Sports cars are known for their good-looking bodywork, and Alfa Romeo is usually among the best when it comes to sexy car design. However, the Italian carmaker decided to do things a little differently when they created the SZ, which became world-famous, or perhaps that should be infamous, under the nickname “Il Mostro” – The Monster.
Here you get a glorious mix of Italian “ugly-beautiful” design, technical quirks, and uncompromising driving pleasure, which makes it an icon in its own right, and a constant reminder that real enthusiasm doesn’t have to be neatly packaged.
The Story Behind the Alfa Romeo SZ
When Alfa Romeo was taken over by the Fiat Group in 1986, the brand was at a crossroads: “How do we build a sports car with real character and still succeed in a changing market?”
In this context, the SZ was developed – with the internal code ES-30 (“Experimental Sportscar 3.0 litre”) – and it was first shown as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show in 1989.
The collaboration between Alfa Romeo itself, Zagato (which handled much of the design work), and the Fiat Group resulted in a very limited run, with only about 1,000 cars built between 1989 and 1991.
Zagato was chosen due to the company’s heritage. The name SZ stands for Sprint Zagato, and the car was meant to be a modern tribute to the classic Giulietta Sprint Zagato from the late 1950s and early 1960s. The end result was small production, big ambitions, and a design that threw every convention out the window.
Alfa Romeo SZ Design
The design was definitely not mainstream! The Alfa Romeo SZ‘s styling immediately gets a reaction when people see it, thanks to the low ride height, a strong shoulder line, clean surfaces, small windows, and a kind of blocky aggression that forces people to stop and stare. This was radical in the ’90s, and the SZ still turns heads today!
On a technical level, the SZ drew heavily from Alfa Romeo’s racing and engineering heritage. It has a chassis based on the legendary Alfa 75 / Group A platform, and the engine was, of course, the outstanding 3.0-liter Busso V6. Its body panels are made from composite materials and were hand-assembled at Zagato’s workshop outside Milan.
Alfa Romeo SZ Tech & Performance
Alfa’s SZ is more of a sporty hatchback than a full-on supercar, but in true Alfa style, it delivered driving pleasure that few could match.
At 6,200 rpm, the 3.0-liter V6 sends around 207 horses to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox with a transaxle drivetrain. It takes about seven seconds for the speedometer to hit 62 mph, and it doesn’t stop pulling until the needle points at 152 mph.
The chassis is shorter and wider than the Alfa 75 platform it’s based on. With a low center of gravity, wide track, double-wishbone suspension up front, and a De Dion rear axle with Watt linkage – basically a race-inspired setup – plus 16-inch OZ wheels with Pirelli P Zero 205/55 front tires and 225/50 at the rear, the SZ had very impressive grip for its time.
All of this means that even though it was never the fastest Italian car on the road, it delivers a driving feel that’s nothing short of uncompromising. Alfa Romeo’s SZ wants to be driven hard, and it responds accordingly.
Alfa Romeo SZ Driving Feel and Character
Driving the SZ is not like driving just any sports car. The design and engineering gave it a very distinct character: the high shoulder line gives you a “cockpit feel” and relatively poor visibility, but at the same time, it’s extremely precise and dramatic in the way it behaves.
As we’ve already established, the SZ wasn’t especially fast, and sales were even slower. Seen through traditional eyes, it wasn’t particularly pretty either. So what is it that makes the Alfa Romeo SZ so special and desirable today?
It’s raw, uncompromising, and full of soul! For those of us who love manual shifting, a screaming engine, and a sensitive chassis setup, this is pure driving joy, and in many ways the opposite of today’s polished “everyman sports car.”
Alfa Romeo SZ Market & Collector Status
With only about 1,000 units produced (some sources say 1,036) and a hand-built composite body, the SZ has become attractive among collectors.
That said, it’s important to be aware that this car demands effort – both technically and when driving it. It’s not for beginners!
Maintenance, parts, mechanical condition, and originality all become important factors. For enthusiasts, this means the SZ isn’t a curiosity you buy and casually drive; you buy it to drive it, and you need to know what you’re dealing with.
Why the Alfa Romeo SZ Is Still Relevant for Enthusiasts
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- Character and personality – At a time when many cars are becoming more alike and more controlled, the SZ stands out, offering simple driving fun thanks to a manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive, and racing heritage.
- A rare choice – Limited production, unconventional design, and a “love it or hate it” status, making the car something out of the ordinary.
- Raw driving feel – The car delivers experience over comfort, making it perfect for the driving enthusiasts out there.
- Aesthetics – Whether you love it or hate it, Alfa’s SZ gets a reaction, and that’s exactly why it’s remembered.
Criticism and Weaknesses
Even with all its charm, the SZ has some clear weaknesses:
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- Its performance was not on par with the very fastest sports cars of its time. Even though 207 hp was respectable, the SZ struggled to keep up with some rivals.
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- The interior and comfort were full of compromises, including limited visibility and some details that weren’t “nice” by modern standards.
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- Parts and maintenance can be demanding since it’s a rare model with a special construction.
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- The design is absolutely not for everyone, and many people describe it as an “ugly duckling.” There’s a reason why it was nicknamed “The Monster,” and it wasn’t because of its performance.
In short, you get a lot of personality, but not trouble-free ownership.
Conclusion
The Alfa Romeo SZ is a true manifesto for driving pleasure. For those of us chasing a manual, mechanical, emotional driving experience, this is a car that hits us right in the feels.
With uncompromising engineering, unconventional design, and a story that takes us back to a time when enthusiasm was the fuel itself, ensures that the SZ will always have a spot on our list of dream cars.
It’s also a demanding car – not just to own, but to drive. If you want comfort and high performance with zero drama, there are certainly better choices available. But if you want raw driving pleasure in a soulful, non-mainstream car, the Alfa Romeo SZ could very well be the car for you.
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