We’re pretty bummed not to be attending Pebble Beach this year. But still paying for last year’s $5k work trip at 14-percent interest… so will be sitting this one out.

Even so, the classic car auctions of rare and classic vehicles come fast and furious year-round. Next month, this Alfa RZ Zagato will cross the block in London.

A perfect embodiment of the late 1980s/early 1990s in high fashion, the RZ will be a foxy/boxy icon for decades to come.

1993 Alfa Romeo RZ by Zagato

1993 Alfa Romeo RZ by Zagato

Without Reserve

• Chassis no. ZAR16200003002117
• Serial no. 092
• Engine no. AR 61501 001116
• Body no. 143

Type ES-30. 210 bhp, 2,959 cc DOHC V-6 engine with electronic fuel injection, five-speed manual rear transaxle, independent front suspension with coil springs and an anti-roll bar, live rear axle with Watt linkage, coil springs, and an anti-roll bar, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes. Wheelbase: 2,510 mm

• Just under 21,000 kilometres from new
• One of just 278 examples produced

The Alfa Romeo SZ, designed and built by Zagato and fully engineered by Alfa Romeo, was one of the most memorable Italian cars of the early nineties for a variety of reasons, with the first and foremost being its controversial styling. Then, no one could argue with the car’s exciting performance. The SZ, powered by a 3.0-litre DOHC V-6 that could produce 210 horsepower, boasted a top speed over 150 mph and excellent weight distribution, thanks to its transmission being mounted in the rear.

Looking to add more drama to the design, Alfa Romeo and Zagato teamed up again to produce a convertible variant. Dubbed the RZ (for Roadster Zagato), the car looked virtually identical to its predecessor, save for a slightly revised front bumper and bonnet. By the end of production, only 278 examples had been produced, far fewer compared to SZ production, which was over 1,000. Whilst only one official colour scheme was available for the SZ, the RZ was offered with three: Red over black, Yellow over black, or Black over red.

This Yellow over black RZ, designated as the 92nd example built, as evidenced by a plaque found on the transmission tunnel, boasts just under 21,000 kilometres from new. It was completed by the factory on 31 March 1993 and sold new in Milan on 5 July of that same year. The car spent some time in the UK in the early 2000s and then travelled back to Italy, from which it is offered today.

Both the SZ and the RZ stand as interesting junctions in the respective histories of Alfa Romeo and Zagato. Boasting compelling styling, these models have a passionate following, and as such, they attract attention anywhere they travel. Alfa Romeo RZs are rarely offered for sale, and an example with single ownership and low mileage such as this warrants careful consideration.