Like any works of art, Italian coachbuilder Zagato has as many critics as it does fans, but one of its more successful designs has to be the Lancia Hyena – and if you’re a fan, then you’ll want to keep an eye on this February’s Race Retro Classic & Competition Car Sale.
A mean and very green Zagato Hyena is among the lots to have been revealed so far, and it’ll take something special to top it for drama, though other unique listings include a recreation of another Zagato hit, the Alfa Romeo TZ2, and a low-mileage example of BMW’s door-dropping Z1 sports car.
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The first thing to catch our attention about the Hyena is its colour – a special order green metallic that really shows off the unusual Zagato lines. Those lines, as you may know, are draped over the structure of a Lancia Delta Integrale Evo II, so there’s bark to match the Hyena’s bite – a quoted 250bhp from the 2-litre turbocharged engine.
Like many Zagatos, the bodywork is aluminium, which helps to shed 120kg from the car it’s based on, while a predominantly black interior with tan leather seats acts as a nice counterpoint to the vibrant exterior paintwork. Those wheels are fabulous too – most Zagatos wore the Integrale Evo II’s standard Speedlines, but this car features a set of rally-inspired OZ wheels, with the standard items also available.
The car, number 9 of 24, has moved from Luxembourg to the Netherlands to Germany since being registered in 1992, and has amassed only 9500km in that time, with its most recent service at 8800km in October 2018. No reserve is quoted, but in recent years cars have failed to meet their €200k-plus estimates. A 1994 car sold in Paris in 2017 for €161,000.
The Z1 being offered is a less vibrant shade of green, but one very characteristic for the model. This too is low-mileage at 11,200, first sold in the UK in August 1991 and later moving to Germany, where the car was recommissioned. It’s one of the most distinctive cars BMW has ever produced, and sure to be a joy for its eventual buyer.
Similarly joyful is what’s being described as “possibly the world’s best re-creation” of a 1966 Alfa Romeo TZ2. Its fibreglass body has been worked using the original Autodelta moulds from the 1960s, its chassis built by the original constructor with the correct specification steel, and it features the correct FIA papers for eligibility into various historic race meetings.
At 170bhp its power output perhaps doesn’t match the dramatic styling, but the TZ2’s secret weapon was its low mass – at 620kg it’s a hundred kilos lighter than an early Elise, and can top 160mph. It’s unlikely to match the prices achieved by originals, but given its accuracy, it’ll be interesting to see what it goes for – and hopefully see it on the grid of racing events over the next few years.
After those, the presence of a 1986 Audi Quattro and 1990 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary seems almost routine, though each looks more appealing as the years wear on. So too does the 1987 Group A Ford Sierra Cosworth going up for sale, though it’ll look right at home in Race Retro’s surroundings.
We’re less surprised to see a 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” edition appearing for sale though. Aside from the dubious homage to one of the less loved 007 movies, it’s the sort of car that’s likely to bounce around from collection to collection for the rest of its days.
This year’s Race Retro Classic & Competition Car Sale, by Silverstone Auctions, takes place on the 22-23 February at the Race Retro show at Stoneleigh Park. Viewings are available on the 21st.
