There is method to the madness here, but it might just as easily be the other way around. So here we are, driving what appears to be a wedge of cheese in a locale that is not within walking distance from anywhere. The speedometer is pegged at the sort of velocity that is usually accompanied by a police siren, but no. It's all pretty normal in these parts. You could get into trouble, but you would have to work hard at it. And besides, you're not even the fastest gun here. Welcome to the Isle of Man and the Alfa Romeo RZ, a car that, even on a good day, looks as if it's being viewed in the back of a spoon. It isn't in the realm of the normal, that's for sure.
But then neither was the car that bore it, the mighty SZ, which emerged at a time when Alfisti were poorly served. It's worth recalling that the '80s began with Nissan and Alfa Romeo signing an agreement that would lead to close co-operation between the two firms spanning the following 15 years. That, and a raft of new models. Only the Arna arrived, a giddying blend of a Cherry hull and an Alfasud flat-four.
At least the marque faithful were spared an Alfa-ised Nissan Prairie, which almost became a thing. The alliance was annulled in 1986, with the break-up followed shortly by a change of ownership after Fiat gazumped Ford.
Then there was Alfa Romeo's Formula One programme, which had shown early flashes of promise, but no victories were forthcoming despite the best efforts of Mario Andretti and other stars. By the mid-1980s, it had become a pointless exercise (in every sense). As such, it fell to Touring Car outings to maintain the marque's sporting credentials, but again results were patchy. It wasn't a great period for the company, but it was against this backdrop of despondency and whip-round budgets that one of the greatest-ever halo cars was conceived.
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Denne historien er fra August 2024-utgaven av Classic & Sports Car.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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RAY HILLIER
Double-chevron oddity proves a break from the norm for this Crewe specialist
SHORT BACK & GLIDES
Eccentric enthusiast Captain RG McLeod's series of Manx-tailed Bentley Specials reached its zenith with this unique S2 Continental.
People's choice
The diminutive but multi-million-selling Fiat 850 packed a remarkable diversity of form and function into its compact footprint
PLASTIC BREAKS FROM THE NORM
Glassfibre revolutionised niche car-body production, but just occasionally strayed into the mainstream.
A SENSIBLE SUPERCAR
The cleverly conceived four-seater Elite secured Lotus a place at the big players' table, but has it been unfairly maligned since then?
"I had a habit of grabbing second place from the jaws of victory"
From dreams of yachting glory to the Le Mans podium, via a stint at the top of the motorsport tree, Howden Ganley had quite the career
Still going strong
Herbert Engineering staked its reputation on the five-year warranty that came with its cars. A century on, this Two Litre hasn't made a claim
One for the kids
General Motors was aiming squarely at the youth market with the launch of the Pontiac GTO 60 years ago, and its runaway success popularised the muscle-car movement
A NEW BREED OF HERO
Launched at the turn of the millennium, the GT3 badge has already earned a place alongside RS, CS and turbo in Porsche lore.
Brits with SIX appeal
The straight-six engine is synonymous with a decades-long legacy of great British sports cars. Six variations on the sextet theme convene for comparison
