FCA Heritage at Zoute Grand Prix 2017 with two classic Alfa Romeo cars


Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ 2

Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ 2

 

Torino, 28 September 2017

FCA Heritage is taking part in the 2017 of the Zoute Grand Prix, which will take place from October 5 to 8. Alfa Romeo was picked to represent the FCA organisation created to coordinate all corporate activities on the classic car scene: it will be the occasion to reassert the unique and peerless motorsports DNA of the brand. FCA Heritage will be showcasing two invaluable cars from the Alfa Romeo Museum: an Alfa Romeo 33 Spider Cuneo and a Giulia TZ2. By the side of these gems, the public will also be invited to admire the most exciting models from today's line-up - Stelvio, the first SUV of the brand, Giulia and 4C - in the Alfa Romeo pavilion on the Knokke dam. On the podium erected in the famous Place Albert of Knokke, all eyes will be on two of the most emblematic cars in terms of performance and sportiness: Giulia Quadrifoglio and the Super version of Stelvio, both with a "Competizione" red livery which make reference to the tradition of the brand.


 

33 Spider Cuneo (1971)

The 33 Stradale deserves a place of honor among the most important models in the history of Alfa Romeo and of motor cars in general. Made in 1967 as the street-legal version of the 33/2, only 18 of the initially planned 50 were actually made. The powerful V8 90° mid-engine was placed in a futuristic trellis chassis in addition to the light-weight fibreglass body masterly "sculpted" by Franco Scaglione, an authentic masterpiece of elegance and boldness, were the strengths of the car. After having designed the P33 Roadster and the 33 Coupé Speciale, Pininfarina introduced the most recent interpretation of the structure of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, creating the 33 Spider, which was later nicknamed "Cuneo" (which means "wedge" in Italian) within the company, in Brussels in 1971. Its profile is indeed wedge-shaped, in tune with the latest trends in automotive design of the day: the large inclined windscreen was enhanced by a simple roll bar, while other details - including the Alfa Romeo badge - were perfect geometric shapes. The 1999 cm3 rear longitudinal engine could deliver 230 HP at 8800 rpm.

 

Giulia TZ 2 (1965)

The logical evolution of the TZ, the car which was giving the company great motoring satisfaction in the 1964 season, was introduced that year at the Carrozzeria Zagato stand in the Turin Motor Show. It was the Giulia TZ 2 (which was officially also called the TZ), a car that still today well deserves a place of honour among the Alfa Romeo cars which made racing history. The light fibreglass body designed by Ercole Spada was placed on the tubular trellis chassis, which was the pride of the TZ and had been left substantially unchanged. Parts of the chassis were immersed in resin to make the structure stiffer. Despite maintaining the shape of its predecessor, with protruding front end and upper part following a seamless line to the Kamm tail, and with a large enveloping rear window, at first sight, the TZ 2 was actually lower, more harmonious and more "robust", achieving a more dynamic appearance. Besides the style, the biggest innovations concerned the suspension system, now equipped with vertical shock absorbers (a change which was introduced also on the TZ) to make way for the new 13-inch rims that replaced the preceding 15-inch wheels. The four-cylinder twin-cam 1570 cm3 engine, with 78x82 mm bore and stroke and dry sump lubrication, developed a peak power of 170 HP at 7500 rpm by exploiting twin spark ignition and a new dynamic air intake system. The other technical features of the TZ 2 worth mentioning are the 100-litre tank, brake discs on all four wheels and a five-speed gearbox plus reverse, which according to the transmission ratio propelled the car at speeds close to 250 km/h. As a result of the fibreglass body and the deliberate interior design, the car was about 40 kilograms lighter than the TZ. Right from its racing debut on April 25, 1965 in the Mille Chilometri di Monza, the TZ 2 was proven to be a winning car. Driven by Belgian Lucien Bianchi, it took the category win on the Nürburgring in 1966. Another success reasserts the bond with Belgium: the Belgian crew Trosch/Pilette's category win in the 1000 km of 1967.

 

FCA Heritage

The www.fcaheritage.com website is dedicated to the history of Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia and Abarth. The portal is the online showcase of the FCA Heritage department and aims at being the go-to place for everyone interested in the history, events and activities revolving around the classic cars of the Italian brands of the group. On the website, enthusiasts can sign up for the FCA Heritage Newsletter to remain up-to-date on the activities and services made available for the various brands of the group. Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia classic car owners can request "Certificates of Origin" for their cars.

 

The Alfa Romeo Museum - The Time Machine

The museum is a powerful tool for disseminating the history of the brand. Its architecture was recently refreshed to introduce new activities and attract new flows of visitors. The 69 models on show were picked for their significance in relation to the development of Alfa Romeo and of motor cars in general. Visitors can see the first A.L.F.A. (24 HP), the legendary Mille Miglia winners, such as the 6C 1750 Gran Sport (which was driven by Tazio Nuvolari), the 8C Touring, the Gran Premio 159 "Alfetta 159" (Formula 1 World Champion with Juán Manuel Fangio at the wheel), the Giulietta (the iconic car of the 1950s) and the glorious 33 TT 12. The DNA of the brand is summed up by three elements: "Timeline", which represents industrial continuity, "Beauty", which brings together examples of style and design across the years, and "Speed", placing the accent of the blend of the most sophisticated engineering and light-weight architecture. The "Victory Temple" in the building is a celebration of the images, sounds and films presenting the greatest triumphs of the history of the brand.