ALFA ROMEO SZTiming chain or Belt?

The Alfa Romeo SZ is a high-performance sports car in the S segment from the Italian brand Alfa Romeo, manufactured in collaboration with the Fiat Centro Stile and Zagato. It draws its inspiration and design from an earlier model by the brand, the Giulietta Sprint Zagato, which was sold in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Within the company, it was known by the code ES-30, which stands for “Experimental Sportscar 3.0 liter,” and was conceived as an attempt to revive the brand’s sporting heritage after it was acquired by Fiat in 1986.

Aesthetically, although it is popularly believed to be the work of Zagato, its design was developed in-house by Robert Opron and Antonio Castellana, earning it the nickname “Il Mostro.” It stands out as one of the first vehicles to use computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), employing thermoplastic composite body panels. Its most distinctive feature is the unusual front end with six headlights grouped in trios on each side, foregoing Zagato’s classic double-bubble roof and retaining only the coachbuilder’s “Z” logo.

Mechanically, the SZ is a rear-wheel-drive vehicle that inherits its chassis and powertrain from the Alfa Romeo 75. It is powered by the iconic naturally aspirated 3.0-liter “Busso” V6 engine, capable of delivering 210 CV of power and 245 Nm of maximum torque, allowing it to reach a top speed of 245 km/h. This engine is paired with a five-speed manual transmission.

To offer a pure and challenging driving experience, the car lacks any type of electronic driver assistance. Additionally, it features a suspension derived from the Group A/IMSA-spec Alfa Romeo 75 race car, Koni hydraulic shock absorbers, and Pirelli P Zero tires.

The first version of the SZ dates back to 1989. Later, between 1992 and 1994, a convertible variant called the RZ was produced, featuring slight body modifications. It competes primarily with other limited-production sports cars of its era, so there aren’t many of them.

There has been only one generation so far, with just over a thousand coupes produced and fewer than three hundred convertibles.