This little known Alfa Romeo prototype car is mostly a well kept secret, there is little about this car on the web. What we do know is that it is beautiful!

The story goes like this: A man named Lodovico Chizzola built this car for a successor to the TZ, but Alfa opted for their own design; the TZ2. Once this happened, the prototype remained a one-off, eventually being bought at the current vendor at Bonhams’ Nürburgring Sale in August 2000. The frame was a masterpiece, a one-of-a-kind tubular design – a modified Ferrari F2 frame according to the late Lodovico Chizzola – but shorter and different to a TZ’s. The unusual design draws attention and pleasure to the eyes, while still remaining functional and race-worthy.

Now to the engine. The car has a genuine TZ-type ‘single-plug’ engine, the latter breathing through twin Weber 45DCOE carburetors. This, combined with the engine being set low and far back in the chassis, make for an excellent handing, quick, and a pleasure to drive race car. It has barley been driven, but Lodovico Chizzola’s sister recalled one memorable drive with her brother over the standard test route, along which he drove all TZs prior to delivery. Comprising 80 kilometers (50 miles) of twisty mountain roads, it typically takes 1½ hours but was covered in this car in just 40 minutes!

It is very rarely shown, but it was showcased at the 1996 Autodelta Reunion at Udine where it was the star of the event. Overall, this is just an amazing car that should be recognized more often, despite its’ rarity. Thank you for reading, and it has been a pleasure to write this article.

*This is an old article I wrote on CarThrottle years ago*