The stylists at Zagato are masters of making things that are sexy but also slightly ugly at the same time. The Giulia SWB Zagato is no exception. It’s a pretty kind of dirty, some of the proportions are very wrong but the balance tips toward attractive the longer I look at it. The compromises of trying to turn a sedan into a low-slung coupe are glaring like the midday sun, yet they don’t completely ruin the shape.
So, let’s jump into a list of things wrong with the way the Giulia SWB Zagato looks. The deck is far too high and bulky, the C-pillar is enormous, the snout is four miles downstream from the hoodline, there’s just so much metal between the tops of the arches and the greenhouse, and the wheelbase chop makes the car tower like the Eiffel.
However, there’s also a lot to like about the Giulia SWB Zagato. It looks purposeful, like the slightly gawky cut-down racing specials of the ‘60s. The roofline is absolutely classic, the kammtail is rather clean, and the six headlights look positively menacing. Draped in deep green paintwork with a black roof, Zagato’s lunacy begins to make sense.
If the coachwork isn’t enough for you, remember the bones of this special coupe. The Giulia SWB Zagato doesn’t draw an engine from just any Alfa Romeo, but the Giulia GTAm, The ‘roided-up R-rated monster of the Giulia family. Its 90-degree 2.9-liter V6 that sounds like the angriest GM 3800 in the world is tuned up to 533 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque, more than enough to light a fire in your heart. Best of all, the Giulia SWB Zagato ditches the ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox for a six-speed manual. Brilliant.
While not exactly surprising, Andrea Zagato is incredibly proud of how the Giulia SWB build turned out, stating that “It has been an exhilarating experience that has confirmed how the combination of Alfa Romeo and Zagato is an absolute classic of collecting.” Hey, if your name’s on the building and you have the legacy of your father and grandfather to follow, wouldn’t you want to make the best of the best?
Unfortunately, if you want your own Giulia SWB Zagato, you’re out of luck. Zagato’s only making one and it’s already been sold. No doubt the German collector who commissioned this car paid a small fortune, but without their passion, this car wouldn’t exist at all. For now, let’s revel in the presence of this car, a flawed yet stunning rolling work of art that shows coachbuilding isn’t dead. (Photo credits: Zagato)
We Need To Talk About The Alfa Romeo Arna, The Car That Foolishly Blended Japanese Styling With Italian Engineering I Drove Alfa Romeo’s ‘Worst Car Ever’ And It Wasn’t Really That Bad Let’s Talk About Alfa Romeo’s Fancy New ‘Historical Vehicle Certification Program’ In The Context Of Clunkers Why A Car Designer Thinks The Dodge Hornet Is Such A Lazy Rebadge Of The Alfa Romeo Tonale Alfa Romeo Is Heading To America To Develop Its Upcoming Large Vehicle Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage. Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member. The roofline could stand some streamlining, though. But I’d still love to have it and be extremely proud to drive it. I’m out here in Los Angeles, Cal. I’m seeing more Alfa Romeo’s out there. I can’t wait to see a Zagato Roadster; that will definitely turn heads even moreso! I see the current design trend of big grilles as basically lazy. Don’t have enough design talent to make a nicely surfaced front clip? No problem, just make the whole thing grille! Now when it’s a high-volume car that’s all grille, okay, they didn’t want to spend the time. But I expected more from Zagato. They’re a design house after all. I know this is a one-off and doesn’t matter in the grand scheme, but it just struck me that if any car would not have the all-grille cop-out, it would be this one. I will look good on the life/shop. The only one worth owning is the Quadrifoglio, and that’s a maintenance nightmare. Anyway, back on topic, the Zagato is beautiful and I kind of love it for all the reasons Thomas hates it. Looking forward to Adrian’s take on the exterior. Also, can we have pics in the comments if we behave? Pleeeeeeeassssse? Also, I like the multinational unity of a German commissioning a custom Italian car in British Racing green. This would give two beneficial results: more gorgeous, visionary and unusual cars for the general public to buy, and more commissions for one-off cars with the arrogant assumption that everyone else will love the creation like the original commissioner/purchaser. Perhaps the powers that be here at The Autopian could command the Bishop to explain why all cars have that now, because it sure isn’t because it makes cars look better. Is there some law that when you throw kittens at the side of a car it subtly rolls them away? Are running boards about to make a comeback? Please explain this. Then you can go on to the question of why so many of today’s cars have a front end that seems inspired by a cat’s anus. Thank you.
