The Alfa Romeo SZ, originally code‑named ES30 (short for Experimental Sportscar 3.0‑litre), was first shown at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show. A love‑it‑or‑hate‑it design, it represented Alfa Romeo’s attempt to reclaim its sporting identity through radical innovation under Fiat ownership. The letters “SZ” stand for Sprint Zagato, and the car itself was assembled at the Zagato factory. Although built there, it was an in‑house design created through collaboration between Robert Opron of Centro Stile Fiat and Antonio Castellana of Centro Stile Alfa Romeo.

Nicknamed Il Mostro (“The Monster”), the SZ wears its title with a peculiar sense of pride. It was a pioneer in manufacturing technology, being one of the first production cars developed using computer‑aided design and manufacturing. Its body panels were constructed from Modar—a methacrylic resin reinforced with glass fibre—bonded to a steel chassis. With only 1,036 units produced, spotting one on the road today is extremely rare. Almost all examples were finished in the iconic Rosso Alfa red with a dark grey roof and tan leather interior.

Powered by the legendary 3.0-litre “Busso” V6 from the Alfa Romeo 75 Group A racing program, the SZ produced 210 horsepower and delivered a symphonic exhaust note. Handling was refined by Giorgio Pianta, a veteran of Lancia’s rally success. With a 50:50 weight distribution and unique suspension featuring Koni dampers and Uniball joints, the SZ could generate over 1.1G of lateral grip—an impressive achievement for its time.

When Laudoracing announced this model, it was music to my ears, and the finished product could not arrive fast enough. I have to admit, they do an excellent job selecting not only iconic but also everyday Italian cars. Thankfully, Italy offers no shortage of great subjects. Although this is a resin, sealed model, in my opinion, it does not detract from appreciating the beautiful shape of this unique Italian design.

This red specimen, product code LM197A, is a limited, individually numbered release of 999 pieces, as noted on the underside. A black version, LM197B, is also available and limited to 199 pieces. As always with Laudoracing, the external packaging is a treat—the box is filled with images of the model and includes fun facts about the real car, including technical data and top speed. I appreciate this approach, and I’m glad they continue to package their models this way; it adds to the enjoyment for collectors.

Laudoracing’s prices have been increasing and now sit slightly above GT Spirit, placing them at the higher end of budget resin models. Out of the box, my first impressions are very positive. Each new Laudoracing release seems to improve on the last, and this one is no exception. In my opinion, it is one of their best—if not the best—models they have produced. In fact, compared to the earlier Top Marques version (engineered by BBR), I believe this Laudoracing example is superior. I’ll explain why below.

The paint on my example is smooth, with no drips, bubbles, or overspray. The Alfa Romeo SZ had massive panel gaps, and they are well represented here with black outlines in all the grooves—something Top Marques lacked. Straight out of the box, this Laudoracing model impressed me.

At the front, the model does not feature perforated grilles, which is a bit disappointing since only a small amount of mesh would have been required. Including it would have enhanced the overall look. On the positive side, everything else is spot‑on. The positioning of the square headlights is accurate, the bumper cutouts are correctly painted black, and the Italian‑style license plate completes the front end.

From the side, there is little to criticize. The turn signal lens is a separate orange plastic piece, the Zagato emblems are present, and the panel gaps are well defined. The dark grey metallic roof is authentic to the real car. Door handles and the fuel cap are clearly defined, and the round door lock mechanism is precisely executed. Window fitment is excellent—particularly impressive given the complex curvature of the front windshield. Well done, Laudoracing.

At the rear, the tinted taillights are accurately replicated—something Top Marques omitted, resulting in an annoyingly inaccurate look. Laudoracing did not disappoint here. Again, panel gaps are enhanced with black paint, and the Alfa Romeo emblem is correctly placed. The only critique is the exhaust tip, which appears too rounded. The rear window defogger is present, and the rear wing looks accurate. A rear Italian license plate mirrors the front.

Moving on to wheels and tires: the rims look accurate with a chrome lip and matte center finish. Valve stems are included. Brake calipers and rotors are mostly hidden by the rim design, but still visible—faithful to the real car. Tire tread is present, though branding and size markings are absent.

Inside, the tan interior is authentic. Look closely, and you’ll notice the passenger seat has a handle on one side—accurate to the real car and something Top Marques missed, as they used two driver seats instead. Bravo, Laudoracing. I also appreciate the leather creases on both seats, each with a unique pattern. Seatbelts are present, buckles include a splash of red, the gear lever shows the shift pattern in white, and the dashboard has just the right amount of colour on the gauges and buttons. The only omission is carpet texture on the floor. Overall, the interior detail is very good.

To sum things up, I think this is a very respectable model—likely the best yet from Laudoracing. I appreciate their choice of unique and iconic Italian subjects. Aside from the missing perforated grille and carpeting, everything else is well executed. Their models continue to improve with each release, and this one looks truly beautiful on display. If Laudoracing is reading this, consider this model a job well done. I’d love to see it in larger scales—how about 1:12? And another idea: how about all the colours of the Alfa Romeo RZ in 1:18? I’d love to see those too. Laudoracing—bring them on.