Alfa Romeo ES 30

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Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo SZ (1989-1992)
Alfa Romeo SZ (1989-1992)
SZ / RZ
Production period: 1989-1993
Class : Sports car
Body versions : Coupé , roadster
Engines: Otto engine :
3.0 liters (154 kW)
Length: 4059 mm
Width: 1730 mm
Height: 1300-1311 mm
Wheelbase : 2510 mm
Empty weight : 1256-1380 kg
successor Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

The Alfa Romeo ES 30 was a sports car that the Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo produced as a Coupé ( SZ ) and as a Roadster ( RZ ) in limited numbers between spring 1989 and the end of 1993. The designation ES 30 is derived from the term Experimental Sportscar, 3.0 liter . The vehicle revived the traditional connection between Alfa Romeo and Carrozzeria Zagato .

The concept

After Fiat took over the previous state-owned company Alfa Romeo in 1986, the new owner wanted to prove the unchanged technical strength and exclusivity of the Alfa Romeo brand with an exclusive two-seater vehicle.

The striking shape is the result of a collaboration between the design centers of Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Zagato. The design was initially described as a Zagato draft. In fact, the basic line went back to the French designer Robert Opron , who had designed the Citroën models SM and CX in the 1970s and was now working for the Fiat Centro Stile ; numerous details were also worked out by Antonio Castellana. Carrozzeria Zagato only developed a few details on the front and rear. The declared goal of the management was to develop an unusual, sensational form. Accordingly, the design was generally not described as beautiful, but as independent. The pronounced wedge shape and the three-eyed headlights gave the car an independent appearance. Even before production began, the ES 30 was given the name Il mostro (the monster) in the factory.

The technology of the Alfa Romeo 75 in the competition version, which had been developed for Group A a few years earlier, was used as the basis. Its V-engine had six cylinders, a displacement of 3.0 liters and 210 hp (154 kW). The gearbox was on the rear axle and was locked to the differential ( transaxle ). The top speed was 245 km / h. A hydraulic level control (40 mm adjustment range) was also available, but only for driving over obstacles such as curbs.

The body consisted of a steel skeleton, the outer skin of glass fiber reinforced "Modar", a methacrylic resin . In addition to high rigidity, it enabled a particularly smooth surface for plastic structures for the first time. The body panels were made at Carplast, a company run by Giuseppe Bizzarrini, a son of the Italian engineer Giotto Bizzarrini .

The vehicles were handcrafted in the Zagato factory in Terrazzano di Rho .

SZ (1989–1992)

Rear view

Initially, Alfa Romeo and Zagato produced a hatchback coupe called the Alfa Romeo SZ (Sprint Zagato).

The car was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1989. The vehicle was only available in the color Alfa Rosso , a shade of red typical of the brand. However, a unique piece for Andrea Zagato was made painted in black. Natural colored leather was used inside.

The dashboard was laminated from plastic reinforced with visible carbon fibers. Because of the high purchase price of 102,000 DM and a decline in demand for exclusive prestige objects, only a few examples were built until mid-1992. The exact details regarding the production vary. Some sources give 1,036 copies, others 999 or exactly 1,000.

RZ (1992–1993)

Alfa Romeo RZ (1992-1993)

At the Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris in autumn 1992 the open version appeared under the name Alfa Romeo RZ (Roadster Zagato). The vehicle was largely based on the SZ, but had considerable stiffening. The windshield was much flatter and longer. The drive technology remained unchanged.

Overall, the weight of the data center increased by 120 kg compared to the closed data center. The vehicles were available in red, yellow, black and metallic silver (only three copies). Instead of the planned number of 350 units, only 241 copies of this 140,000 DM vehicle were sold by the end of 1993. Another 37 cars were built and sold by Zagato themselves.

Zagato then continued production with the Hyena based on the Lancia Delta .

Current state

The data center in particular is a future classic. The prices for these cars have risen sharply in recent years. In 2011, a data center in excellent condition will cost more than 50,000 euros, while a data center in the same condition is around 10,000 euros cheaper.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Autobild Klassik 1/2010, p. 18
  2. ↑ Lehbrink, Oleski, Schlegelmilch, p. 357
  3. ↑ Brazendale, Encyclopedia Automobil, p. 20
  4. ↑ a b Amtmann, Schrader: Italian Sports Cars, p. 53
  5. ↑ Classic and Sports Car, September 2004 issue.
  6. ^ Lewandowski / Zeller, p. 103
  7. ↑ Oldtimer Markt: Prices 2011 (special issue No. 47), p. 61.

Literature and Sources

  • Georg Amtmann, Halwart Schrader: Italian sports cars . Stuttgart (Motor Buch Verlag) 1999. ISBN 3-613-01988-4 .
  • Kevin Brazendale: Encyclopedia Automobile from Alfa Romeo to Zagato. The 600 most beautiful models . Augsburg (Bechtermünz) 2000. ISBN 3-8289-5384-0 .
  • Hartmut Lehbrink, Frank Oleski, Rainer W. Schlegelmilch: Gericke's 100 - 100 years of sports cars . Düsseldorf 2005. ISBN 3-938118-00-8
  • Jürgen Lewandowski, Marion Zellner: Cult convertibles. The most legendary convertibles from 1945 until today . Munich (Steiger) 2000. ISBN 3-89652-195-0 .
  • Andrew Montgomery: Sports Cars in Pictures and Facts . London (Parragon) 2005. ISBN 978-1-4054-8267-7 .
  • The monster from Milan . Presentation of the Alfa Romeo RZ in: Autobild Klassik 1/2010, p. 18 f.

Web links

Commons : Alfa Romeo SZ  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Commons : Alfa Romeo RZ  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Timeline of Alfa Romeo models from 1945 to today
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Small car MiTo (955)
Compact class Arna
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Middle class Giulietta Berlina Giulia Giulietta (type 116) 75 155 156 (932) 159 (939) Giulia (952)
upper middle class Alfetta 90 164 166 (936)
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