The idea of an affordable coach-built Italian sports car is just about a nonsensical statement. Add the name Alfa Romeo to the equation, and you may think there is no such car. Unbelievably, though, there is a classic coach-built Alfa Romeo that is not only affordable but also fun to drive and easy to live with on a daily basis. That car is our Pick of the Day – a 1970 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato on ClassicCars.com.
The Alfa Junior Zagato is based on the Alfa 105 chassis made famous in the GT and GTV coupes of the 1960s and ’70s. It was penned by designer Ercole Spada, whose first design while at Zagato was the legendary Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato. The Junior Zagato, introduced at the 1969 Turin Motor Show, was sold and marketed by Alfa Romeo. Alfa would build a total of only 2,618 total Junior Zagato cars over the car’s 7-year production run, making it a very rare 105 Series Alfa.
The best part of the Junior Zagato is that even though it is a coach-built Italian car, all of its mechanicals are the same as any other 105 Series Alfa, meaning the cost to run one of these special cars is the same as a 1974 Alfa Spider, yet it qualifies for most of the world’s top concours events, as it is a coach-built car.
The seller’s description of this Alfa Junior Zagato states it is a very well-sorted, long-term California car with numerous performance upgrades and benefits from expert care by a series of devoted marque enthusiasts. One notable past owner of this car is Ken “Mr. Alfa” Shaff, best known as co-founder of both Autoweek magazine and the California Mille rally (with fellow Alfa enthusiast and classic car legend Martin Swig).
The seller adds that this Junior Zagato was treated to extensive engine-out mechanical refurbishment work in 2019 done by Stewarts Automotive in Sacramento, California. Since early 2022 the car has been in the care of an experienced Alfa specialist and vintage racer, who expertly dialed it in to be a reliable classic tour car. According to the seller, the blue paintwork is in very good condition overall and is done to a level that encourages regular driving. They disclose there are minor cracks around the A-pillars, C-pillars and near the tailgate opening – something quite common on these cars.
The interior trim is said to be well-preserved and in good condition and features correct instruments, switchgear and cockpit fittings, though an aftermarket radio has been added.
I owned one of these cars many years ago and found it to be one of the most fun Alfas I have ever owned. It sounds amazing, has adequate power to be able to keep up with modern traffic and has incredible handling for the era. Although quite small, even my 6-foot-4 self found the Junior Zagato comfortable for hundreds of miles of driving. It drives as good or better than any Alfa GTV and looks like no other Alfa ever built. (It is said the Junior Zagato was the design template for the Honda CRX, which to me only adds to the car’s allure.)
Now for the best part. The Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato has always been the single most affordable entry into the world of coach-built Alfas, and this car – with an asking price of only $85,000 – represents a good deal on what sounds to be a fully sorted vehicle with an interesting ownership history.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
