Tag Archives: Spider

1982 Fiat 2000 Spider

Along with the Alfa Romeo Spider, the Fiat 124 and 2000 Spider were some of the most iconic Italian roadsters from the 20th century. Having enjoyed a long 19 year production run, these cars outlasted their parent brand in the United States. This 1982 model represents the final year Fiats were sold new in the United States until the brand returned last year with the Nuova 500. For the car's final three years on sale in the US, it would be called the Pininfarina Spider; essentially the same car minus the Fiat badge. It isn't hard to find good 124 and 2000 Spiders these days; the later models with the larger, federally mandated bumpers being more common.

1982 Fiat 2000 Spider

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Body restored and engine rebuilt in 2004. Approximately 9,000 miles on the rebuilt engine. Engine: new head, bearings, piston rings, timing belt, tensioning bearing, fuel pump, water pump. Transmission: New clutch and throwout bearing. Body: Paint base coat clear coat. New convertable top, rechromed bumpers, roll bars, original wheels have been painted. Interior: New carpet, original seats, steering wheel.

Clean, mint condition 124 and 2000 Spiders hover in the $10,000 to $15,000 range these days, with later fuel injected models with the 5 speed manual bringing the better money. This restoration looks very complete, as the paint, interior and wheels look top notch. There's even a nice roll bar installed, which had me thinking for a minute. My father owned a 1968 124 Spider and he autocrossed it on a regular basis with some success. For the brave new owner willing to fit a set of competition tires on a second set of rims, this would prove to be a very worthy and unique entry in a local parking lot course near you.

-Paul

1992 Alfa Romeo Spider

Another week, another Alfa Romeo Spider. I can't get enough of these Series 4 Spiders and here's another good example with low mileage, 5 speed manual transmission and desirable red over black interior. This is not the uplevel Veloce model like the last Spider we featured, but with power windows, leather and suede interior and alloy wheels.

1992 Alfa Romeo Spider

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1991 Alfa Romeo Spider finished in Rosso Corsa over black interior. This Alfa is in fantastic overall condition. Baby red has only 39,600 original miles (only 2,000 miles a year average). If you are looking for a true Italian sports car that looks and runs great this is the car for you. Alfa Spiders are amazing to drive and this little baby loves to rev and sounds fantastic. Runs through all gears smoothly (no second gear grind). Has good brakes, tight suspension and steering. The paint on the car is great, interior looks stellar, cloth top has been replaced recently. Tires are new.

This is a two owner car sold new in Canada. Original owner moved to California. Car has always been garaged. The odometer shows in kilometers. This Alfa is equipped with a Clarion radio, CD. Series 4 Alfas are the last and arguably the best built (Series 4 Alfas have power steering, Bosch Motronic Fuel Injection, twin cooling fans, revised styling with integrated bumpers and more). This car is ready to drive cross country dow to the beach or through winding country roads. Open top motoring joy awaits you. This is an opportunity to buy a classic Alfa with extremely low miles at a reasonable price point.

The price on this Alfa Spider is just about spot on at just under $14,000. I have a suspicion that these cars are about to take off in value, especially looked after examples such as these. If you ever wanted one of these classic roadsters, now is the time to act.

-Paul

1967 Fiat Dino Spider

Introduced in 1966 at the Turin motor show, the exotic Fiat Dino Spider was an effort to homologate the Dino V6 engine for Formula 2 competition. The Dino Spider's 2.0 liter V6 produced 158 horsepower and was hooked up to a 5 speed manual. This made for a quick package in the day. The first Spiders were built at Fiat's Mirafiori plant, but by the time the larger engined 2.4 Spider arrived in 1969, assembly shifted to the Ferrari factory and these convertibles were built alongside the Ferrari Dino. Spiders are rather rare to find anywhere in the world these days; only 736 emerged from the factory in 1967. This example for sale in Bavaria is about the best Spider I've ever laid my eyes on.

1967 Fiat Dino Spider

This Fiat Dino Spider in the first series (AB) was prepared in June 1967 at Mirafiori and 1967 in Europe in the color "blu francia" delivered. The Fiat was bought by the current owners in 1993 imported from California to Holland. In the last 15 years numerous work was carried out on the car at Italo-Dutch specialists; verifiable restoration work:

The body was restored and repainted in 1999 by an Italian specialist in "azurro metallizato." In 2001, the interior was completely redone. The original 2.0 liter V-6 engine (135B000252) was rebuilt extensively in 1996. There were new pistons and camshafts, electronic ignition, bigger cooler (by 2.4 L engine), new oil pump and water pump installed. In 2002, the differential was rebuilt. The gearbox was rebuilt at 8000 km (2007) and new synchro rings were installed.

The condition of the Spider can be described as very good. The 12 year old restoration has minimal wear. The partly renewed chrome is in good condition. The body is fine, the interior is good with minor signs of wear. The technique, such as brakes and suspension are free from defect. Since the rebuild of the engine about 22,000 km have been done. The Dino has received an oil and brake service in 2010.

These Ferrari engined Fiats often command Ferrari level prices, and this Spider is no different at €62,000 (~ $81,000 USD). While the Fiat Dino Coupe had a sharp, fastback style to it, the Spider had more sensuous curves and metallic blue paintwork makes for one of the most beautiful Fiats ever made. With cars this rare, buy the best you can fine, as finding parts isn't always the easiest task. This partiuclar one certainly is certainly one of the better examples I've laid eyes on.

-Paul

1991 Alfa Romeo Spider

The modern roadster revival began in 1990 with the introduction of the Mazda Miata. Harkening back to famous British two seater convertibles such as the MG and Lotus Elan, this car blended sporty looks, rear-wheel drive and reliability the levels of which were unheard in this class. However, the Italians had been going strong all along, with the Alfa Romeo Spider carrying the roadster torch for nearly three decades. As we highlighted with the 1991 Spider we featured last month, the Series 4 Spider brought about many improvements and refinements that make this a reasonable proposition for an everyday classic.

1991 Alfa Romeo Spider

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1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce. This vehicle is featured in green over beige interior with a black soft top. This fourth generation Spider is powered by a 2.0 liter inline 4 cylinder engine producing 125 bhp and 122 ft lbs of torque attached to a 5 speed manual transmission.

The fourth generation Alfa Spider's primary mechanical upgrade was the Bosch monotronic fuel injection with an electric fan introduced in 1990. The handsome cosmetic changes did not appear in the United States until the 1991 model. The external changes included larger rear lights, monochromatic colored bumpers without the front and rear spoilers. This is one of the finest examples of a classic Alfa Romeo and especially a rare find with such low miles!

Verde Inglese (English Green) is possibly my favorite color for the Series 4 Spider, with Rosso Vinaccia (Wine Red) coming in a close second. These colors add an air of sophistication to these cars that is lacking on with the more common primary colors. If this example could be had in the $13,000 to $15,000 range, it would be well bought.

-Paul

1959 Fiat 750 Abarth Allemano Spider

The Fiat 500 was the basis for a plethora of model variants, as we saw with the Giardiniera version featured two days ago. Carlo Abarth is no stranger to Italian automotive enthusiasts. Born in Vienna as Karl Albert Abarth, he started his career racing motorbikes and after World War II helped form the company Compagnia Industriale Sportiva Italia, or CIS, this firm would later become Cisitalia. The Cisitalia project fizzled and he founded Abarth & C. in Turin, using the Scorpion, his astrological sign, as the company logo. The influence he wielded over the diminutive 500 was impressive, having created a wide variety of competition versions. This particular vehicle was one of them. Crafted by Carrozzeria Allemano, this coachbuilder was known for variations on famous models such as the Lancia Aurelia and Fiat 1500 and even had a hand in creating a few Panhard models. With a breathed on engine from Abarth, only a few of these 750 Allemano Spiders were created for competition use. This one has been restored to like new condition and would be a fantastic piece for vintage racing.

1959 Fiat 750 Abarth Allemano Spider

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1959 Abarth 750 Allemano Spider. Sold new to USA, in Europe since 1991. Full aluminium body. Restored, ready to drive condition. The car is present on the book Italian Car Registry written by John De Boer (see attached photo). Custum duty paid in Europe, old USA Title comes with the car. According with many Abarth publications only 20 Abarth 750 Allemano Spider has been built for race use. Dr. Lorenzo Avidano (Abarth Racing Director) in front of the car during Carlo Abarth Centenary Celebration in Turin (2008).

This car is a great piece of Fiat history and with no reserve should test the waters for vintage Abarths. I'm fascinated that this car was sold new in the United States around the same time '59 Cadillacs with their huge tailfins roamed the streets. It took a special kind of enthusiast to go for such a car at the time. Now, with the new Fiat 500 Abarth being reintroduced to the US market, it's a great time to look back at these machines to see where it all began in post World War II Italy.

-Paul

1999 Ferrari F355 Spider

One of my weaknesses with cars tends to be the proverbial "last year" model of the production run. In many cases, these are the best looking, most developed vehicles in a series. Need proof? See the 1998 Porsche 993 (911), the 2001 E38 chassis BMW 7 series or this vehicle, the 1999 Ferrari F355 Spider. This car was the end of an era for the mid engined Ferrari. Styling touches such as the wedge shape, retractable headlights and large side scoops would be gone, replaced with the larger and more bulbous F360. The F360 was lighter and faster, but for me, it lost the magic that Ferraris of yore had. This particular F355 is in the lesser seen California Blue with dark blue leather.

1999 Ferrari F355 Spider

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Here is an absolutely stunning F355 Spider with a 6 speed manual. Finished in rare California Azzuro with dark blue interior. Only 19,925 miles with complete engine out major service and other work just completed (receipts present). Runs and drives excellent without any issues. Has an upgraded sound system and subwoofer and tinted windows. Has built in radar. Comes with all books, records, tools and tonneau cover and full Ferrari car cover. Has all keys and remotes. See picture of driver seat bolster; minor wear. This car was well taken care of and loved. This is the last year of production of 355 Spiders. Clean Carfax report available.

As always, recent servicing is a major selling point with Ferraris. It is nice that the seller included pictures of the service, as well. There is a bit more wear in the interior than I'm used to seeing with this kind of mileage, but overall not a bad example of the last of the breed. A breed which blended the sharp styling favored by enthusiasts with refinements like modern engine management systems and an electric convertible, making this F355 a more practical everyday proposition than its predecessors.

-Paul

1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce

The final iteration of the original Alfa Romeo Spider bowed in 1990 and was introduced in the North American market for 1991. This was to be the final rear wheel drive Alfa Romeo until the introduction of the 8C Competizione in 2008. A number of changes were brought about for this final iteration of a classic, including Bosch Motronic fuel injection, a drivers side airbag and all new front and rear fascias that incorporated the look of the Alfa Romeo 164's tail lights.

Marketed in the US until 1994 (and all 1994 Spiders were built in 1993), this was to be one of Alfa Romeo's last vehicles sold stateside until the 8C Competizione would appear 14 years later at Ferrari/Maserati dealerships. Even though they are getting on twenty years old, good, clean Spiders are fairly easy to come by, with some ultra low mileage examples on offer from time to time.

This particular Spider is in good nick, has a full history and is the higher spec Veloce model, which included leather seats, 15" alloy wheels, air conditioning and a cloth top fitted as standard. With a little bit over 48,000 miles, this car splits the middle nicely between show quality piece and higher mileage driver.

1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce

This is a beautiful Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce; an excellent example of the 4th and final version in classic Red with Tan leather. It was originally sold in Beverly Hills, stayed in Los Angeles until 2005, and brought to Seattle after the previous owner scoured the West Coast for a like new Alfa. Now I brought it back to Southern California. Included are the complete factory handbooks, receipts and a notebook with literature, maintenance records, California smog reports, Alfa Spider information, and a clean CarFax history report. Alfa Romeo made their last updates for 1991: driver airbag, new tail, new integrated bumpers, air conditioning, full leather seats, leather wrapped steering wheel, 15inch light alloy wheels, 120 hp 2.0 liter engine, Alpine stereo, power Antenna, power windows and power mirrors.

Condition: Absolutely beautiful condition in every way: interior looks like new, exterior is equally excellent, engine is extremely clean and everything is well maintained. A/C blows cold. All original maintenance receipts are included. I would not hesitate to drive this car crosscountry, or enter into a car show.

The asking price of $13,900 is about in the middle of the range of what I've come across in terms of Spider values as of late. For a car with low mileage in this condition, it is certainly a nice price for a usable, everyday classic. It is a little pricier and a bit more boulevard cruiser than a Mazda Miata of the same year, but in classic red, a car like this reminds me why I love Italian sports cars so much.

-Paul

1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider

What better way to celebrate Christmas than with a red roadster? The Giulietta is where Alfa Romeo got its start in building smaller, more affordable vehicles. This range included sedan, coupe, estate and Spider variants featuring variations of Alfa's twin cam 1.3 liter four cylinder engine. The Spider marked what would be the beginning of long tradition of roadsters for the marque. This particular example for sale in Houston is an older restoration, but is complete and presents well.

1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider

1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, Chassis No. AR370837, Engine No. 10100.015005

The Alfa Romeo Guiletta and Guilia Spiders represent Alfa`s trademark shape of the 1950s and 1960s. Their understated but charming lines and nimble, responsive platform have long made them an “all-time” car among Italian automotive enthusiasts.

Finished in red paintwork over black interior upholstery with red piping, the 1962 Giulietta Spider presented here displays an aging restoration with excellent body and panel fitment throughout. The engine compartment and undercarriage are solid and remain very original. This desirable example is accompanied by the original Alfa Romeo Warranty booklet, restoration pictures, original literature, shop manuals and once removed original parts. While not a show quality contender, it is a very strong driver and benefits from a recent mechanical service. This handsome Alfa Romeo offers spirited open touring at a reasonable price! Desirable Giulietta Spider! Eligible for vintage rally & racing events! Ready for Continued Enjoyment! $34,900 negotiable.

These classic Spiders have been commanding strong prices in the market for some time. Given this is an older restoration and is showing some signs of wear (especially on the dashboard), I think it would be reasonable to negotiate down a bit on the asking price. If this Spider could be had in the high 20k range, to maybe $30,000 max, it would be a decent deal for someone seeking a practical classic. While these aren't the easiest vehicles to maintain, for me, it would be worth it just to drive one of these top down on a fall day and listen to that sonorous exhaust note.

-Paul

1987 Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate with 7,900 miles

If I was making a short list of iconic Italian sports cars, the 1966-1993 Alfa Romeo Spider would be in the top five of that list. While it wasn't the most powerful or outlandish vehicle to emerge from Italy, the Spider represented qualities we come to expect from Italian motoring: a sonorous exhaust note, handling that encourages spirited driving and the ability to drive al fresco.

While the Spiders of the late 1970s and 1980s might not be the most favorite for enthusiasts due to emissions equipment and larger bumpers, this particular 1987 Spider is too nice to ignore. It's black paintwork lends a monochromatic look and with less than 10,000 miles, this car is almost certainly one of the lowest mileage Spiders in the US.

1987 Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate on eBay

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West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional and stunning example of this rare ultra low original 7,905 miles and original owner 1987 Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate Fuel Injection Convertible in the highly desirable color combination of black exterior paint with matching black original soft top with a gorgeous light tan original seats interior with dark brown carpets! Obviously always garaged and covered with no rust or accident damage whatsoever; this particular example must be seen to be believed and driven to be truly appreciated! Only driven by one very meticulous and mature driver since new; this car has been babied all the way!

The original factory 'Black' paint is in exceptional condition with only very minor imperfections, if any, noticeable upon very close inspection. The car boasts its original factory canvas black soft top and original and always covered and still as new vinyl seats and the interior is quite stunning throughout with no cracks in the dashboard or noticeable imperfections!

The Graduate, named in honor of the movie 'The Graduate' where an Alfa Romeo had a starring role, is a legendary Italian roadster born in the sixties. It featured vinyl seats, steel wheels, and other amenities and the Alfa Romeo Spider (105/115 series) was produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1966 to 1993. Widely regarded as a design classic, it remained in production for almost three decades with only minor aesthetic and mechanical changes. The three first series were assembled by Pininfarina in Grugliasco and the fourth series in San Giorgio Canavese. The last Spider was produced in April 1993, it was also the last rear wheel drive Alfa Romeo produced before Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione was introduced.

The series 3 spider came with a 2 liter DOHC engine with electronic Bosch fuel injection or twin Webber carburators as an option in Europe. In the United States emissions devices gave the car a significant 10 hp drop. However, thanks to variable camshaft timing the engine is still lively, especially since the car weighs little over 2500 lbs. (1000 kilos). On both country roads as well as highways, power is more than enough to drive fast. The gearbox has long throws but is very precise, remember your input goes directly to your gearbox and not some elastic band linkage found in "modern" cars. 0-100kmh (0-60mph) is approximately 9 seconds and top speed (top closed) is a real 200kmh (120 mph).

In 1986, the base-level Spider, the Graduate cost just under $14,000. All Spider models shared basic mechanical components such as the 120 cubic-inch engine, and five-speed manual gearbox. Disc brakes could be found on all four corners. Only some 4,339 cars were built in 1987.

This exceptionally well maintained and serviced example drives exactly like such a supremely low mileage example should and you will surely look long and hard to find a finer example of this increasingly desirable and collectible garage kept and rust and accident free Alfa Romeo Spider Roadster with only some 8K original miles in this very striking color combination available anywhere else!

The asking price of $16,500 is certainly the top end of what one would expect to pay for a 1987 Spider. There are always clean, original, low mileage Spiders on the market, but probably only a handful with under 10,000 miles. If I were in the market for a Spider, I'd prefer either the original Series I version made famous by the movie The Graduate (and after which our feature vehicle is named for) or the final Series 4 Spider with it's flush bumpers, clean rear styling and Bosch Motronic fuel injection. Still, there is no denying that this could possibly be one of the best Spiders currently on offer in the US.

-Paul

1966 Alfa Romeo Spider 2600

The 2600 range represented an end of an era for Alfa Romeo. These were the last Alfas to employ a twin cam six cylinder engine, variations of which had been in use since the 1920s. The 2600 Spider, with its bodywork by Carrozzeria Touring, looks similar to its smaller Giulietta Spider sibling. However, it is a completely different vehicle, with a longer wheelbase and a small rear seat. Only 2,255 Spiders were made and they are a rare sight on US roads.

Here is a mint example in classic Rosso Alfa for sale in Santa Barbara, California.

1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider on eBay

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Offered for sale is a gorgeous, numbers matching 1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring finished in its factory correct red (Rosso Alfa) over a black leather interior. With only 2,257 Spiders produced between 61’ to 68’, the 2600 spiders are becoming exceedingly rare to come by. The exterior is gorgeous. The paint is deep and glossy, showing only a few minor imperfections. The body is extraordinarily straight with all doors and panels fitting as they should.

The undercarriage is extremely solid showing no rust or evidence of accidents. This car has been carefully shielded from the elements throughout its proud ownership. The interior is beautiful, the plush leather seats are in great shape and free of any significant wear. We are in the process of restoring the extremely rare companion hard top for the car, which will be included in sale.

As with all classic Alfas, it would be important to source a specialist mechanic, especially in this case, since parts are getting more and more scarce for a limited production model such as this. Still, for the determined collector, this is a nice example of an important model in the history of Alfa Romeo.

-Paul