MONSTER HUNT
Each of us sometimes dreams of unattainable things. Beautiful, exceptional, stirring emotions. We like to imagine that someday they will be within our reach, that we will be able to enjoy them and also attract the admiring glances of everyone else.
However, it happens that for difficult to explain reasons, one might desire something strange. Something that doesn't fit the standards of beauty but arouses curiosity and fright at the same time. One carries this desire deep down until unexpectedly… that day comes.
I remember her first photos from the premiere in Geneva, in 1989. Already then I knew it was a special car. Some ignorants called it "Il Mostro", which means Monster. Scandal... Back then, driving a Polish Fiat 126p, I didn't even dare to dream about it, but whatever longing it sparked then, it grew over the years and became real. And when the right time came to decide, from my long wish list, I chose the Alfa Romeo SZ.
There was one condition: I would find an example close to perfection, or I would let it go. Within a month, I inspected six different cars, scattered throughout Europe. None of them met my expectations, and I started to think that they all had orange peel decorated paintworks , faded leather, or lacked any service history, not to mention the complete absence of any factory accessories or accompanying books.
And then I found her. In the Netherlands, just 12 kilometers away from the place where I had already seen another example, two days earlier. I had already returned home, so here I was trevelling abrod once more. After inspecting the car, standing on the first floor of the Franco Auto company showroom, without the possibility of driving even a few meters, I made the decision to purchase. The car was consigned to the dealership by the actual owner, but the seller knew absolutely nothing about its history. The excellent condition and complete set of accessories and literature (which were received upon buying a new car back in the day) convinced me. And in addition, a thick dossier containing all documents related to the car, from the day of production to present day.
After bringing the car to Poland, it was time for the examination. It was the beginning of December, and I knew I wouldn't touch the road before spring. To make time pass faster, I took care of registration and service. The car had hardly been driven for the past few years, so it was necessary to change the timing belt, fluids, filters, tires, and some other minor adjustments. During this time, I began to look at the documents attached to the car and was surprised to discover its fascinating history. Here it is…
My Alfa Romeo SZ, with serial number 758 (of course not matching the last digits of the VIN number), was produced on July 24, 1991, and just two days later, along with 19 others, was delivered to the Marazzato S.P.A. sales showroom in Treviso. This is mentioned in the certificate of origin issued in 2003 by Alfa Romeo. For not entirely known reasons, perhaps related to strange Italian regulations, 20 red SZs remained blocked on the showroom floor for over a year, and only at the beginning of 1993 did a group of potential customers receive offers to buy cars. The first owner of my car was an orthodontist from the Netherlands, living in Venice. We know from her account and preserved documents that she bought the Alfa for the amount of 91,630,000 lire (novantunmilioniseicentotrentamila), spread over eight monthly installments. Interestingly, the installment agreement was made directly between the showroom and the customer, without the involvement of any financial institution. Probably all the other units were sold in a similar way, because from Dutch lady's account, we know that on January 30, 1994, she picked up her car from the showroom at the same time as the others, as part of one undoubtedly grand ceremony. Each brand new car came with a factory tool kit, a jack, a car cover in a special bag, a leather bag to store the spare wheel, which did not fit in the trunk in place of the spare tire, and a rich set of literature. It included: an instruction manual, warranty and repair book, service list, Certificato di collaudo, i.e., a leather-bound certificate of authenticity of the specimen, factory promotional folders, repair book, and parts catalog. In addition, a set of gadgets from Marazzato and two sets of keys with a remote control were included. My SZ was equipped with a hidden anti-theft microswitch from Gemel. At that time, carjackings of drivers of more expensive cars were common in Italy, and such a switch allowed discreetly immobilizing the car. The Dutch lady met her soon-to-be husband at that time - a stereotypical Italian, handsome and charming, surrounded by a multi-generational Italian family. It is not known whether he fell in love with the Dutch lady or rather with her car. It is known, however, that in July 1995, she drew up a notarial deed, thanks to which her partner could legally use her car. Alfa Romeo became his apple of the eye, who proposed to garage the car in his family home, under the care of his equally enchanted mother. And so they lived: he drove his beloved Alfa, she worked, and his mamma took care of the car more than of the holy figure in the living room. But nothing lasts forever. In 2003, one of the Dutch lady's patients, the owner of a travel agency, asked her how she spent time with her partner in Canada. Where she had never been. There was, however, his other lover. And another one in Brazil and yet another one in Mexico. She demanded a divorce. Of course, the biggest drama was related to the car. He wanted to get the Alfa, but he had nothing to do it with. She then contacted a friend from the Netherlands whom she had met a few years earlier, Eduard, who had two Alfa SZs and was a great fan of the Italian brand. She once visited him, together with Ugo, in the Netherlands, and already at that time Eduard said he would gladly buy their car, if it was ever going to be put up for sale…
…
The new owner, Eduard van de Beek, has long been known as the greatest connoisseur of Alfa Romeo SZ. He runs the ilmostro.nl website, without which no SZ owner can do. Of course, I had no idea about it when buying my Alfa... Eduard owned no less than six SZs and one RZ. He bought his first SZ with only 2300 km on the odometer! In February 2004, he registered the car he bought from Monique, which at that time had 23343 km on the clock.
During email correspondence and phone calls, Eduard told me how he met the Dutch lady's father at an Italian language course, which he attended with his wife. And how he didn't want to believe it, when her father assured him that his daughter drove the same car as he did. He told me how for the next 10 years he took care of what was to become my SZ, and assured me that he didn't know of another car so well preserved as mine. It turns out that the care for the car undertaken in Italy had a very positive outcome on its current condition. Alfa SZs have a well-known ailment stemming from the fact that the body panels were made of laminates. The merciless Italian sun was harsh to cars stored outdoors or in hot garages. The fresh resin evaporated from the body, causing hundreds of tiny blisters on the paint. My car, stored in a cool garage, still has its original, perfect paint, undamaged seals, and leather upholstery without any signs of use. Eduard also commissioned the production of a set of dedicated travel bags, of which only one set is known from photos advertising the new car. They never made it into Alfa Romeo's offer. The first of several ordered sets ended up in my car. They were made of the same leather as the upholstery, with a beautiful lining with the Alfa Romeo logo.
In 2014, after persuasions from Roger Dassen, Eduard's colleague, the SZ ended up in his hands. He argued that he was a great enthusiast of the model and would drive it until the end of his life. Just a few months later, it turned out that the car was put up for sale at Louwman's showroom, for an astronomical sum of 84.950 Euros (in 2015). There is a video on YT presenting the car, and there is also an article about it, where the author claims that it is one of the best SZ specimens in the world. Despite the high price, the car found a buyer. In May 2016, Mr. van Adrichem became the new owner. At that time, the SZ had 36.880 km on the odometer, and 6 years later, when it ended up in my hands, it had only gained a little over 2000 km.
And that's it. And how is it to live with it? When I learned its history and realized its exceptional condition, I began to wonder if I should even drive it. The next kilometers will inevitably leave their mark, and the absolute lack of typical spare parts for the model scares me. Before I went on my first ride, I dreamed many times of driving it, how it sounds, how it handles in corners. I was afraid that reality would be disappointing, fortunately unnecessarily. The SZ drives and sounds great, and it looks cosmic among other ordinary cars. It is a very demanding car. Stiff, difficult to drive, loud, and cramped. It's the first car I always drive with both hands on the steering wheel. A journey longer than 200 km causes real fatigue, but also immense satisfaction.
The uniqueness of our SZ was appreciated by the organizers of last year's Forza Italia concours, where we won the main prize. We were also invited to participate in the final of the Polish Elegance Contest, where, however, in our category, we didn't stand a chance against the Lancia Stratos. Now we are waiting for spring. We are replacing the gearbox cushions, brake pads, adjusting the valve clearances, and recording the next pages of SZ #758 history. It is the history of such cars that makes them more than pieces of metal. Over time, they gain their own identity and individual character. Unfortunately, few examples are fortunate enough to have such a storied, but still pampered life. Most often encountered in advertisements are cars from Japan, and despite their low mileage, theyoften arrive in a deplorable conditions, and their individual character is unfortunately evidenced by often thoughtless modifications, ruining a great car and reducing its value. Few owners care about collecting the complete documentation, because few feel the need. I'm glad I was lucky enough to find the perfect specimen!
Photo gallery courtesy of Piotr Krasinki.
