Photo: The Car Warehouse
After disappointing its fan base with the Giulietta facelift, Alfa Romeo can do only one thing to regain the trust of loyal Alfisti and its customers. That’s to make the Alfa Romeo Stelvio the sportiest SUV in the mid-size segment. Speaking of Stelvio, Alfa Romeo isn’t the first carmaker to use the name. Autech was first and the Zagato Stelvio AZ1 is the receiver.
Autech (Otekku in Japanese) was founded in Chigasaki-shi in 1986 and its sole purpose is to modify Nissan cars. As a subsidiary of Nissan, Autech also does “lifecare” vehicles for people with physical disabilities, luxurious vans and broadcasting vehicles. Autech differs from an ordinary tuning company because it sells its products through Nissan dealers.
With such a resume, it’s surprising to find out that Autech rang up Zagato in the late ‘80s and asked them, “Hey, I know you’re one of the world’s elite automotive design houses, but could you design a really awkward car for us?” I suppose that the Italian on the other end of the line replied: “Che cosa fai? Si puo fare, non c’e niente di male nel fare.” In plain English, Zagato accepted the Japanese company’s challenge.
Cue the 1989 Autech Zagato Stelvio AZ1, a 2+2 coupe adorned with a mishmash of design gimmicks that made Zagato a deplorable shell of its once-great former self. Because it was ugly beyond belief, Autech and Zagato made 104 units of the Stelvio AZ1. By hand. Yes, you’ve heard that right. This thing was made by craftsmen. I suppose they were talented craftsmen with cataract, though I may be wrong.
Based on the second-generation Nissan Leopard (F31), the Autech Zagato Stelvio AZ1 uses a 3-liter turbocharged V6 with 320 horsepower. Not bad for the late 1980s. The example featured in the photo gallery is #40 of #104 and it’s for sale. The Car Warehouse in Yorkshire is selling it for £28,000, equating to $39,000 at current exchange rates. If hard-edged 1980s automotive design and NACA ducts in the wheels are your kind of thing, then look no further than this bizarre Italo-Japanese crossbreed.
With such a resume, it’s surprising to find out that Autech rang up Zagato in the late ‘80s and asked them, “Hey, I know you’re one of the world’s elite automotive design houses, but could you design a really awkward car for us?” I suppose that the Italian on the other end of the line replied: “Che cosa fai? Si puo fare, non c’e niente di male nel fare.” In plain English, Zagato accepted the Japanese company’s challenge.
Cue the 1989 Autech Zagato Stelvio AZ1, a 2+2 coupe adorned with a mishmash of design gimmicks that made Zagato a deplorable shell of its once-great former self. Because it was ugly beyond belief, Autech and Zagato made 104 units of the Stelvio AZ1. By hand. Yes, you’ve heard that right. This thing was made by craftsmen. I suppose they were talented craftsmen with cataract, though I may be wrong.
Based on the second-generation Nissan Leopard (F31), the Autech Zagato Stelvio AZ1 uses a 3-liter turbocharged V6 with 320 horsepower. Not bad for the late 1980s. The example featured in the photo gallery is #40 of #104 and it’s for sale. The Car Warehouse in Yorkshire is selling it for £28,000, equating to $39,000 at current exchange rates. If hard-edged 1980s automotive design and NACA ducts in the wheels are your kind of thing, then look no further than this bizarre Italo-Japanese crossbreed.
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