Evolving from a wrecked experimental Giulietta Sprint Veloce that was taken to Zagato for rebuild, the Sprint Zagato was the eventual result. Alfa Romeo had commissioned Bertone to design the Giulietta SS for racing, but this was unsuitable as it was too heavy and handled badly. The lightweight Zagato rebuild provided the stimulus for Franco Scaglione to design the SZ on the Giulietta SS chassis. Launched at the Geneva Salon 1960, Scaglione's design at Bertone was contracted out to Zagato to build using their aluminium expertise. About 200 of the original 'Coda Tonda' (round-tailed) SZ were made before Ercole Spada at Zagato developed the more aerodynamic SZ2 'Coda Tronca' (cut tail) with Kamm tail. Some 30 SZ2 cars were made.