1960 Alfa Romeo Giulia SZ2

£300,000 from Mark Donaldson, Farnham, Surrey, UK

IT MAY HAVE started life as a 1960 Giulia SS, but this car’s interesting history saw it converted to Coda

Tronca (square tail) spec just two years into its life. According to dealer Mark Donaldson, it’s known affectionately as ‘The Chilean Car’.

It earned its name in period, as it was sold new in SS form to Eduardo Kovacs Jones, an Alfa Romeo distributor in central Chile. After some racing it was passed on to another owner, before the third – Santiago-based racer Jorge Comandari – asked Zagato to rebuild the car to SZ2 specification. It then went on to race until 1964, when it was once again sold, remaining in Chile with fellow racer Evaristo Pena.

In 1990 the SZ2 was sold by Pena to a German dealer, who imported it into Europe. After a visit to Zagato, where staff were able to confirm the car’s history, it was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 1991. It spent much of the 1990s competing regularly, before being sold to the current owners in 1999.

The new keepers commissioned a full restoration from Simon Hadfield Motorsport. Once that was underway, the decision was taken to remove the original (earlier type) engine, and replace it with a Bob Dove Motorsport-built 101-series and close-ratio fivespeed gearbox. The earlier drum brakes were upgraded to discs, in order to keep the car competitive in Historic racing. Naturally, the original matchingnumbers engine was also rebuilt and comes with the car, as does the original brake set-up.

It raced in 2010 at Monza and Silverstone, as well as the Goodwood Revival, but hasn’t been driven competitively since. Offered with UK registration, a spare rear axle, wheels and a few other parts, it’s ready to add to that history.