Although it was never officially imported into the US because Alfa Romeo closed shop here, the current Nice Price or No Dice Spider is now old enough to live on its own in the United States. Let’s see what this Pininfarina bodied beauty could rightfully cost now that she’s here.
Due to age and depletion of their numbers, Volkswagen’s Type 1 Beetle has recently found favor among the car collecting public. This is after years of disinterest from all but the model’s most ardent supporters and those looking to use the versatile platform as the basis for a kit or parts car.
The 1970 Volkswagen Wizard Speedster we saw yesterday was one of the last, with a two-seat, low-rise body from a specialist car builder in Slough, England. Aside from the unique top and bodywork – and, oddly enough, a pair of Ford Capri seats – it retained, for better or worse, all of the Beetle’s hallmarks. In the minds of many of you, that combination wasn’t enough to meet the seller’s $8,995 asking price, resulting in a decisive 62% ‘No Dice’ loss for the Wizard.
A fitting sequel
When Alfa Romeo introduced the Giulia Spider in 1966, it was an instant classic. Let the model play an important role in the Oscar-winning film ‘The Graduate’ the following year it sealed its position as an automotive icon. Years later, Alfa would follow up on this association with a special Graduate edition of the Spider. By the time production of the Giulia Spider ended in 1993, it was extreme long in the tooth. When Alfa Romeo left the US two years later, it was denied that the model’s successor, the eponymous Spider and its GTV (Gran Turismo Veloce) coupe sibling, would come to market.
That was a shame, because upon their debut in 1993, the 916 GTV and Spider won almost universal praise for their style, performance and, in what was arguably uncharted territory for Alfa, their build quality.
Now that we have entered an era where private imports are possible, we in the US can discover what we have been missing. This 916 Spin from 1997 According to the seller, it was privately imported from Brussels, where he claims it was purchased a year and a half ago. Since then, they’ve put some money into maintenance and have driven an impressive 13,000 miles, bringing the car’s total to a still low 74,000.
Two sparks, one cylinder
The Spider was marketed with various engines over the course of its model range, both four-cylinder and V6 engines. The most common engine under the hood was the Twin Spark four-cylinder inline engine, which in this car offers a displacement of two liters. As the name suggests, the engine has two plugs per cylinder for better combustion efficiency and lower fuel consumption, as this allows a leaner mixture to be achieved. As assembled, the engine offers 150 horsepower and 133 pound-feet of torque, both fairly high in the rev range. That output is sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The rest of the underpinnings are shared with other cars that use Fiat’s Type two platform, although the Alfa has its own unique five-link independent rear suspension.
To top it all off, this might be one of the most beautiful Italian bodies from the 1990s this side of Monica Bellucci. This one is painted a muted metallic gray and rides on a nice set of factory Tedial wheels, fitted with recently sourced Michelin rubber. One interesting thing to note about the car’s design is that the iconic quad-headlight nose is actually a pair of rectangular units masked by holes in the clamshell hood.
The Brussels connection
According to the ad, the car was previously owned by “two doctors” in Brussels, and little of the maintenance and repair history of that ownership is offered. However, since the move to America, the car has seen some love. Together with the new tires, the car has new struts all around. It also has new wheel bearings on all four corners, updated control arms and a replaced fuel pump and sending unit. The Brussels doctors apparently replaced the engine’s timing belt before the current owner took over.
Aesthetically, the car looks excellent. The paintwork looks undamaged and the wheels are free of curbs. We don’t get to see the interior in all its glory, but the snippets we do get to show off the car’s bright red seat upholstery and the replacement of the airbag-equipped steering wheel with a nice but non-SRS three-spoke unit. This is probably too old a car to give a dashboard lamp warning for that. The seller also notes that the car comes with a new plastic rear window, and says replacement is a matter of zipping it in and out.
Let’s go!
Although a private import, this Alfa appears to have all the paperwork in order, has a clean title, and currently wears an Oregon “Special Interest” license plate. According to the seller, the car is being offered for sale due to an upcoming move abroad. The asking price to adopt this Spider is $15,000. If you want to think about what this Alfa’s competitors are, think of Audi TT, although not the Quattro type. Other competitors include Mazda’s Miata, because that’s always a choice, and the BMW Z4. This is clearly a much more unique option than any of these. However, is it a good deal?
What do you say about this Spider and its asking price of $15,000? Is that a bargain for a previously forbidden fruit? Or is that too Omega for this Alfa?
You decide!
Facebook Marketplace from Portland, Oregon, or go here when the ad disappears.
H/T to Bill Lyons for the connection!
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