Newby (Italian) car freak

I registered for the forum today and I would like to tell something about myself and my car, so you will know who is 'talking' to you in the future.

I'm Harry and Im from the Netherlands. I am a real car freak and I'm interested in (classic) sportscars of any type so not just Italian or Ferrari.
I (together with some friends) run a dutch website for car enthusiasts (not English) : www.gummen.org .

Some of my previous cars were : Triumph TR6, Simca 1000 , BMW 1602/2002, Porsche 911 (3.2 Carrera and 2.4T).

A couple of months ago I bought a real supercar (in my opinion), an Alfa Romeo SZ (ES30).
I drive this car about 10.000km a year. For my daily commute to my work I have a new Mini Cooper.

I will post some links to pictures of my car here, if you have any questions or remarks I would like to hear from you.

Here are the pics :

http://212.204.249.183/images/artikel/SZ_1.JPG
http://212.204.249.183/images/artikel/SZ_2.JPG
http://212.204.249.183/images/artikel/SZ_3.JPG
http://212.204.249.183/images/artikel/SZ_4.JPG
http://212.204.249.183/images/artikel/SZ_5.JPG
http://212.204.249.183/images/artikel/SZ_9a.JPG
http://212.204.249.183/images/artikel/SZ_9c.JPG
http://212.204.249.183/images/artikel/SZ_9d.JPG
http://212.204.249.183/images/artikel/SZ_9l.JPG
http://212.204.249.183/images/artikel/SZ_9m.JPG

For the dutch readers, here some text and more pics :
http://212.204.249.183/artikel/artikel_show.asp?art_id=282

 

I know.
The first owner (mr Marouf) went to the US and had to leave this car behind. He drives/races Alfa TZ1's and a TZ2 now, so he will not really miss the car, I think.

 

I forgot the specs of the car.

It is completely original with all bills and receipts. It now has 52.300 kilometers on the clock. That's not much in 14 years!
It has a 3 litre V6 engine (is from the Alfa 75 3.0 V6 QV, but the SZ engine is a little tweaked to give >210HP).
210HP doesn't sound like much, but it is enough for this car I think. 0-62mph in less dan 7 seconds and top-speed is 275km/u (official Alfa records say 245km/u). Fast enough for me (for now that is , but the best thing of the SZ is that it corners superbly!!
It pulls more G's in a corner than a 360 Modena! Really good for a car built in 1990.

It is the first production streetcar with ground-effect.
Ground clearance is a problem though and because of that, every SZ has a system (from Koni) to heighten the car 5 centimeters to get over speedbumps etc. (Maximum speed in the high position is 80 km/u.)

If anyone has questions, I will try to answer them as soon as possible.

 

@96 ImpalaSS : I don't know how the raising system of an Enzo works (sadly ;-) ), but the SZ has a hydraulic system with a pump in the 'boot'. When you push a button on the dash, the pump starts to work and the car slowly rises (rear first and then the front of the car). This takes about 30 seconds, I think.
It can be done while driving, so you don't have to stop.

When you push another button on the dash a valve opens (in the pump) and the car slowly goes down again.

This system was a last minute 'invention' (by Dutch shock absorber company Koni), but was necessary to get the cars over (speed)bumps and ramps (for servicing) etc..
All the prototypes don't have this and in all the brochures this system is also missing, because prototypes where used to take all the promotional pictures.

You can see the buttons here :
http://212.204.249.183/images/artikel/SZ_9j.JPG

The car goes up with the right (red, and a warning light comes on) button and goes down with the green button (left).

The warning light can be seen here (left one off course) :
http://212.204.249.183/images/artikel/SZ_9e.JPG

The light comes on because the car is not limited (speed) in the high position, but max speed is 80km/h!!


@everybody : thanks for the welcome!

 

@BJS : My TR6 comes from the US and was imported by a well known Dutch collector/trader. They restored the car for me in French Blue with beige leather interior. The engine was the standard US-spec with the double Strombergs, so it had about 105HP, I think.

Here are some pictures of the restoration (before and after) :

http://212.204.249.183/artikel/artikel_show.asp?art_id=14

http://212.204.249.183/artikel/artikel_show.asp?art_id=39



Here are some pictures made at the collector/trader (Mr Joop Stolze) :
http://212.204.249.183/fotoalbum/evenement_show.asp?art_id=242

And here some more : http://212.204.249.183/evenement/evenement_show.asp?art_id=67

 

Okay!

@4re308 : his collection is incredible! All the rare stuff is there, including some rare Abarths (750GTZ), 2 Apollo's, a lot of Maserati's (almost every type), 'plastic' 308GTB, A Fiat Boano one-off prototype (1949) etc...etc.... There are about 300 classic cars in total.