The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Passing the torch. Peter’s son Dino at Hockenheim with Peter’s Alfa. Photo Peter Zahnd
By James Lanoway
Regarding the many exotic Alfas that Peter Zahnd saw and worked on at the Agno facility:
“The rare cars like the TZ, TI Super, GTA 1.6 and 1.3, went to wealthy customers or the sports drivers. Prominent Swiss drivers well-known on the TZ 1 included Clay Regazzoni, [Read more…] about Alfa’s Exclusive Swiss Facility Part 3
This photo was taken by the late Steve McKelvie at the Lime Rock Historic Festival in 2012. Steve had a blog called SteveMcKelvie.com where he posted the article “More Car Transporters And Service Vehicles.” It is published here with permission of the copyrightholders.
By James Lanoway
As his grandfather owned an Alfa Romeo sales outlet and his father owned an Alfa service outlet, it was natural for Peter Zahnd to grow up surrounded by the fruits of Portello’s production. His grandfather’s dealership, Garage Metropol Ernest Zahnd on Bahnhofstrasse in the heart of Zurich, sold at first 6C 2300s, then 6C 2500 Touring Villa d’Este’s, and later the “modern” 1900 models. Peter’s father took over this family business and evolved it into an Alfa Romeo service center, Garage Hans Zahnd, keeping the same location. Since Peter’s busy father did not have the time to train his son, he sent Peter to a nearby Alfa Romeo dealership, Garage Werner Brüngger, to gain experience. Peter takes up the story:
AR Agno building. Centro Documentazione Alfa Romeo – Arese.
By James Lanoway
An Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, considered by many the most beautiful automobile of all time, pulls into the parking lot of a low, brown brick building against an Alpen lakeside backdrop in the late 1960s. Wearing Italian plates, its scintillating sound cuts out, and its “scissors” doors tilt open upwards and forward to reveal a large German Shepard sitting in the passenger seat. Soon, a draw will be held inside the building to see who will get to try out this automotive sensation on the neighbouring test track, leaving the lucky winner with memories to last well into the winter of life.