My blog- Alfa 2600 Zagato restoration

[johnalfanut]

Hi all,

I have decided to publish the complete restoration of my Alfa Romeo 2600 Zagato. I have just posted the first update and will do more frequently. The blog is at http://zagato2600.blogspot.com/

The car is the fifth of only 105 made, of which the whereabouts of about half are known. It is the last of the Zagato prototypes, and believed to have been used for publicity in its early years. It is based on the Alfa 2600 mechanicals but styled by Ercole Spada for Zagato, and was revealed in 1965.

My car was partially restored in the late 1970s then left in dry storage until earlier this year when I bought it. Pictures are on the blog, but it is now red, although was a superb grey metallic before and I may well return it to this colour.

[AdvocatusD]

All the best John. I'll follow it with interest. Having restored my Zagato, I know what it takes!

[dinkel]

Ercole Spada, very underrated designer IMO. Looks like a stunning car when done.

BTW: Hi D, all well?

[AdvocatusD]

dinkel said:

Ercole Spada, very underrated designer IMO. Looks like a stunning car when done.

BTW: Hi D, all well?

All good buddy! Getting married!

[dinkel]

Congrats!

[bertelli_1]

Anything with those 2 magic words, Alfa & Zagato, is always special in my eyes. Good luck with the resto.

[johnalfanut]

Thanks everyone. I know the car was not well received when new- it was steel and the front lights are very unusual. however, the more I look at it, the more amazing it looks. It hunches forward, and the cut off back is a beautiful shape. I have seen fully restored versions, and they are fantastic looking cars.

[Parabola]

Fantastic- thanks for sharing.

[lowdrag]

A most praiseworth project sir. Not being an Alfista I had to research the launch date as being 1965, and since I am in process of unpacking loads of old magazines from that era I shall let you know if I come across a road test and send it to you should you wish.

[Joe T]

What a find.
I was lucky enough to own quite a roadworthy 2600 Sprint for some time and found it a very reliable and useful classic. That engine makes for a great cruiser.

Good luck with your project

Joe T

[HeavySoul]

Bookmarked

[johnalfanut]

Joe T said:

What a find.
I was lucky enough to own quite a roadworthy 2600 Sprint for some time and found it a very reliable and useful classic. That engine makes for a great cruiser.

Good luck with your project

Joe T

I am lucky enough to have a 2600 Sprint too- bought with some of my pension payoff from the Army as an investment I might add- I'm not some miwyonare with a stable full of classics.

You are right- the 2600 engine is unbelievably smooth. Unlike the 105 series, you can hardly hear it but it really pulls. I was recently going down the M27 with my wife following in my GT, and thought I was keeping it to about 70. Obviously the speedo is a bit dodgy- she reckoned I was doing a fair bit more than that. Wondered why everyone else was going backwards!
Both cars apparently put out the same 165 BHP, and they were apparently aiming for a top speed of 150 mph for the Zagato, but it is reckoned that it actually achieved more like 130.