1964 Alfa Romeo TZ

Jun 18

**Take it all in:** David’s TZ at Macchi II, and the L.A. River Center & Gardens

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.