The 1969 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato is a rare, radically distinct sports coupe that perfectly epitomizes early-1970s Italian futurism. Debuting at the 1969 Turin Motor Show, the car was penned by legendary designer Ercole Spada for the Zagato coachbuilder. Spada boldly broke away from traditional 1960s curves, creating an aggressive, wedge-shaped silhouette featuring a stark Kamm tail and an innovative, fully enclosed plexiglass front grille hiding the headlights.

Underneath its striking, experimental bodywork lay the proven mechanical DNA of the Alfa Romeo 105-series, specifically utilizing the shortened floorpan of the Spider 1300 Junior. The initial 1969 version was powered by a lively 1.3-litre twin-cam inline-four engine pushing 88 horsepower, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Because these cars were coachbuilt and priced significantly higher than a standard Giulia Sprint, they remained incredibly exclusive. Only 1,108 units of the original 1300 variant were produced between 1969 and 1972, making it a highly sought-after gem among Alfisti today.

French model maker Norev recently released a highly anticipated 1/18 scale diecast replica of this avant-garde classic. Finished in a factory-correct, vibrant green, this release is limited to just 1,000 pieces worldwide. As is typical with Norev’s strategy, we will undoubtedly see additional colours follow in due course.

Lately, Norev has been elevating its game, consistently releasing stunning models—particularly their Porsche lineup—at incredibly reasonable price points. It came as no surprise to the community when Norev captured the top spot with their 718 Spyder RS in the 2025 Diecast Society Model of the Year rankings. Even more telling of their current momentum was the fact that they swept three out of the top four positions overall.

Naturally, expectations for this new Alfa Romeo were high. Could Norev replicate that same magic outside of the Porsche brand? The short answer is a resounding yes.

Of course, this isn’t trying to be an AUTOart, Almost Real, or CMC model, nor does it pretend to be with a retail price tag well under €100. However, for that modest investment, you get a replica that ticks nearly every major box, offering far more pros than cons.

First and foremost, the model features full openings. The paint finish is beautiful, the stance is true to the original car, and the interior execution is so impressive it could easily be mistaken for an AUTOart piece. Continuing the welcome trend we’ve seen on their recent Porsches, Norev has treated the cabin to full flocking rather than bare plastic.

Where the model reveals its budget-conscious engineering is in the engine bay. At first glance, the presentation looks complete, but closer inspection reveals it is essentially a top-side engine plate rather than a fully independent, deep-moulded engine block. Additionally, the grilles are solid plastic rather than open mesh. For a sub-€100 diecast, however, these shortcuts are entirely forgivable.

If there is one minor critique, it is at the rear of the car. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly, but when compared to photos of the real 1:1 counterpart, the Kamm tail and taillight execution look just slightly off in terms of proportion or angle.

If you have a passion for classic Italian sports cars or simply appreciate unique, era-defining automotive design, do not hesitate to add this little Alfa to your collection. The price-to-quality ratio here is exceptional. Just don’t wait too long to pull the trigger if you want it in this stunning green—with only 1,000 pieces available, it is sure to sell out quickly!