Only nine exist and this Italian beauty is secretly a Dodge Viper with a $675k price tag

This is the Zagato TZ3 Stradale, a combination of Alfa Romeo romance and the passion of a Dodge Viper, all enveloped into a $675k masterpiece.

Alfa Romeo’s signature look is world-renowned.

But since the turn of the millennium, the prestigious Italian company hasn’t quite kept up with its counterparts when it comes to crafting new supercars.

However, there are nine bespoke Italian-American fine wines that Alfa has commissioned, pulling in the help of legendary craftsmen Zagata to reimagine the TZ3 Stradale.

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Since the turn of the century, Alfa Romeo has been focused on producing everyday road cars, such as the Giulia and its new EV SUV named Junior (previously Milano).

The famed Italians have now stepped back into the supercar game, though, with a V6 swansong special: the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

However, that might not have happened if it weren’t for the Dodge Viper.

How did a completely unrelated American sports car tee up the comeback of Italian finery, you ask?

Well, ten years prior to the 33, Alfa Romeo pulled in the help of Zagato to create the incredible TZ3 Stradale, which revitalised our love for these like-minded majestic models.

Zagato is a brand that creates special and bespoke cars of its own based on pre-existing models, and back in 2011, it produced the third instalment of the Giulia TZ series.

Based on the 1963 stretch-slim sports car, the TZ3 was created to celebrate 100 years of Alfa Romeo.

But it was built atop a Dodge Viper ACR-X chassis and its odd-firing 8.4-liter V10 engine.

On the outside, it looks like the dream Alfa Romeo car, with everything you’d expect to see.

With a nose like Severus Snape and a grunting grille like Mr T mid-punch, the aesthetics wonderfully combine to make a beautiful medley.

Inside, it’s Dodge City.

Despite the Alfa badge being sported, the dominating look of the typical Dodge Viper interior does the heavy lifting.

Only nine Zagato TZ3 Stradales were made, with a further Corsa version serving as a headliner and an award-winning showpiece.

Without the success of this masterpiece, we might never have seen the 33 Stradale come to fruition.

It wouldn’t be the first time Alfa teamed with Zagato either, as the 8C DoppiaCoda emerged as one of the most redefining creations of its age.

Alfa Romeo could be cooking up a big comeback in the supercar world itself, having teased the V8-powered 8C Competizione in a trailer, with reports suggesting that the ‘6C’ could be on its way.

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