For $675k, You Can Own This Ultra-Rare ‘Italian Viper’ from Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo’s TZ3 Stradale paired a Dodge Viper V-10 with a carbon-fiber body by Zagato. Only nine were ever made and this one is for sale.
I’ve been a gearhead since before I was old enough to drive. And that’s not to mention writing professionally about cars for the past several years. However, this vehicle stumped me. I had somehow never heard of the Alfa Romeo Zagato TZ3 Stradale. Apparently, it’s nicknamed the “Italian Viper” because it utilizes the running gear from Dodge’s gonzo supercar. You might pick up some Viper-esque clues from the long hood and sidepipes, but the TZ3’s bespoke carbon-fiber coachwork is all Alfa Romeo goodness.
A modern take on a classic
Alfa Romeo conjured this wild creation for one year only in 2010 as part of a celebration of the company’s 100th anniversary. Styling borrowed heavily from the brand’s 1960s Giulia TZ (Tubolare Zagato), including the unique kammback rear end treatment. Recall that when this car was manufactured, Fiat owned Alfa Romeo and also had a majority ownership stake in Chrysler that would later escalate to 100% ownership. That made it convenient to lift the chassis and powertrain straight from Dodge’s halo car, the Viper.
According to multiple sources, the Zagato TZ3 Stradale was spec’d with a ACR-X version of the Viper 8.4-liter V10. Beyond that, there’s little agreement on the exact horsepower and torque figures. Reading between the lines, the Alfa’s V10 is likely detuned slightly from the ACR-X’s specifications, but more powerful than your run-of-the-mill 600 horsepower second-gen Viper. As if there is such a thing. In any case, 0-60 mph arrives in a tick over 3 seconds on its way to a 200-plus mph top speed.
It’s rare than hen’s teeth
Alfa Romeo only built nine street-legal examples, plus one lightweight race car called the Corza. This dark blue-green specimen that’s for sale is number five of the nine. The asking price isn’t exactly cheap at $675,000, but that’s much less than the cool $1+ million these cars commanded when new. If you’ve recently come into some cash, like winning the Powerball lottery, for example, this rare bird is for sale at Young Motorcars in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Photos: Young Motorcars
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