sports cars Alfa Romeo ever built—a true blend of cutting-edge engineering, motorsport ambition, and Zagato flair. It was the spiritual successor to the Giulietta SZ and helped re-establish Alfa’s racing credentials in the 1960s.
The TZ was the poster car for Macchi II.
The 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ, short for Tubolare Zagato, is one of those cars that makes your pulse quicken just standing still. Born from a collaboration between Alfa Romeo, racing outfit Autodelta, and coachbuilder Zagato, the TZ was designed with one mission: dominate on the track. With its ultra-lightweight tubular spaceframe chassis, sleek aluminum body, and aggressive stance, it was a purebred racer that just happened to be road legal (barely).
Under the hood, it packed Alfa’s legendary 1.6-liter twin-cam engine—high-revving, beautifully balanced, and paired with a 5-speed gearbox. But it wasn’t just about horsepower. Weighing in at under 1,350 pounds and shaped with aerodynamic finesse, including a distinctive Kammback tail, the TZ carved up circuits with surgical precision. It didn’t just look fast—it was fast, earning class wins at Le Mans, Sebring, and countless hill climbs and endurance races across Europe.
Today, the original TZ (now often called the TZ1) is a unicorn—a rare blend of beauty, racing pedigree, and engineering innovation. With only about 112 built, spotting one feels like seeing a shooting star. Whether it’s gracing the lawn at Pebble Beach or tearing up a vintage race, the Alfa TZ is a reminder of when motorsport and design were in perfect harmony. It’s not just a car—it’s an Italian racing poem on four wheels.
Photos by Shaik Ridzwan
The TZ on Angeles Crest Highway before Macchinissima II. Photo by owner.
Quick Overview
Full Name: Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ (Tubolare Zagato)
Year Introduced: 1963–1965
Chassis: Tubular spaceframe (hence “TZ”)
Body: Lightweight aluminum by Zagato
Engine: 1.6L DOHC inline-four (derived from the Giulia)
Power: ~112–160 hp depending on tune
Top Speed: Around 130–150 mph
Weight: Just under 1,350 lbs (610 kg!)
Production: Approx. 112 examples of the TZ1
Design & Performance
The TZ was all about performance. Its tubular spaceframe chassis—rare and advanced at the time—gave it incredible rigidity and lightness. The hand-shaped body by Zagato featured a long nose, short tail, and that iconic Kammback rear end, designed to reduce aerodynamic drag at high speeds. It looked like a race car because it was a race car.
Under the hood was Alfa’s beloved 1.6L twin-cam four, breathing through dual Webers and mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The engine’s high-revving nature, combined with the TZ’s featherweight body and independent suspension, gave it razor-sharp dynamics. This wasn’t a grand tourer—it was built to attack corners and devour straights on tracks like the Nürburgring and Targa Florio.
Motorsport Pedigree
The TZ was a true factory-backed racer, developed by Autodelta (Alfa’s racing arm) and campaigned extensively in the FIA GT category. It racked up class wins at Sebring, Le Mans, and countless hill climbs and endurance events. It was especially dominant in the under-1600cc GT class, taking on Porsche 904s and Lotus Elans with style and fury.
Legacy
The original TZ (now often called TZ1) was followed by the more aggressively styled TZ2 in 1965, which took the car even deeper into racing territory with a fiberglass body and lower stance. But the original TZ remains a cult icon—a lightweight, razor-edged Alfa that wears its Zagato skin like a tailored racing suit.
It’s rare, it’s fast, and it’s achingly beautiful. Today, the TZ is a unicorn among collectors, valued for its motorsport history, limited production, and sheer presence. Whether seen on the lawn at Villa d’Este or roaring up Goodwood’s hill, the TZ is one of Alfa’s purest expressions of racing soul.
