The Giulietta Sprint Zagato (SZ), internally labeled as "Tipo 101.26" was based on the popular Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

She was designed by Ercole Spada at Zagato and equipped with the ubiquitous 4 cyl 1290 cc twin-cam engine, tuned up to the Bertone Sprint Speciale standard, i.e. compression ration up to 9,7:1 delivering 100 hp at 6500 rpm. These resulted in a top speed of around 200 km/h and brisk acceleration, thanks to the weight of only 770 kg.

Here is #31, built on 13/08/1960 for racing driver Angelo Corio: the early production number can also be inferred by the "push button" opening, replaced by a more conventional handle on later production cars. She has a continous history since new, and it is still driven in historic races and rallies.

The SZ shared not only the engine with the SS but the chassis too, so gathering in itself the features of the various Giulietta models i.e: road holding, manoeuvrability, effective brakes, excellent pickup, comfort of ride. The high output rpm granted the car an easy driving in the town traffic and difficult roads, favored also by the five gear trasmission. The «SZ» was dressed with a strictly sport body created by Zagato for the races of the Grand Touring Category. They were usually raced by gentlemen drivers or by young pilots with big ambitions (one for al: Arturo Merzario), scoring successes everywhere.

The SZ was very successful in racing indeed, on a national level as well as internationally. The SZ helped Alfa Romeo secure a victory in the 1.3 litre class of the International Championship for GT Manufacturers in 1962 and 1963. Michel Nicol won the Tour de Corse in 1957.

A total of 171 "Coda Tonda" were built between 1960 and 1962, of which still about 35 are currently known in existence. The base price was 2.750.000 ITL, the equivalent of roughly 39 k€ in 2021 money ... not really cheap for a small two places coupé, but justified by the tailor made production and performance.

The "Coda Tonda" designed was supereded by a version equipped with disc brakes and, much more revealing, a kamm-style rear tail, therefore known as the "Coda Tronca", of which less than 50 were produced.