Alfa Romeo RLSS Zagato Targa Florio

Vehicle Overview

The Alfa Romeo RLSS Zagato “Targa Florio” was a one-off open sports tourer built in 1924 on the RLSS (Reparto Lusso Super Sport) chassis. The bodywork was executed by Carrozzeria Zagato, reflecting the emerging focus on lightweight construction and aerodynamic efficiency suitable for competitive use. It represents a rare intersection of Alfa Romeo’s early sporting ambitions and Zagato’s application of minimalist body design intended for endurance road races such as the Targa Florio. The RLSS variant was developed as a performance-oriented derivative of the Alfa Romeo RL platform, introduced in 1922. The RL series employed an inline six-cylinder engine with overhead valves, displacing 2,994 or 3,154 cubic centimetres depending on specification. Power output ranged from 83 to 95 horsepower. The RLSS utilized the shorter wheelbase of the RL Sport chassis, combined with reduced weight and modified final drive ratios. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels through a manual gearbox. The vehicle employed solid front and rear axles with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Braking was by mechanical drum brakes on all four wheels. The body constructed by Zagato adhered to competition principles, with aluminium panels mounted over a lightweight frame. The configuration was a two-seat open torpedo with exposed cycle fenders, a long bonnet, and a minimal windscreen. The body was shaped to reduce frontal area and weight, in keeping with Zagato’s early design idiom developed through direct engagement with motor racing. The absence of ornamentation and the emphasis on mechanical accessibility were consistent with purpose-built competition vehicles of the period. The RLSS Targa Florio Zagato was a unique specimen. Period documentation indicates Alfa Romeo built five RL Targa Florio chassis in total—three with the 2.994-litre engine and two with the larger 3.154-litre version. The number of Zagato-bodied examples is limited to one known instance, constructed specifically for endurance competition. No publicly documented chassis or engine number is attributed to this individual car. Ownership history has not been preserved in manufacturer or club registries. Surviving knowledge is derived from photographic archives, event programmes, and secondary references in coachbuilding histories. This vehicle is representative of interwar Italian practice in combining specialised chassis with lightweight coachwork for competitive use.