Drive away the ‘baby GTO’ blues with an Alfa TZ1

Alfa Romeo’s petite Tubolare Zagato coupé from the early 1960s is widely referred to as the ‘baby GTO’ – but while associations don’t come much grander, Alfisti will argue that the TZ has earned metaphorical stripes of its very own…

Ahead of its time

Developed over a four-year period largely by ex-Ferrari engineer Carlo Chiti’s Autodelta racing outfit (which was soon incorporated into Alfa Romeo as its official competition division), the TZ was truly ahead of its time. Not only did it employ cutting-edge tubular chassis construction and wear beautiful hand-beaten aluminium bodywork penned by Zagato’s Ercole Spada; it also boasted double-wishbone suspension (independently sprung at the rear), all-round disc brakes, and groundbreaking aerodynamics. Of the latter, the low frontal area and kamm-tailed rear are the most apparent, also lending the TZ its unmistakable silhouette.

The art of agility

While the 250 GTO made use of Gioacchino Colombo’s legendary V12 to dominate GT racing, the little Alfa employed a plucky 1,600cc four cylinder producing up to 160bhp – plenty, considering the 660kg total mass, a mere 10% of which was accounted for by the hollow chassis. After its debut race at Monza, in which it romped home in first, second, third and fourth, the TZ was soon put to work in such prestigious events as Le Mans and the Targa Florio. The latter particularly suited the car’s agility, proved by class victories in 1964 and 1965.

Don't call me babe

Like its bigger cousin from Maranello, the TZ – subsequently designated a TZ1 to avoid confusion with its TZ2 successor – has become one of its respective manufacturer’s most valuable collector cars. Its beauty, top-level competition pedigree, groundbreaking dynamic make-up, rarity (just 112 were built) and associations with a marque truly in its prime epitomise desirability, boosted further by its contemporary competition eligibility. Just don’t mention the b-word… this diminutive Alfa is nothing but a fully-fledged grown-up.

Photos: © Amy Shore for Classic Driver

The 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ1 pictured here – which has period and contemporary competition history – is currently for sale through London-based Classic Driver dealer Fiskens.

Artcurial shows all 59 cars from the Baillon barn-find collection

Until a few weeks ago, 60 almost-forgotten classics lay dormant beneath a corrugated iron roof. But now, Artcurial has retrieved them all ahead of its Paris auction, fully revealing their condition via studio photos…

In case you’ve been hiding beneath a rock (or corrugated iron roof) for the past few weeks, it’s theex-Alain Delon Ferrari California Spider (lot 59) that headlines the unprecedented sale – and, carrying an estimate of €9.5m to €12m, is set to achieve more than the remaining 58 Baillon cars put together. Originally, 60 cars were set for the auction (to be held separately, the day before the annual Artcurial sale), but one was withdrawn due to being in worse condition than previously thought.

Rust with a little hint of paint

Other lots of note include a 1963 Porsche 356 SC Coupé (€20,000 to €30,000), a 1948 Delahaye 135 M cabriolet by Faget-Varnet (€100,000 to €150,000), a 1960 Facel Excellence, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 (€120,000 - €160,000), a 1949 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport SWB Saoutchik (€400,000 to €600,000) and, also by Saoutchik, a 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Cabriolet (€250,000 to €350,000). Many of the lots are offered at no reserve.

All eyes – including those of not only automotive enthusiasts, but also art collectors – will be on the Artcurial sale on 6 February 2015 in Paris. Each of the 59 lots can be found in the Classic Driver Market.

Photos: Artcurial

PERFECT RIDE BIG DRAKER

Our Polish readership are likely very familiar with Motocykl magazine, the countries leading bike related publication.Motocykl reviews all of the latest machinery whilst keeping its audience abreast of current racing news and other bike related shenanigans. What they might not be aware of, is the pet project of the man behind the pages, Editor Piotr Granczarski. Tucked away in his private garage in the mountains of Bielsko-Biała in the south of Poland, Piotr has been crafting motorcycles to counter the anodyne, factory fresh machines he spends his days with. This Suzuki DR800 is the first of Piotr’s builds to be let loose on the mountain roads under the monicker of his new bike-building enterprise, Perfect Ride Handcrafted Motorcycles.

On its release in 1987 at the Paris International Fair, the Suzuki DR 800 was affectionately referred to as “Dr Big” due to the sheer size of the thing, it remains the largest single cylinder adventure bike ever built. Everything about the bike was huge, unsurprisingly in a short time it became a cult bike and gained a new nickname, “Drake” due to the bird like appearance of its front beak.

“

The plan was simple: on the basis of the DR BIG create a stylish bike, not afraid of curbs, and referring in style to street tracker machines: wide handlebars, a small, flat fuel tank, spartan seat, a minimum of body and only what is necessary to be street legal.”

Piotr set to work on his ’91 model, as well as being Editor of the magazine he is a qualified mechanical engineer, a handy sideline when it comes to bike building. He stripped the DR down to the frame, which he then modified with the customary chopping off of everything that was needless and the addition of a custom subframe. The new slimline frame was suspended on WP USD forks from a KTM EXC whilst an Ohlins shock absorber took care of damping duties at the rear. The wheels were upgraded with wider rims (17-inch rear, 18 front) and chunky tires.

The fuel tank was relieved from its boring life of slow commuting aboard a Honda CG 125 and modified to fit the wider main beam of the frame, Piotr adjusted the fit and sit of the tank until he achieved a straight line with the tail section which was taken from CB 450 S and extensively modified for purpose.

“The seat is made of natural cowhide and vintage leather on a custom made aluminum pan.

 To maintain a clean line of the bike, all cables and electric stuff goes under the seat. The cable bundles from the custom made steering buttons were threaded through the handlebar. Rear light and indicators are now LED stripes.”

Those of you lamenting the absence of the ugly, standard, side mounted oil cooler would find it in a trash bin in the corner of Piotr’s garage. It is replaced by a smoother, subtler unit from an XR 250. The stumpy short can on the end of the wrapped pipe had to be “DB-Killed” because of the unendurable noise it produced, but Piotr reports that it now produces a more neighbour pleasing sound, similar to that of 50-years old thumpers.

Piotr desired a worn, vintage look for the machine to counter its naturally fearsome attitude. The body is covered with a “strained” paint job while the frame and running gear received a coat of structural black. Tasty details were added with the use of natural materials – robinia wood and natural leather.

With four other bikes awaiting Piotr’s attention he will have to juggle spanner time with his day job and the desire to take the DR for a roar around his idyllic mountain surroundings. At this time Piotr refers to himself as a semi-pro builder, but he does harbour an ambitious development plan and the complete skill set to execute it. If they live up to the big DR then we certainly look forward to seeing those future four builds. We will let Piotr close with his expert review of the machine.

“The bike weighs more than 30kg less than the original DR 800, and with updated suspensions its now a real curve eater. Though the seat is not very comfy and the handlebar forces you to take everything on the chest, it gives a whole bunch of fun when riding it. 
And that’s what street trackers are all about!”

via The Bike Shed

Snapshot, 1965: Smokin' hot Sophia can’t stop…

Remember when smoking in bars, boardrooms and restaurants was the norm? Well, lighting up in cars might soon become a thing of the past, too – a rule to which a young Sopia Loren would no doubt object…

Those who grew up in the immediately post-War decades will no doubt remember the sight of children innocently playing I-Spy in the back seats of the family car, while their parents worked their way through a box of Chesterfields or Prince Denmarks up front – often with the windows open not even a crack. Thankfully, we’re a little more health-conscious in today’s society, though a period image of someone mid-smoke, deep in thought, still evokes a certain nostalgia. Particularly when that someone is Sophia Loren. Taking a rare five minutes to herself, she’s become lost in a smoke-filled daydream; but at least she’s opened the window.

Photo: Getty Images