1965 Alfa Romeo TZ (Tubolare Zagato)
- Engine
- 1.57L inline-four (Tipo 511), twin-plug head, tuned by Facetti
Alfa Romeo TZ chassis 750087 is a 1965 Zagato-bodied spaceframe racer built on Giulia running gear, featuring independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and a five-speed gearbox. First invoiced by Autodelta in April 1965 and delivered to Alfa Romeo Lugano that September, the car passed through several Swiss and European owners before being campaigned in 1968 by James Bernard Fortmann with Squadra Piloti Bardahl. It carries a period-correct Tipo 511 twin-plug engine tuned by Facetti and has been certified by the Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo as unrestored and highly authentic.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €1,140,000 (≈ $1.25M)
- 1965-09-08 →Factory deliveryAlfa Romeo Luganofull documentation
Initial delivery point for the car after leaving the Alfa Romeo factory in July 1965; traded the vehicle onward through Karl Foitek.
- → 1966Private salePeter Schettypartial documentation
Racing driver who held the car until the end of 1966, according to the Alfa Romeo Zagato Register.
- → 1968-04-26Acquisition unknownUli Maurerpartial documentation
Subsequent owner who sold the car to Fortmann on a documented date in April 1968.
- 1968-04-26 → 1968-10-01Private saleJames Bernard Fortmannfull documentation
Raced the car under Squadra Piloti Bardahl before selling it to Ehinger in October 1968.
- 1968-10-01 →Private saleJean-Claude Ehingerpartial documentation
Held the car for roughly one year before an underbonnet fire rendered it unfit for use; then sold it on.
- → 1983Private saleGarage Spycherpartial documentation
Automotive business based in Agno that replaced the engine after the fire and retained the car until 1983.
- 1983 →Private saleErnst Hugentoblerpartial documentation
Kept the car for approximately 17 years before returning it to a prior Dutch owner.
- → 2016Private saleDutch previous ownerpartial documentation
During this second ownership period, spanning roughly 16 years, the incorrect engine was swapped for an original TZ Tipo 511 unit sourced from chassis 750066 and tuned by Facetti.
- 2016 →Private saleCurrent vendorfull documentation
Has maintained the car mechanically and used it as a road car; obtained certification from the Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo confirming authenticity and originality.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownKarl Foitekpartial documentation
Well-known Alfa racer who acted as intermediary in the chain of custody, passing the car to Peter Schetty.
Competition
- 19681968 Nürburgring 1000 kmDriver: James Bernard Fortmann36th overall, 5th in prototype 1.6L class
Entered under Squadra Piloti Bardahl; co-driven by Urs-Peter Dietrich. This was the car's competition debut.
- 1968Gran Premio de MugelloDriver: Urs-Peter DietrichDNF — practice damage
Run on a public-road circuit of about 67 km in Tuscany; Fortmann lent the car to Dietrich and Eric Chapuis, but damage to the right rear during practice caused retirement.
- 1968-06-02Montseny Hillclimb
Single entry at this hillclimb event; no result recorded in the prose.
- 1968-06-08ACS Swiss ChampionshipHockenheim ACS Swiss Championship roundDriver: Jean-Claude Ehinger
Took place six days after the Montseny event; Ehinger drove rather than the primary owner Fortmann.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2016InspectionRegistro Italiano Alfa Romeo
Certified by the Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo; the formal report confirmed the car had not been subjected to any major restoration and retained a high level of originality and historical continuity.
- —Engine rebuildGarage Spycher
Following underbonnet fire damage, Garage Spycher replaced the engine, fitting a non-original unit.
Work carried out after the car was sold by Ehinger, sometime after October 1968.
- —Modification
The non-original replacement engine was swapped for a correct Tipo 511 TZ engine numbered 00034, sourced from chassis 750066, featuring a twin-plug cylinder head and a tag indicating it was prepared by Facetti.
Carried out during the Dutch owner's second tenure, which spanned approximately 16 years ending before 2016.
- —Service
Ongoing mechanical maintenance carried out under current ownership to keep the car roadworthy; cosmetic appearance remains unrestored.
Work performed during ownership from 2016 onwards.
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