TheVolvo GTZandGTZ 3000are Swedish concept cars built forVolvo.Both were designed byZagato,with the GTZ debuting at the1969 Turin Auto Showon the Zagato stand and the GTZ 3000 debuting the following year at the1970 Geneva Motor Show.[1]
| Volvo GTZ | |
|---|---|
 Volvo GTZ at the 1969 Salone di Torino | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Volvo Cars |
| Also called | Volvo 2000 GTZ |
| Production | 1969 1 built |
| Designer | Ercole SpadaatZagato |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Concept car |
| Body style | 2-door coupe (2+2) |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related | Volvo 140 Series |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.0 LB20I4 |
History
edit
Motauto, the Italian importer for Volvo, commissioned the design for the GTZ in 1969 from Italian design house Zagato. Motauto had previously tried to influence Volvo to add another sports car offering to their lineup alongside theP1800,having already debuted an updated design byCarrozzeria Fissorefor that car at the1965 Turin Auto Show,as sports cars were very popular at that time in Italy. Volvo had, however, refused saying that they wanted to put more resources into the family cars they were known for and that the P1800 was selling well already so there was no need to update or replace it.[2]The GTZ concept did find a private buyer at the Turin show but Volvo said they were not interested in producing it but hinted that they may be if the car were to be fitted with a different engine.[3]The current whereabouts of the GTZ are unclear.[4]
Specifications
editThe GTZ is based on the underpinnings from the140 Series,using an evolved version of that car's 2.0-litreB20inline-four enginewith two double-barrel Solex carburetors.
| Volvo GTZ 3000 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Volvo Cars |
| Production | 1970 1 built |
| Designer | Ercole SpadaatZagato |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Concept car |
| Body style | 2-door coupe (2+2) |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related | Volvo 164 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.0 LB30I6 |
GTZ 3000
editThe GTZ 3000 was introduced at the1970 Geneva Motor Showas a refined version of the original GTZ concept. The GTZ 3000 was now based on theVolvo 164,powered by a 3.0 LB30I6 engine.The engine produces 190 hp (142 kW) and could propel the concept to a top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h). The design for the GTZ 3000 was made using a wind tunnel for better aerodynamics, and was shorter, wider and lower than the 164, as well as 300 lb (136 kg) lighter. The design also featured pop up headlight panels similar to those used on theAlfa Romeo Montreal.[2]The concept was received well at the Geneva show but Volvo decided not to move forward with production and after that Motauto stopped proposing new Volvo sports cars. Like the previous concept, the GTZ 3000 did find a private buyer at the Geneva show who drove it regularly in Italy, and today the car is known to still exist and as of 2008 was awaiting restoration in Sweden.
References
edit- ^Bilidt, Anders (2019-04-23)."Zagato Goes North".ViaRETRO.Archived fromthe originalon 2019-06-28.
- ^abGlon, Ronan (2014-02-19)."A look at the Zagato-designed Volvo GTZ and GTZ 3000".Ran When Parked.Retrieved2019-05-30.
- ^zagato-cars."1970 Volvo 3000 GTZ Zagato".zagato-cars.Retrieved2019-05-30.
- ^"Body by Zagato, underpinnings from... Sweden?".classicdriver.Retrieved2019-05-30.