 Hot wheelsThis is a marketplace of information. Here you can post questions, hints or queries. Please let me know if you can contribute to this forum, be it answers to questions below or posting questions yourself. You might want to visit this page frequently because the content will change often. Last update: 27. February 1999 Spare parts situation In the meantime I have received some mail regarding spare parts (too few) and spare prices (too high). To overcome the situation the idea of a non-profit swap market for spares was brought to my attention. I think it is a good idea however I don't have the time and energy to handle spares. What I would do is provide the webspace (of course free of charge) necessary for such a market. I have no idea who is looking for spares or has surplus spares to offer. As soon as I have received the first inquiries or offers I would create a new section on this site. So the chance to finally find long sought spares or to clear your inventory is only an e-mail away: chris@zagato-cars.com. The premises today Federico Giove from Italy visited the factory in February 1999 and sent me some pictures. My favourite is his beautiful Junior Z 1300 in front of the main entrance. For a bigger picture click on the small picture below.
Seat belts When brand new the Junior Zagato was equipped with static two- or three-point seat belts. Apart from fussy handling the passenger compartment always looks messy. What type of dynamic (i.e. with roll-up mechanism when not in use) seat belts do fit into the Junior Zagato? In which car was this seat belt used? Please send an e-mail to chris@zagato-cars.com Zagato meeting Salvatore de Masi asks via e-mail dated 28.1.1999:
If someone is planning a Zagato meeting, or if someone knows already where and when a meeting is taking place: Send me an e-mail and I will post it here! Zagato-Spares and Restoration Salvatore de Masi sent me the following e-mail:
I think it's a good idea to exchange and publish addresses of spare parts dealers. However I would like to make clear that I have no experience with the company CMG. Salvatore, thank you for your hint. Please send me an e-mail if you know addresses of other dealers. I'm happy to post your contribution here for the benefit of other Zagato-owners. I have no problem to post negative experiences as well. Sales Brochure I don't know whether there was ever a sales brochure for the Junior Zagato 1300 or 1600 published by Alfa Romeo. I'm very interested in any information on such a sales brochure - if you happen to know whether such a brochure was issued or even better if you have one please let me know. There are greyscale pictures with mannequins. These pictures might
be an indicator - either a brochure was planned or even better such a brochure was printed
and I'm not aware of that! Please mail to: chris@zagato-cars.com
Mystery Junior Z prototype Michele Marchiano mentions in his book 'Le Zagato' a special project: '...However it should be remembered that in 1973 Alfa Romeo asked Autodelta to create a prototype with a Junior Z body and a 2000 GTAm injection engine. The transversally mounted engine was behind the seats. An eye-catching air-intake protruded from the roof while the rear window had been replaced by aluminum slats. This prototype, the 'Periscopo', was to be the only one of its kind and it had little luck although it tested well on the track. Its 220 HP took it up to 230-240 km/h with spectacular agility. Eventually the project was dropped and the car ended up in the warehouse at Portello.' I think it would be very interesting to find out more about this project. The only picture I could get my hands on so far is a picture of a model car. I found this picture on a Belgian homepage.
If someone knows more about this project or even better has pictures of the real car, please let me know!
Key issues It all started with the disassembly of the door locks, because some parts were in need for new chrome. In order to have new chrome on the lock-plate you have to drill the little pin out that holds the lock-cylinder in its position. The lock-cylinder is in the part of the lock marked with an arrow in the drawing below:
The first cylinder was not functioning because of broken springs. Normally these springs are holding tiny little 'pistons' in their position to follow the contours of the key. I checked my other lock-cylinders with little success: I realized that over the years I have collected four different lock cylinders with only one key! That brings me to my questions:
For all of you not knowing how an original Junior Zagato key looks like here's the picture:
Junior Zagato owner Federico Giove from Italy sent me an e-mail:
Federico, thank you very much for your contribution! If someone else has additional information please feel free to contact me. 1600 Rarity Years ago a friend of mine who was running a garage asked me if I could help him preparing a Junior Zagato for MOT. We did a few necessary settings and repairs and the car was MOT'd. Out of curiosity and because I had purchased the book 'Tutte le vetture Alfa Romeo dal 1910' by Luigi Fusi shortly before, I checked with the vehicle identification number (VIN) approximately when that Zagato was built. Much to my surprise I learned that this particular car was one of the first five 1600's built (I cannot recall the exact VIN nowadays). I was so surprised because the body and trimming was plain 1300, but the VIN started with AR*306..., definitely 1600 type and also the papers were clearly stating that this was a 1600 car. Most probably some remaining 1300's out of the last production month of the 1300 series were simply declared as 1600 when the new model was introduced. The picture below was taken 15 years ago, I don't know the whereabouts of the car.
Anyone else having a 1600 Junior Zagato with 'ex factory' 1300 bodywork? |
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