Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ V1 Reviewed

Review by Pete Vack, Photos from the book

Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ
Size: 29 x 24,8 cm
Weight: 8,2 kg
Language: English – German
Authors: Martin Übelher & Patrick Dasse
ISBN 978-3-87166-086-3
Free shipping within Germany.
Order here

Once upon a time many moons ago Marcello Minerbi put together a fine book on the series, titled Alfa Romeo Zagato SZ e TZ but it was slim; less than 200 pages were devoted to all three Zagatos, the SZ, TZ and TZ2. It did have a comprehensive list of chassis numbers with owners up to 1985 when it was published by La Mille Miglia Editrice. In 2017 Vito Witting Da Prato published his excellent, first hand look at the development of the TZ 1 and TZ 2, Alfa Romeo TZ-TZ2 Born to Win. As good as both books were, the definitive TZ book remained unwritten.

But now, that book, or books, is a reality, thanks to Martin Übelher and Patrick Dasse. In fact five books, with a total of 1500 pages! Surely the definitive TZ tome. To give the reader a good idea of what is on tap, here is the description from the book’s website:

The first two volumes document in painstaking detail the development of the Giulia TZ and the racing history of the works cars:
“Giulia TZ – Volume one”
300 pages, 329 black and white photos, 53 colour photos, and one contemporary document
“Giulia TZ – Volume two”
300 pages, 318 black and white photos and 73 colour photos

Volumes 3, 4 and 5 contain a complete registry of all Giulia TZs ever built, as well as the corresponding changes of ownership, registration numbers and race participation up to the end of homologation in 1974, insofar these can be attributed to individual cars. Volume 5 also contains an appendix with various contemporary documents, including homologation forms as well as a technical bulletin covering race preparation.

“Giulia TZ – Volume three”
300 pages with 258 black and white photographs, 62 colour photographs and one contemporary document.
“Giulia TZ – Volume four”
300 pages, 214 black and white photos, 71 colour photos and four contemporary documents
“Giulia TZ – Volume five”
300 pages with 132 black and white photos, 40 colour photos and 133 contemporary documents.

This week we’ll take a look at Volume one.

Given the access, time and seemingly unlimited number of pages to achieve their goals, the authors concentrated on reproducing as many images as possible pertaining to the development of the TZ. The layout is simple; full page images on every page, with sparse descriptions and text. Which is appropriate, as Minerbi covered the same ground but with an in-depth text supported and abetted by Giuseppe Busso. Da Prato also trod the same ground but did so with interviews with the major players, including Busso and Ludovico Chizzoli. Dasse and Übelher did what no one else was able to do: include hundreds of photos that were never before published, casting new light and insights on a now familiar subject. There are photos of everything; instruments, chassis, suspensions, engines, interiors, body variances, cars at shows that we haven’t seen (How about a GTZ L?

With the material from Minerbi and Da Prato and the addition of the photos found and published by Dasse and Übelher, one gets a very comprehensive understanding of the trials and tribulations that plagued the birth of the first TZ. Dasse/Übelher use dozens of photos and clear explanations of the changes that occurred along the way such as the rectangular headlights that adorned the first prototype that quickly gave way to round headlights used on the rest of the production run.

And unlike previous attempts, we get excellent views of the engines, suspensions, chassis, and interiors. No photo is left behind and this is the TZ inside and out.

As famous as any TZ might be, the most famous and therefore desirable would be the factory team cars from 1964 (most often actually entered by Scuderia Saint’ Ambroeus of Milan). This is the subject of the second part of Volume one, illustrating every race and rally from the very first competition at the French Tour de Corse on November 9th 1962 to the Trento Bondone hillclimb on July 12th 1964.

Volume two picks up from that point to cover the latter half of the 1964 to end of the 1966 season. According to the authors, their primary purpose is to determine with the greatest accuracy possible, the races in which each car participated, the driver and the result, and only to the year 1974, at which time FIA homologation for the car expired.

The format here is to feature each event, the highlights pertaining to the TZs, and list the results including the chassis numbers. It is as complete as possible, as accurate as possible, and impressive.

Volume two next week