Description
Alfa Romeo 1300 Junior Zagato | 1971
Highlights:
– 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-cam petrol engine, five-speed manual transmission
– Engine, gearbox and rear axle replaced with 2000 Sprint units, which have covered approximately 2,000 km according to the seller
– Zagato bodywork designed by Ercole Spada on a shortened Spider floorpan
– Registered in Germany until 2015 and still carrying its German-language factory identification plate
– Finished in silver-grey over a black interior
The seller offers for sale this 1971 Alfa Romeo 1300 Junior Zagato, powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-cam petrol engine, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. Few Alfa Romeos of the period divide opinion and win hearts quite like the Junior Z. Where Bertone’s GT Junior played it elegant and Pininfarina’s Spider played it romantic, Zagato took a shortened Spider floorpan and wrapped it in something altogether sharper: a low wedge nose behind a full-width Plexiglas panel, a cropped Kamm tail, a wraparound rear screen and a stance that still looks a decade ahead of its 1969 introduction. Ercole Spada’s design has aged remarkably well, and the compact dimensions make the car feel far more special on the road than its modest paper specification suggests.
Presented in silver-grey over a black interior, this example carries the details that make the Junior Z instantly recognisable: the shield grille set behind the clear nose panel, the flush door handles, the slim bumpers and the alloy wheels filling the arches. Inside, a wood-rimmed steering wheel sits ahead of a pair of large Veglia dials, with a trio of auxiliary gauges and a period radio in the centre console, and a pair of black bucket seats carrying the patina of use.
Mechanically the car has been given a substantial upgrade. According to the seller it has been fitted with a 2000 Sprint engine together with the matching gearbox and rear axle, and that driveline has covered roughly 2,000 km since. The 2.0-litre unit is the largest of Alfa Romeo’s classic twin-cam fours and gives the lightweight Junior Z noticeably more muscle than the 1290 cc engine with which it left the factory, while remaining entirely in keeping with the period.
The car was registered in Germany until 2015 and still wears its German-language factory identification plate on the door pillar, a welcome piece of provenance for a car of this age. It is offered with classic vehicle certification papers and a valid roadworthiness inspection. With only around 1,100 examples of the 1300 Junior Z built between 1969 and 1972, surviving cars are increasingly sought after by collectors who value Zagato’s design work and Alfa Romeo’s twin-cam engineering in equal measure.
Condition of the bodywork & paint
4 — Very Good. Clean with minimal wear; might need minor replacements for small missing or broken parts.
Condition of the interior
4 — Very Good. Clean with minimal wear; might need minor replacements for small missing or broken parts.
Technical condition
4 — Very Good. Mechanically solid, with potential for minor servicing.
Overall condition
4 — Very Good. Displays only minimal wear and can hit the road any time.
This item is sold on an as-is basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and descriptions of the listing are for information purposes only.
