The Giulia Tubolare Zagato, or TZ, emerged victorious from its racing debut at Monza in November 1963, and from then on proved a competent competitor. Of the 112 TZs made, approximately two thirds survive.
Chassis number 085 was completed on March 9, 1965, but was not officially sold to Autodelta until December 31 of that year. The car was probably raced by French ace Jean Rolland in the interim, substantiated by the second owner's testimony and small details on the car that are
peculiar to TZs raced in France.
In April 1966 the car was sold to Tuscan racing driver Aldo Bardelli. Earlier that month, during the Colline Pistoiesi event in another TZ, his car had caught fire. Bardelli was invited by Ing. Chiti to Autodelta's new Milan works to inspect two potential replacements. Bardelli says he chose this car, recently returned from the Tour de Corse, because he knew Autodelta had installed all the latest tweaks for Rolland.
Arguably the most successful of all TZ-owning privateers, Bardelli went on to win countless races in 085 over the next few years. He points out that not once, in all his races with this car, did he crash it.
Bardelli recalls: "Alfa Romeo asked me to drive under contract, but I declined, preferring an open arrangement where I received 500,000 Lire (a considerable sum then) per race and car preparation carried out by Autodelta." In total, he competed in 300-350 events with this and other cars, but he remembers the European Championship hill climb at Ollon-Villars in Switzerland in particular: "I was with this TZ and the race was run in two heats. Having won the first, I returned to my car in the Parc Ferme to find all four tires slashed. It was a public holiday but Ferrari kindly lent me a spare set which Scarfiotti helped me change, and I won the second heat and my class overall."
In 1971, 085 was sold to Florentine driver Armando Ciuffi and was entered in a handful of events before finally being retired. It has been in the present ownership since acquisition from Ciuffi in 1989. This car has the twin-plug ignition system as fitted to the later TZ2s and incorporates a host of other Autodelta features: flared wheel arches for wider, team-specification wheels; extra bodywork, air scoops and retaining straps; larger valves; "duck-bill" exhaust system and a special sump stamped Coppa Speciale. The deep red paint has a charming patina of age, while the original-specification black vinyl/cloth interior retains the correct steering wheel, instruments and switches, the latter including a fake brake light switch. Lead seals on the steering column and scrutineers' stickers on the original Plexiglass side windows bear witness to a lengthy and illustrious competition career.
The vendor states that this car has never been restored, but was thoroughly checked over and received an engine rebuild. A recent test drive revealed that the car starts readily and idles well, the suspension is firm, the brakes good and the transmission excellent, all gears engaging smoothly. In short, the car is a delight to drive and surprisingly rapid.
TZ 085 features both works and privateer history, is offered in full period race specification and comes with original Italian logbook, ASI homologation and comprehensive history file.
{analysis} This car sold at the August 5, 2000 Brooks auction at the Nürburgring, Germany for $246,985, including buyer's premium. This is significantly over the Price Guide's high figure of $200,000 and is due, no doubt, to the car's fully documented provenance. Few well-documented or well-equipped TZs can bring as much as 085, but it's clear that buyers continue to be willing to pay a significant premium for a "no-questions" car. Some dubious Zagato-bodied Alfas are available today, and the extra money paid for this particular TZ may prove to be cheap insurance.
Alfa's TZ was a challenging car to sort out, its independent rear suspension being the most critical element in obtaining decent handling. Hopefully, a few chisel marks remain to indicate optimum alignment settings for the rear suspension. Otherwise, the new owner is likely to discover he owns a mount that can only be tamed over a number of races.
Once sorted out, however, the TZ is a very competitive and comfortable race car. The "Sebring" exhaust is deafening both outside and inside the car, but the protection of a helmet and the excitement of a race are enough to make a high-speed experience thoroughly enjoyable. The easy availability of Alfa parts also helps make this car a practical and regular weekend competitor.
The price paid for this TZ proves once again that a car can be restored many times, but is only original once, and it is in that state, if useable, that the car retains its highest value.-Pat Braden{/analysis}