Makes › Alfa Romeo › SZ (ES-30, Zagato) · Rare production Very Rare
Alfa Romeo
SZ (ES-30, Zagato)
Zagato-built thermoplastic-bodied coupé on 75 3.0 V6 mechanicals.
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC0 1.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 1,000 Built
- Years
- Not yet verified
- Engine
- Front-mounted longitudinal 3.0-litre V6, four-cam
- Power
- 157 kW / 213 PSFactory: 210 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 245 km/hFactory: 245 km/h
- Body
- Zagato
- Designer
- Robert Opron (initial design), Antonio Castellana (final styling); built by Zagato
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The SZ (ES-30, nicknamed Il Mostro) revived the Sprint Zagato name with an angular plastic-bodied coupe on the Alfa 75 platform. It combined the Alfa V6 with strong handling and a low drag coefficient, and its controversial styling made it one of the most discussed Italian cars of the early 1990s.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Alfa Romeo SZ (ES-30, Zagato) (Wikimedia Commons: Alfa Romeo SZ)
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC0 1.0
Alfa Romeo SZ (ES-30, Zagato) (Wikimedia Commons: Alfa Romeo SZ)
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC0 1.0
Alfa Romeo SZ (ES-30, Zagato) (Wikimedia Commons: Alfa Romeo SZ)
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC0 1.0
Alfa Romeo SZ (ES-30, Zagato) (Wikimedia Commons: Alfa Romeo SZ)
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC0 1.0
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionSZ units produced by Zagato 1989–1994 (heritage figure includes the RZ) | 1,0001 | Factory production | Estimated |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
The SZ began as the ES-30 design study at the 1987 Geneva show. The production car was unveiled at the March 1989 Geneva Salon as a joint project with Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Robert Opron made the first sketches and Antonio Castellana finished the exterior and interior. Giorgio Pianta oversaw suspension development, and the cars were built at Zagato's works at Terrazzano di Rho.
The open RZ followed in 1992, and both models were produced to 1993.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard SZ (ES-30, Zagato).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Front-mounted longitudinal 3.0-litre V6, four-cam2 Independently researched |
| Displacement | Not yet verified |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Electronic fuel injection3 Independently researched |
| Power | 157 kW / 213 PSFactory: 210 hp · converted3 Independently researchedAuction houses write bhp; rating standard not stated. |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Gears | 53 Independently researched |
| Driven wheels | Rear2 Independently researched |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Independent, coil springs, anti-roll bar, Koni adjustable dampers3 Independently researchedKoni dampers per S2. |
| Rear suspension | Live axle with Watt linkage, coil springs, anti-roll bar3 Independently researchedThe RZ lots describe a de Dion rear axle with Watt's linkage. |
| Brakes | Four-wheel hydraulic discs3 Independently researched |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Moulded plastic body with alloy roof, bonded to the Alfa 75 floor pan2 Independently researched |
| Wheelbase | 2,510 mmFactory: 2,510 mm3 Independently researched |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 245 km/hFactory: 245 km/h2 Independently researchedS1 gives 153 mph. |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| 0–60 mph | 6.9 s3 Independently researched |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
The ES-30 has an angular body of moulded plastic with an alloy roof, bonded to the Alfa 75 floor pan, and a front grille with two clusters of three small headlamps. It lacks Zagato's double-bubble roof and was made only in left-hand drive. Catalogued chassis numbers follow the ZAR13900003000445 and ZAR16200003000590 patterns, with engines in the AR61501 series. One official colour scheme existed (red with dark grey roof and tan trim), plus one black car for Andrea Zagato.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
Alfa Romeo SZ | Stellantis Heritage Level A
- around 1000 SZ units produced by Zagato 1989–1994 (heritage figure includes the RZ)
-
2
1991 Alfa Romeo SZ Coupe, Coachwork by Carrozzeria Zagato (Bonhams lot) Level C Bonhams, via lot-art.com
- 3.0-litre four-cam V6 ... engine was mounted longitudinally
- drove the rear wheels via five-speed manual transaxle
- angular bodyshell crafted in lightweight moulded plastic - alloy roof excepted
- 245km/h top speed
-
3
1990 Alfa Romeo SZ Coupe, London 2011 Level C RM Sotheby's
- electronic fuel injection
- 210-bhp, 3.0-litre V-6
- five-speed manual gearbox
- independent front suspension with coil springs and anti-roll bar
- live rear axle with Watt linkage
- four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes
- Wheelbase: 2,510 mm
- nought to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds
Keep exploring
More from Alfa Romeo
-
Alfa Romeo · 1988
164 ProCar
1 Built
-
Alfa Romeo · 1941
8C 2900B "Balena"
1 Built
-
Alfa Romeo · 1938
8C 2900B Le Mans Berlinetta (Touring)
1 Built
-
Alfa Romeo · 1968
Carabo (Bertone)
1 Built
See all 212 cars by Alfa Romeo →
More from Italy
-
Fiat
Panda 4x4 (first series, 1985)
Production not yet verified
-
Ferrari
330 America
Production not yet verified
-
Lamborghini
Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce
Production not yet verified
-
Pagani
Huayra Imola Roadster
Production not yet verified
62 other makes from ItalyAbarthACM AutomobiliAres DesignATSAuto Avio CostruzioniAutobianchiAznomB EngineeringBandiniBertoneBizzarriniBrixia-ZüstCagivaCarrozzeria Touring SuperleggeraCeiranoChiribiriCisitaliaCizetaColoniCoviniDallaraDe TomasoDiattoF.I.A.L. LegnanoFerrariFervesFiatFissoreFlorentiaGhiaInnocentiIntermeccanicaIsoIsotta FraschiniItalaItaldesignLaffiteLamborghiniLanciaMaseratiAll makes →