Wonderful Sebring airfield shot of the Autodelta TZ2’s of Russo/Andrey and Bianchi/Consten…
The Ford GT40 X-1 Roadster of Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby won the race, Russo/Andrey winning their class and placing fourteenth outright, not bad for a 175bhp car, the Bianchi car did not finish.
Autodelta and TZ1…
Autodelta was formed by Carlo Chiti after the failure of ATS, the Grand Prix team formed by Chiti and other ex-Ferrari staff after the Commendatore’s purge of Ferrari senior-staff in 1961.
The TZ1 was a collaboration between Autodelta, Alfa Romeo and Zagato. It was designed by Autodelta using familiar 105 Series Alfa components including the engine, five-speed gearbox and differential. The car was clothed by Ercole Spada at Zagato. Autodelta used a lightweight multi-tubular spaceframe for the chassis, specifying an aluminium body, disc brakes and independent suspension, it weighed 660Kg.
112 Z1s were built for road and track, the car was quickly homologated into the 1600 GT category by the FIA’ becoming a class winner on both sides of the Atlantic. Alfa realised the importance of Autodelta to build their brand image via racing and acquired the company in 1964, moving it to Milan.
TZ2…
In 1965 the design was refined, creating the TZ2.
It was lighter, fibeglass was used for the body rather than aluminium, tipping the scales at just 620 Kg and lower at 41 inches high. Z2 was also more powerful, using a 1600 twin-plug engine which gave around 170bhp @ 7000rpm. The engine was dry-sumped to allow it to sit lower in the chassis. Z2 engines were prepared by Autotecnica Conrero in Turin, this engine was homologated for use in the last of the TZ1s and would be very effective in the GTA 105 Series touring cars in the years to come.
13 inch Campagnolo wheels were used to make better use of the racing rubber of the day, rather than the 15’s of the Z1. The chassis were built by Ambrosini, 12 were built, 10 racers plus a chassis each given to Bertone and Pininfarina to create ‘catwalk models’!
In standard form the car is sensational to look at, it’s low, swoopy and curvaceous with one curve merging into the other until ended abruptly with the chopped-off Kamm tail.
The TZ2 was raced five times in international events by Autodelta finishing first in class in all of them, Sebring inclusive. After 18 months of dominating the 1.6 litre GT class it was time for Autodelta to move on to bigger challenges but the TZ played a pivotal role in Alfas re-entry to sportscar racing. The Tipo 33 sports-prototype program picked up where the TZ’s finished, in fact the prototype T33 was powered by a TZ2 engine.
The 1966 Sebring winning Shelby American entered Ford GT40 X-1 above driven by Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby. The machine was a heavily modified GT40 Mk1 comprising an aluminium rather than steel chassis, Mk2 nose, no roof and a 7 litre/427 CID V8 as per Mk 2 specifications.
Zagato TZ Register…
http://www.zagato-cars.com/contents/en-us/d166_Alfa_Romeo_TZ_1_TZ2_Register.html
Etcetera…
TZ essential elements were a multi-tubular spaceframe chassis, 105 Series engine, gearbox and differential, about 170bhp in TZ2 GTA specification, disc brakes and independent suspension front and rear.
TZ1 Cutaway, but essentially the same elements in both cars as above, Alfa engine, gearbox and diff, spaceframe chassis all clad in a gorgeous Zagato body.
Tailpiece: Surfers Paradise 12 Hour 1966…
Alec Mildren imported and raced two TZs to Australia, a TZ1 and TZ2, the latter is shown above looking all moody and evocative during the inaugural twelve hour race at Surfers Paradise in 1966. Kevin Bartlett and Doug Chivas raced it to third place in amongst the top-guns, the race won by the Scuderia Veloce Ferrari 250LM driven by Jackie Stewart and Andy Buchanan.
Photo Credits…
Nigel Smuckatelli, Pinterest, Carozzeria Zagato, Alfa Romeo, Stewart Johnson
Finito…
primotipo... 