The Story of the Alfa Romeo TZ Bertone Canguro: A Concept Reborn after 40 Years

The Alfa Romeo TZ Bertone Canguro is a concept car like no other. Built in 1964 by Bertone bodyworks from the tubular chassis of the Giulia TZ racing car, this unique vehicle has a fascinating history that spans over four decades.

Compact and fast, the Alfa Romeo Canguro is powered by a four-cylinder engine delivering 170 PS at 7,500 rpm, paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive. What sets this concept apart is its innovative design, with glass surfaces glued to the body frames, inspired by aeronautics. This allowed engineers to reduce the height of the car to just 1.05 meters and its length to 3.90 meters, making it smaller than a modern Toyota Yaris.

Unfortunately, the original Canguro prototype met a tragic end during a test drive on the Monza circuit and was subsequently abandoned by Alfa Romeo due to its sporty and expensive nature. However, Bertone continued to work on the concept, leading to the eventual restoration of the car by a German collector, with the help of the Alfa Romeo Museum.

After a complex restoration process, the Canguro was finally completed in 2005 and showcased at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. This remarkable journey from destruction to resurrection truly highlights the timeless appeal and significance of the Alfa Romeo TZ Bertone Canguro.