1967 witnessed the introduction of the
1750 Spider Veloce, powered by a 1779cc dohc with 118bhp. In Europe this
was fitted with two twin carburettors, models sold in the US had mechanical
fuel injection by Spica. Modifications were also made to the suspension,
brakes, electrics and wheels and tyres. Visible differences were limited to a slightly different grille and the front repeaters which
1967 also saw the 1600 Spider cease production, whilst a new Spider 1300 Junior, with a 1290cc engine and 89bhp, was introduced in 1968. This lacked
various features, including the plastic headlight fairings, the brake servo, the hub caps, opening quarterlight etc.
In 1969 the first significant change to the styling was introduced on the 1750 Spider Veloce. The round tail was changed to a Kamm style
cut-off tail, which arguably made the car look more modern, and certainly improved the luggage space. Numerous other small changes both inside
and out, such as new doorhandles, a more inclined windscreen, top-hinged pedals and improved interior trim were also made.
The 1600 Spider restarted production in 1972 as the Spider 1600 Junior, visually identical to the 1300 car.
In 1974 the 1300 car gained two 'occasional use' seats behind the front seats, becoming a two plus two. The same modification was made to the 2000 in the
following year.
The 1300 car ceased production in 1977, with the 1600 and 2000 cars continuing.
The next major restyling arrived in 1983. Not universally praised, it saw the introduction of black rubber bumpers front and rear, with the former incorporating
In 1986 the Spider 2.0 Quadrifolgio Verde (Green Cloverleaf) was introduced, with aesthetic tweaks including sideskirts, mirrors and new
front and rear spoilers. The original cars remained in production alongside this new entry. For the US market, this new car became the standard, and sole, version.
The final major change came in 1990 with another significant facelift. Mechanically little changed, but visually the car got another tail, this time with
a lighting unit stetching across the entire tail (matching that of the 164) and colour coded plastic bumpers. Inside various
improvements were made at the same time.
Approximate production figures were :
1966 saw the introduction of the new Spider to replace the then ageing
Giulietta Spider.
Designed and built by Pininfarina and based on the Giulia 105 series chassis (with a shorter wheelbase than the
Coupé), it was powered by the same 109bhp 1570cc dohc engine as in the GTV coupé.
Unnamed at launch, 'Duetto' was chosen as the name after a write-in competition in Italy.
It featured a relatively sparse interior, with two bucket style seats,
a manual soft top and rubber floor mats (albeit with Alfa Romeo logos!)
together with a typically 'Italian' driving position. Two large circular dials in front of the driver were complemented by three smaller angled
guages on the central dashboard. The price was 2,195,000 lire.
moved ahead of the wheelarches. The official title was 1750 Spider Veloce, the name 'Duetto' being dropped from this point onwards.
A new engine, the 1962cc engine producing
132bhp as in the coupé, arrived in 1971 to make the 2000 Spider Veloce. Visually this remained unchanged from the 1750, apart from the name badge. The 1750 car
was gradually withdrawn from production, the final examples emerging in 1972.
the new (black rubber) grille and the latter blending into a wrap-around rear spoiler, still the same black rubber. Various minor modifications were made at the same time.
These changes were made to both the 1600 and 2000 cars which continued mechanically unchanged, the 1600 car dropping the 'Junior' tag.
| 1600 Spider Duetto : | 6,325 |
| 1750 Spider | 8,723 |
| 2000 Spider | 88,240 |
| 1300 Junior | 7,237 |
| 1600 Junior | 13,465 |
The 100,000th example rolled off the Arese production line in the summer of 1988.
Technical Details
| Driveline | longitudinal engine at front with rear wheel drive |
| Engines | 1570cc (78x82mm) dohc 4 cylinder with 109bhp @ 6,000rpm |
| Suspension | front : double wishbone with coil springs and telescopic dampers plus anti-roll bar
rear : independent with coil springs and telescopic dampers (anti-roll bar from 1750) wheelbase : 2250mm front track : Duetto : 1310mm; 1750, Junior & 2000 : 1324mm rear track : Duetto : 1270mm; 1750, Junior & 2000 : 1274mm |
| Brakes | front : discs
rear : discs handbrake operating the rear callipers via cable dual hydraulic circuit (with servo assistance, not including Duetto) |
| Gearbox | 5 speed manual
Single dry plate clutch |
| Steering | worm and sector with hydraulic assistance on some versions |
| Dimensions | click here |
Performance
| model | max speed | 0-62mph | standing km |
| 1600 Duetto | 185 kph | 10.6 sec | 31.78 sec |
| 1750 | 118 mph | 9.2 sec | |
| 2000 | 119 mph | 9.8 sec |
Identification
Some of the numerous versions made are detailed below.
| Model No. | Details | Engine No. | Details | Variants | launched |
| 105.03 | Duetto, original spider | AR00536 | 1570cc, 109bhp | 1966 | |
| 105.57 | 1750 Spider Veloce | AR00548 | 1779cc, 118bhp | 105.62 injection for US, 105.58 rhd | 1967 |
| 105.91 | Spider 1300 Junior | AR00530 | 1290cc, 89bhp | 105.92 rhd | 1967 |
| 105.24 | 2000 Spider Veloce | AR00512 | 1962cc, 132bhp | 115.02 injection for US, 105.27 rhd | 1971 |
| 115.07 | Spider 1600 Junior | AR00536 | 1570cc, 109bhp | 1972 | |
| 105.91S | Spider 1300 Junior | AR00530*S | 1290cc, 89bhp | 1974 | |
| 115.38 | 2000 Spider Veloce | AR00515 | 1962cc, 132bhp | 115.41 injection for US | 1975 |
| 115.35 | 1600 Spider Veloce | AR00526A*S | 1570cc, 102bhp | 1980 | |
| 115.60 | 2000 QV | AR00515 | 1962cc, 132bhp | 1985 | |
| 115.62 | 1600 | AR00526A*S | 1570cc, 102bhp | 1986 | |
| 115.66 | 2000 | AR00515 | 1962cc, 132bhp | 1986 |
Wallpapers/Desktop Backgrounds of numerous Alfa Romeo's also available to download.
There are also various statistics regarding production and sales.
There is also a list of all our picture galleries (including museums,
motorshows and various events).
Buying / Selling
Some things to check before paying are :
- Corrosion, especially in the sills, the rear part of the front wings, the front and rear floorpans, the seat mounts and the spare wheel well. Also check the front crossmember and its mounting points, and the rear of a roundtail (if you manage to find one).
- Roof, check the condition of the fabric, and check the front rail for rust.
- Dashboard, check the op for cracking due to excessive exposure to sunlight.
- Mechanicals, check all the 'normal' things such as knocks when on full lock (forward and reverse), smoke from the exhaust, water in the oil, straight tracking on a flat road, tyre wear for indications of bent chassis', etc...
Alfa
Romeo Spider books : buy them online here(in association with
Amazon)
 Alfa
Romeo Road Test Book : Alfa Romeo Spider Gold Portfolio 1966-91
43 articles on the Spider including over 300 illustrations. Covers 1600 Duetto, 1750 and 2000 versions. |
edited by R.M.Clarke, 1991 |
| Alfa Romeo Spider 1955 - 1986 | Walter Zeichner, 1989 |
Alfa
Romeo Spider : The complete story |
John Tipler, 1998 |
Original Alfa Romeo Spider |
C.Rees & J.Mann, 2001 |
For more books on Alfa Romeo, see our Online Bookstore
Links
An Italian Spider website.
The Roundtail register website.
An interesting Spider V6 conversion website.
Spider comment form
Your Comments
I have no better memories
than racing about Paris in a Spider. Great handling, perfect for
the smaller streets and for parking. Not to mention, it's one of
the chicest and best looking cars on the road. (TJM, New York / Paris)
My 1990 Graduate represents
possibly the best purchase I have ever made based on pure fun for the dollar!
I get more attention in my $5,000 Alfa than friends get in a $45,000 BMW.
They hate it, but I'm not complaining. (Macon, GA)
Got my Spider 2000 model 1989 for 2 years now and I truly believe its even more exclusive than a boring
Porsche 911. Not that expensive and a real eyecatcher. Have to admit I spend a lot of money on repairs but hell,its an Alfa Romeo so all the driving
pleasure you get in return is worth it. Greetings to all you alfisti out there from an alfist in Belgium. (John V.)
Alfa spider is not just one of the most beautiful cars ever produced, it must be one of the most beautiful cars to drive too...
To all alfisti: I¨ve been all over Europe in my spider, and I can promise: visit Norway in your spider... and you'll never regret it... :)
I purchased a 1988 Spider Veloce one month ago and its been the best investment in enjoyment I've ever made! More smiles per mile than any car I've owned before.
There's something absolutely intoxicating about its styling and the way it drives. I'm hooked! My friends all drive Miatas and other rice burning two eaters.
They're nice but so bland when compared to a real work of art like an Alfa. (Ter, USA)
Of the 100+ autos I've owned, the Duetto is at the top of my list for fun, styling and absolute driveability. Mine had
mini-lite mags, blue with silver paint in the side indentation and a less than perfect interior of black something or other. I still want another duetto. (John M, Hawaii)
Hi , my name is Miguel G,
from Portugal , and i have just bought a 1989 1.6 "Rubber Tail" . It is
a very pleasing sports car and i am enjoing it to the full . It's powersliding
everywhere whilst enjoying the sun !
How's it perform? You're
not going to win any light-to-light sprints, but if the guy in the car
behind you doesn't understand that "Spider" was a well-chosen moniker,
you will smoke him in the corners...especially early apex corners.....no
brakes, rev to meet the next lower gear, downshift, and accelerate right
through the corner....this is where the Spider shines...
With all the interest in
convertible 2 seater sportscars, you can't go wrong with this car and you'll
save so much money that you may even consider "his and hers" editions! (JML, USA)
Use the buttons at the top to navigate further, or
Copyright © 2000 to 2008 CarsfromItaly