Athletically specified and beautifully bodied with lightweight aluminum coachwork by Zagato, the series-built Alfa Romeo Sprint Speciale-based Sprint Zagato (SZ) was one of the most potent racing berlinettas of the early 1960s. Only approximately 216 examples were built, of which just the final 41 cars featured a truncated “Coda Tronca” Kamm tail and front disc brakes.

The featured car is one of two SZ examples (along with chassis number 0201) that were shipped to the American marque subsidiary in Newark, New Jersey, for competition use by the nascent Martini & Rossi Racing Team. These two special Alfa Romeos are widely believed to be the very first cars fielded by Martini & Rossi, commencing one of motorsports’ most legendary sponsorships.

Completed in October 1961, chassis number 0200 was finished in Rosso Alfa paint, as confirmed by Alfa Romeo documentation on file. After arrival to the US the fenders were adorned with script reading “Martini & Rossi Racing Team,” as the brand’s iconic racing livery had yet to be devised. Driver Paul Richards finished 2nd in class at the Daytona Continental 3-Hours in February 1962, just two places behind teammate Charlie Kolb, who won the 1.3-liter class in the sister car. The SZ then successfully completed the 12 Hours of Sebring a month later, and the car also finished 3rd in class (5th overall) at the under-2-liter race at the Bridgehampton 400 KM in September. At the end of the year the Alfa Romeo was likely one of the two Sprint Zagatos driven by Kolb and Richards at the Bahamas Speed Week.

Earlier model registers and former owner’s notes on file suggest that the original Facetti-prepared 1300 engine was replaced with a 1600 Veloce-spec motor in preparation for the 1963 Sebring, although it appears the cars never arrived to compete. The Alfa Romeo was then sold to ex-Alfa Romeo-US employee Joe Amato, after which the car passed through a short chain of six dedicated American owners before being acquired in 2016 by the consignor.

Properly restored under the consignor’s stewardship, the Sprint Zagato is equipped with a correct AR00120-series engine properly aspirated with two sidedraft twin-choke Weber 40 DCOE/2 carburetors. Also featuring correct retrimmed seats, the handsomely presented SZ has accrued only approximately 1,000 miles since refurbishment, and it would make an excellent companion for vintage racing or display at concours d’elegance and marque gatherings—stunning in every regard.