Looking at these two side-by-side, the relation is clear.
Zagato recently revealed a stunning coupe based on the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, but as a one-off, there's no chance of getting behind the wheel, no matter how deep your pockets are. But if you have a lot of loose change burning a hole in those pockets, you may be able to avail yourself of something similar. While the classic car you see here does not have the fire-breathing performance of the Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato, it certainly has many of the same design elements. This 1969 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato R is headed to the Bonhams Scottsdale Auction on 27 January and is expected to sell for a (relatively) affordable $120,000-$150,000.
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While the contemporary Zagato one-off is powered by the same twin-turbocharged V6 found in the hardcore Giulia GTAm, producing 540 horsepower, the Zagato-built Alfa of 1969 is a little more modest. Originally fitted with a 1.3-liter motor and later a 1.5 in 1972, this example started life as a “regular” Junior Zagato but was recently fully customized to R specification by Alfaholics. As part of this, a new heart was transplanted into the old beauty. A 2.1-liter four-pot producing an estimated 220 hp now motivates the classic car, with a five-speed manual gearbox controlling shifts. However, the original engine is also included.
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When it comes down to it, owning any Zagato is a rarified privilege that few can afford to avail themselves of, but we still dream of having more than one. This 1969 Junior Zagato R, a 1990 Alfa Romeo SZ (Sprint Zagato), and the latest Giulia SWB Zagato under one roof would make for an epic display of Italian automotive art. Perhaps the commissioner of the Giulia-based coupe has just such a layout planned, allowing him to compare how each car's truncated tail differs and noting the subtle changes in the way the headlights are integrated. Wherever each Zagato art piece ends up, we're just lucky to be able to see them in HD.
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Keyword: 1969 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato R Is The Real Ancestor Of The Giulia SWB Zagato