Alfa Romeo Canguro

From WOI Encyclopedia Italia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Alfa Romeo Canguro
Production Year 1964
Country 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Italy
Designer Bertone
Chassis Type 2S FHC
Number of Doors 2
Wheelbase 2200 mm (86.6 in)
Front Track 1300 mm (51.2 in)
Rear Track 1300 mm (51.2 in)
Length 3900 mm (153.5 in)
Width 1600 mm (63 in)
Height 1060 mm (41.7 in)
Ground Clearance
Length / Wheelbase Ratio 1.77
Engine Manufacturer Alfa Romeo
Engine Location Front
Engine Alignment Longitudinal
Coolant Type Water
Engine Type DOHC
Number of Cylinders and Placement S-4
Valves per Cylinder 2 (toplam 8 adet)
Engine Displacement 1570 cc (95.81 cu in)
Bore 78 mm (3.07 in)
Stroke 82 mm (3.23 in)
Bore / Stroke Ratio 0.95
Unitary Capacity 392.5 cc/cylinder (23.95 cu in/cylinder)
Number of Main Bearings 5
Fuel System Type
Aspiration Type Normal
Compressor Type -
Intercooler Type None
Catalytic Converter No
Top Speed
Transmission Type 5M
Drive Wheels RWD


In the mid-sixties Bertone designed a new swooping body on an Alfa TZ2 chassis, called the Canguro. Autodelta was never able to put into production and the project was cancelled after just one car had been built. The one-off Canguro was wrecked at Monza by a journalist and it is said to have been rebuilt about a year ago.

The spaceframe of the TZ1 was built at Alfa Romeo’s Ambrosini factory, with the bodywork mainly being created at Zagato in Milan (there were also three glass fibre versions built by Balzaretti Modigliani of Milan), before final fettling and mechanical work was undertaken at Alfa Romeo’s Auto-Delta racing department. The 1.570 cc twin cam engines were also later developed by Conrero to pump out 160 bhp over the original 112.

Bertone was supplied with a new TZ2 chassis (chassis number 101) for construction work to be held over the Autumn of 1964.

In an attempt to make the Canguro design more suitable for any form of production, and also presumably because of the limited time span before the Paris Salon, 90% of the Canguro was made from Giulia TI components. Bertone continued the tubular framework construction for the aluminium bodywork. This firstly reduced the car’s weight tremendously, and suited a low profile shape for improved aerodynamics. Secondly the Gran Turismo character remained therefore intact.

Alfa Romeo Canguro X-ray by Makoto Ouchi Archivio Perini© CarDesignTo@Gmail.com

Whether the car was fitted with what would have been an experimental 170 bhp, twin sparkplug per cylinder TZ2 engine is currently unknown. However the Canguro’s sleek shape and lack of a bonnet bulge could indicate that the smaller dry sump TZ2 engine was used.

Photos of the Canguro are misleading, as the actual car appears much lower than images suggest. Its length of 3.900mm was conventional, as was the width of 1.600mm. However, the Canguro was only 1.060mm high, a dramatic 140 mm lower than the original TZ. It was therefore impressive that Bertone had managed to create a generally roomy two-seat interior inside such a low-down volume.

In order to facilitate entry and exit from the interior, the doors curved through into the roof and were hinged far in front of the cockpit area. ItaliaSpeed.com





Canguro Sales Brocure



Bertone Designs
Abarth: 1952 Abarth 1500 Coupé | 1958 Abarth 1000 GT Coupé | 1965 Abarth OT 1000 Spider

Alfa Romeo: 1953 Alfa Romeo BAT-5 | 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 Sport Spider | 1954 Alfa Romeo 2000 Sportiva | 1954 Alfa Romeo BAT-7 | 1954 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint | 1955 Alfa Romeo BAT-9 | 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale | 1962 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint | 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint | 1962 Alfa Romeo GTA | 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale | 1964 Alfa Romeo Canguro | 1967 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior | 1967 Alfa Romeo Montreal | 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo | 1976 Alfa Romeo Navajo | 1978 Alfa Romeo Alfetta | 1980 Alfa Romeo Alfetta 2000 | 1983 Alfa Romeo Delfino | 2003 Alfa Romeo GT
ASA: 1962 ASA Coupé
Bertone: 1970 Bertone Berlinetta | 1992 Bertone Blitz | 2003 Bertone Birusa
Ferrari: 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso | 1974 Ferrari 208/308 GT4 | 1976 Ferrari Rainbow
Fiat: 1967 Fiat Dino Coupé | 1968 Fiat 850Sport Spider | 1978 Fiat Ritmo/Strada | Fiat X1/9
ISO: 1962 Iso Rivolta | 1965 Iso Grifo | 1969 Iso Lele
Lamborghini: 1967 Lamborghini Marzal | 1967 Lamborghini Miura | 1968 Lamborghini Espada | 1970 Lamborghini Urraco | 1971 Lamborghini Countach | 1974 Lamborghini Bravo | 1980 Lamborghini Athon | 1988 Lamborghini Genesis | 1990 Lamborghini Diablo
Lambretta: 1968 Lambretta Luna line: Lui, Vega & Cometa | 1969 Lambretta GP/DL Scooter
Lancia: 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero | 1972 Lancia Stratos | 1978 Lancia Sibilo
Maserati: 1972 Maserati Khamsin | 1974 Maserati Quattroporte II