Design by Dante has been responsible for the restoration of numerous classic and luxury sports cars, including one of the famous limited edition race and rallying cars built by the Milanese companies, Alfa Romeo and Zagato.
The first of the Alfa Romeo Guilietta series of cars was launched at the 1954 Turin Motor Show as a compact coupe, however, the subsequent evolution of the range owed as much to the needs of the racing world as to those of domestic road-users. As early as 1956 the coachbuilder, Zagato, had been reshaping and improving the standard body of the car for racing purposes, and although Alfa Romeo introduced the Giulietta SS (Sprint Speciale) a year later, with a body designed by Bertone, a fully sanctioned race and rallying car was developed and launched by the two companies in 1960. The Giulietta SZ (Sprint Zagato) featured an aerodynamic body, while the time honoured expedient for reducing weight and adding power made the car more competitive. The removal of a large section of the under-frame aided weight reduction, although this led to the SZ being particularly susceptible to corrosionThe inclusion of a five-speed gearbox and the fine tuning of the engine provided the car with a top speed of 120 mph, and an acceleration of 0-60 in eleven seconds. These specifications ensured that the Giulietta SZ was a successful competition car. Yet despite this fact, the orientation of the vehicle to racing meant that only two hundred were built, the last thirty of which incorporated a longer body with a lower profile, and a bridged rear section called the Coda Tronca. These cars are amongst the most collectible of those produced by Alfa Romeo.
In 2004 Design by Dante was commissioned to completely renovate one of the thirty Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Coda Troncas. The first task was to remove the aluminium body to reveal the steel chassis, and to ascertain the extent of any corrosion. Having salvaged as much of the steel as possible, the chassis was coated with zinc, and the complex task of recreating aluminium bodywork commenced. The internal structures the both the front and rear sections were meticulously handcrafted, and the individual aluminium panels, which formed the outer shell of the body, were beaten into shape using the same techniques as those employed by the craftsmen at Zagato. Dante Rubli, the proprietor of Design by Dante, possessed these skills, having been involved in the restoration of sports cars for more than twenty years. Once the aluminium panels had been aligned and welded into place, the joints were seamlessly finished. The steel chassis was isolated from the aluminium, and the new front and rear sections of the car were attached.
While work on the intricate body was being completed, the engine was overhauled. The interior of the car was refurbished in the standard black of the period, and the fixtures replaced. Finally, a sumptuous white paint finish enriched the style and vigour. Thus, the timeless elegance of Italian design, combined with the creative ability of Dante Rubli, ensured the rebirth of a classic limited edition racing car.
To view a gallery of photographs showing the various stages of the restoration work, click here
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