Dan Trent: Alfa's beautiful ugly duckling – the SZ

Because – rejoice – Romeo is back on form. So many times this most romantic of brands has promised so much and then disappointed on delivery, most recently with the 4C. But with the Giulia we have an Alfa Romeo able to take on the might of BMW M and Mercedes-AMG on equal terms. That's great. And as my gaze is drawn to the Competizione Red temptation outside I am reminded of one of my favourite Alfa Romeos, the SZ. A train of thought that inevitably has me going into the classifieds. 

I remember reading car magazines when the SZ was first unveiled in 1989 and then started appearing in road tests a couple of years after. It's still a shocking looking car today but its visual impact back then was incredible. Appreciation has grown over the years but I loved it from the first moment I saw it, those seemingly bizarre proportions instantly captivating.

It shouldn't work, should it? Think Alfa Romeo design and you'll likely have images of crisp Italian design, underpinned with a certain sensuousness. Even in the hard-edge 80s and the 33s, 75s and then 155s the saloons had fundamentally attractive proportions. Yet the SZ is a bizarre lump, a huge blocky body on seemingly undersized wheels with a bluff front end, tall beltline and then, sitting on top, a tiny and oddly curvaceous cabin seemingly totally at odds with the rest of the car. 

But parked next to the Giulia I think its influence would be abundantly clear, not least in the proportions and stance. And though I've never had the pleasure of driving one those who have report dynamic substance to back up the style. The classic Alfa Romeo combination of a sweet and revvy V6 driving the rear wheels through a transaxle gearbox (all pinched from the 75) isn't especially powerful by modern standards but is plenty charismatic.

Supposedly around 100 cars – all left-hand drive – were sold in the UK, equating to around a tenth of the overall production run. Suffice to say they're rare, though I did used to see one regularly parked kerbside in Mayfair, which was pretty cool. Given they drive well I'd want one to use and be seen in – it's too provocative a car to park away under a sheet. 

Prices are rising steadily for and having hovered around £40,000 for a while it seems good examples are now becoming more desirable. There are a couple around that price, though the adverts are a little unclear as to whether they're for actual cars or just speculative. This UK supplied car is up for a sturdy £54,995 but would appear to come with an absolutely solid history, a ton of paperwork to support it and a mileage modest enough to make it valuable but not so low you'd be scared of using it. I think your money would be safe too. A Giulia Quadrifoglio as a daily and this as a weekend special? That would be living the Alfisti dream with some style, wouldn't it!