Before Alfa Romeo made its official return to the U.S., it came out with a handful of limited-production models. A well-known example is the 8C Competizione , a two-seater with beautiful lines and a Maserati-sourced V-8. Another was this car, the Zagato TZ3.
Rather than use Italian underpinnings, Alfa decided to use the Viper ACR-X for the car's base. The result was a drop-dead gorgeous coupe with American V-10 power under the hood, pumping out a massive 640 horsepower and 585 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed manual transmission.
The car, inspired by the TZ1 and the TZ2 of the 1960s, was built to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary. A double-bubble roof, a cut teardrop rear end design, and round taillights all highlight Zagato's influence. Look closely, though, and you'll see some Viper shine through.
The exhaust still exits out the side, and the wheelbase is exactly the same. The steering wheel and shifter, while refinished in different trim, are straight out of a 2010 Viper. It even drove "just like a Viper" when we drove it new .
This one, painted in a unique shade of dark brown, just popped up for sale on DuPont Registry via TSG Autohaus , a dealer in Los Angeles, California. It has just 525 miles on the clock, and it's listed for $699,000. That's a lot of money for what's essentially a Viper with some pretty body panels, we know, but considering how rare and special it is, that price doesn't sound too unreasonable.
