The Alfa Romeo 2600 coupe, which made its debut in 1962, marked a return to the high-speed GT cars Alfa was known for prior to the four-cylinder Giulietta series. The six-cylinder, 2,582-cc twin-cam was Alfa's first "over-square" engine. It produced a lusty 145 bhp and, to cope with the power and the 125 mph which resulted, Alfa Romeo specified servo-assisted four-wheel disc brakes as standard. It drove through a five-speed gearbox and the gear change was floor mounted.
The 2600 series was never a big seller (over 11,000 made, 1962-68) because it was expensive, at list prices starting at $4,700 and going up past $6,000. Most cars had saloon bodies but a very few had special bodywork. This car is one of the rare, lightweight, Zagato-bodied coupes which are the most desirable of all 2600 variants. Built with performance-oriented touring in mind, just 105 SZ models were made and they were capable of more than 135 mph/216 kmh.
This rare car is finished in white with deep red leather upholstery and is fitted with optional alloy wheels. In 1992 it underwent cosmetic and mechanical restoration in Germany said to have cost DM 120,000 (approximately $80,000 at the '92 exchange rate). The car's documents have been mislaid, but Bonhams will be happy to assist the buyer in registering this car in the UK if required.
{analysis} This car sold for $34,336, including buyer's premium, at Bonhams' Geneva auction, held March 10, 2003.
The price, at the high range of the SCM Price Guide, still represents good value in a rare Zagato-bodied automobile.
This car is listed in the auction catalog as a 1962, which is impossible. Serial production of the 2600 Sprint Zagato (SZ) didn't begin until 1965 (a prototype was shown in 1963). In fact, this same car was listed as a 1966 model at the March 2000 Brooks Geneva auction, where it sold for $33,803. Also, the serial number listed by the auction company, "858075," is outside the range of chassis numbers for this model (856001-856105). Assuming that the number should be "856075," it should be considered a 1966 model.
Over 11,000 2600s of all types were sold over a six-year span, a respectable number for a top-of-the-line car. The most numerous (6,999) were the very attractive Giugiaro-designed Bertone coupes.
Like most Zagato-built cars, the 2600 was built in very low numbers, just 105 leaving the factory. The Alfa 2600 SZ is unusual for a Zagato-bodied car in that its coachwork was steel rather than aluminum (the hood is made of alloy).
Even with the steel body, it was still lighter than the standard Bertone 2600 coupe by almost 300 pounds. This helped to eliminate the major drawback of all the 2600s, which is very heavy low-speed steering (our editor has referred to the other 2600s as "the best trucks Alfa ever made"). It also featured a slightly shorter wheelbase than the standard coupe, further helping handling.
Potential problem areas with this model mostly revolve around the mechanicals. The triple two-barrel Solex carburetors must be carefully maintained with regular lubrication of the vacuum-operated mechanism that controls the secondary in order not to burn valves. (The Solexes are actually not, strictly speaking, two-barrel carbs, but a primary and a vacuum-controlled secondary on a shared plenum.) A rare and desirable option is triple two-barrel Webers in place of the Solexes.
Be wary of non-factory Weber conversions. Unless the original shared runner Solex manifold is replaced, or sleeved to match the intakes of the Webers, the cars can never be made to run correctly. Another issue is the 165 x 400 tires required, which are expensive and available from few sources.
The unique bodywork, trim and glass, the dashboard, center console and four individual bucket seats are particular to the SZ. Further, very little was shared between the big six-cylinder Alfas and the smaller Giuliettas and Giulias; this, combined with the lower production numbers and survival rates, can make sourcing parts both challenging and expensive.
The seemingly poor hood fit seen in the photo of the auctioned car is not a concern-few fit much better. Generally speaking, the fact that the car was restored in Germany would indicate the likelihood of a thorough mechanical overhaul, albeit ten years ago. The Germans usually like to drive, rather than simply show, their cars. However, we must note that it is quite un-Teutonic for the seller to have "mislaid" the paperwork.
You might reasonably assume that the combination of low production and Zagato coachwork would result in high market values, but that is not the case here. The SZ has no competition history, which is important to collectors. Further, not all agree on the attractiveness of its lines. In a certain sense, it might be considered a precursor to the Zagato-built ES-30 of 1989-91, known as "il Mostro," (the Monster)-fast, not many built and cheap.
This Alfa is a stylish, rare and fashionable highway cruiser, and a great choice for the many thousand-mile touring events held every year. I've owned three standard 2600 coupes and found them to be a delight on the freeway. While this SZ is unlikely to appreciate significantly in the future, for someone looking to own a low-production Zagato from a famous marque, it represents a very good buy.-Donald Osborne{/analysis}