The Alfa Romeo SZ and its convertible version, the RZ, are two of the weirdest cars ever to wear an Alfa Romeo badge and Doug DeMuro recently had the opportunity to review a rare RZ model.
The car came to life thanks to Alfa Romeo and Zagato and while Zagato is best known for designing cars, it was given the responsibility of building the SZ and RZ while Alfa Romeo was behind its controversial looks.
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Much of the review is focused on the bizarre exterior and interior designs of the RZ. The weird design choices start at the front end with a small front grille and six little square headlights. Things are even more bizarre along the sides with an extraordinarily high beltline and come to a crescendo at the rear which sits very high and makes the RZ look like the automotive equivalent of a humpback whale.
Then there’s the convertible roof. To put it up or down, you need to first ensure the engine is off and press a button on the transmission tunnel that opens up a little flap. You then need to fold the driver’s seat forward before pulling a little tab hidden behind it. You can then open the rear cover and lift out the roof and secure it into position.
Powering the Alfa Romeo SZ and RZ is a 3.0-liter naturally-aspirated V6 pumping out 207 hp that’s coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. While the looks are odd, DeMuro found that it is actually quite fun to drive.