Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Alfa Romeo enjoyed tremendous success on the racetracks of Europe, earning a reputation as the premier Italian manufacturer of sports and Grand Prix cars. Following WWII, private owners kept the marque’s competition flame alive, particularly those who campaigned Zagato-bodied variants of the 1900 and Giulietta. An influential model was the Giulietta Sprint Veloce Zagato (SVZ), which first appeared as a one-off special in 1956. Its racing achievements attracted the attention of Alfa Romeo, which then commissioned Zagato to create the Sprint Zagato (SZ) as a catalogued model beginning in 1960.

The Giulietta SZ was succeeded in 1963 by an even more specialized car, the stunningly beautiful Giulia Tubolare Zagato, or TZ. It was named for the new tube-frame chassis it was built around, providing weight savings and rigidity over the SZ. The TZ was built in the workshops of Autodelta S.p.A., Alfa Romeo’s official racing department, and immediately became a winner, capturing class victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio, the Nürburgring 1000 Km, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1964, as well as winning the Tour de Corse and Coupe des Alpes outright. In total, Alfa Romeo built 112 examples of the TZ, adding rarity to its many outstanding qualities.

According to a copy of the original Autodelta invoice on file, chassis 750081 was charged to Alfa Romeo S.p.A. on September 9, 1964, and originally fitted with engine no. 00068. It was sold in May 1965 to its first owner, Luigi Citeroni of Ascoli Piceno, Italy, and, as recorded in its original Italian libretto, or registration book, the TZ was registered as “AP 53000.” Remarkably, both its original numbered engine and black Italian license plates remain with the car to this day.

The competition debut for 750081 took place at the Ascoli Colle San Marco Hillclimb on August 22, 1965, where Citeroni won his class. After taking part in one additional event, the Rally Jolly Club, Citeroni sold the TZ to fellow Ascoli Piceno resident Barbaro Grelli in 1966, and somewhat uniquely for an Italian racing car from this period, the Alfa Romeo remained in his ownership for the next 15 years.

According to documents on file, which include detailed club records, period photos, and race entry forms, Grelli campaigned his TZ in 15 competitive events, primarily Italian hill climbs, between July 1966 and August 1970, usually achieving good results. These outings were highlighted by entries in the 1968 and 1969 editions of the Gran Premio del Mugello, where he captured 4th and 3rd in Class, respectively.

Fabrizio Arengi of Padova, Italy, bought the TZ in 1984 and sent it to one of Italy’s foremost restorers, Dino Cognolato, for refurbishing. Sig. Arengi subsequently used the TZ in historic rallies, including the 1988 Coppa d’Italia, and the Alfa Romeo was profiled in the April 1993 issue of Auto d’Epoca magazine.

Alfa Romeo enthusiast Boy Houtman of Gravenhage, Netherlands, purchased the TZ from Sig. Arengi in 1993 via A.B. Cars of Padova. In 2011, Mr. Houtman sold the TZ to noted Swiss collector Pierre Mellinger, who immediately drove it in the Tour Auto in France before shipping it to the Alfa Romeo specialist GPS Classics in Parma, Italy. As documented in numerous invoices on file, GPS performed extensive work on the TZ, including rebuilding the engine and gearbox, as well as completing the FIA Historic Technical Passport certification. It then traveled to Carrozzeria Quality Cars in Vigonza, Italy, for cosmetic fine-tuning.

Well-known Dutch collector Jack Braam Ruben acquired this remarkable TZ from Mr. Mellinger after a careful search for a high-quality example to use in road rallies. His inspection resulted in the Zagato body number (663) being found in multiple places on the car, including the shock mounts, window trim, and door panels. Since 2022, chassis 750081 has served as the centerpiece of Ken Roath’s exceptional Alfa Romeo trio.

Possessing a rich, in-period racing history, its original, matching-numbers engine, a known provenance from new, and documented by an extensive file of period records, photos, and correspondence, 750081 is among the finest TZs to be found anywhere. Eligible for events such as the Le Mans Classic 24 Hour and Tour Auto, as well as concours, this magnificent Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ represents a rare opportunity to experience the legendary performance that has made this Italian thoroughbred a must-have for the most discerning collectors.