Modifications: The car features 14-inch BWA alloy wheels, Koni shocks, a bit of head work and mild cams. Then he joined the Alfa Romeo Owners Club and started participating in their events. He restored the car largely himself and first got it back on the road in 2001. He wanted a toy to play with and, having lived in Italy when he was younger, gravitated to the Alfa Romeo. Steve Thomas bought his Spider nearly 20 years ago. When they returned for 1969, the American-market Spiders saw the original twin side-draft carburetors replaced with SPICA mechanical fuel injection. (The famed “Duetto” name, chosen by a contest run by Alfa Romeo, could not be used officially due to trademark issues.)Īlfa wasn’t able to meet American emissions laws for 1968, forcing the manufacturer to sit out that year. The original 1570cc engine grew to 1779cc for the 1968 model year Alfa responded with a name change, replacing Spider 1600 with 1750 Spider Veloce.
This is the one that started the legend.ĭespite a relatively short model run, the changes came quickly.
#Alfa romeo convertilla series#
While we didn’t run hot laps, this fun, 1.7-mile track offers tight turns that play perfectly to the Spider’s strengths.Ī rounded tail easily identifies the Series 1 cars, while the nose features minimal bumpers flanking that unmistakable Alfa Romeo grille. Which one is most deserving of a space in your garage? To find out, we sampled one from each generation of these wonderful roadsters at historic Thompson Speedway. Alfa Romeo would keep the much-loved Spider in production through 1993, with updates dividing the model run into four distinct generations. Compared to the rest of the pack, the Spider was plenty advanced.Ī year after its release, the car received perhaps its biggest boost: Dustin Hoffman, at the time an unknown stage actor, co-starred with a red Spider in “The Graduate,” one of the biggest motion pictures of the year. The chassis was not that exotic, but it worked well, with a well-supported live axle at the rear and independent suspension up front. A five-speed transmission delivered relaxed highway cruising, while four-wheel discs offered class-leading brakes. “One condemned it as a contrived design with meaningless styling gimmicks.”Īt least they liked the drivetrain, a twin-cam, inline-four topped with one of the prettiest valve covers ever produced. “We found almost no disagreement among members of our staff about the appearance of the new model–no one liked it as well as the Giulietta or Giulia,” wrote Road & Track. Are you sitting down? The Alfa Romeo Spider, one of the most loved classic sports cars ever produced, was initially panned by the day’s automotive press.
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