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Alfa Romeo G1 Lusso Zagato

The Alfa Romeo G1 Lusso Zagato (1921).

Vehicle Overview

The Alfa Romeo G1 Lusso Zagato was a one-off luxury limousine built in 1921 on the chassis of the Alfa Romeo G1 and bodied by Carrozzeria Zagato of Milan. This example represents one of the earliest collaborations between Alfa Romeo and Zagato, undertaken at a time when both the marque and the coachbuilder were in formative stages of development. The G1 chassis was Alfa Romeo’s first model developed after the company transitioned from A.L.F.A. to Alfa Romeo under the direction of Nicola Romeo. It featured a large ladder-frame chassis with a wheelbase of approximately 3,400 millimetres. The power unit was a side-valve inline six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 6,330 cubic centimetres. In standard configuration, the engine produced approximately 70 horsepower at 2,100 revolutions per minute, with torque output nearing 293 newton-metres. Power was transmitted to the rear axle via a four-speed manual gearbox. Suspension consisted of solid axles front and rear with semi-elliptical leaf springs, and braking was accomplished through mechanically operated drum brakes on the rear wheels only. The Lusso variant was bodied by Zagato in a formal closed limousine style. The bodywork was constructed in aluminium over a wooden frame, consistent with coachbuilding practices of the period. The design exhibited restrained styling typical of luxury vehicles of the early 1920s, with a high roofline, vertical grille, and limited ornamentation. The body accommodated rear passengers in an enclosed compartment, while the driver’s area was separated, in keeping with contemporary luxury configurations. Total production of the Alfa Romeo G1 was limited to 52 units, including two prototypes and 50 production cars. The majority were exported to Australia, as the model was not homologated for the Italian market. The example bodied by Zagato is believed to have been built on one of the early chassis; no surviving records confirm the exact chassis number. No known specimens of the G1 Lusso Zagato survive. This vehicle occupies a significant place in Alfa Romeo history as the first known instance of a collaboration with Zagato. It illustrates the early integration of large-displacement mechanical engineering with artisan body construction intended for formal use.