The Alfa Romeo Spider debuted in 1966, giving the booming market for affordable two-seat roadsters a bit of Italian flourish. The Spider combined good looks with technical advancements, including a twin-cam engine, four-wheel disc brakes, and a five-speed manual transmission.
The 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider recently for sale on eBay is a beautifully preserved example.
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Eighties Tech That Debuted in the 1960s
When the Alfa Spider was introduced, nearly every other affordable roadster from Britain and Japan made do with a four-speed manual transmission. The Alfa had a fifth cog in the box, giving drivers a more relaxed highway cruise due to the overdrive ratio.
Other benefits included a top that was far easier to use than the cumbersome units on British sports cars. Most British roadsters at the time had a top that required the occupant to get out, fasten tabs or clips onto a frame, and erect the soft top. Not the Alfa Romeo. The top could be raised or lowered easily from the driver’s seat. It was so good that Mazda engineers benchmarked it when designing the world-beating Miata - opens in new window or tab..
And its heater and defroster actually worked, which meant the Spider might make for a more comfortable year-round driver. The competitive British roadsters, conversely, had heater controls that frequently failed, leading to frigid driving conditions even if you got the top in place.
Alfa Romeo kept the Spider fresh over the next 25 years by rolling out technical improvements and cosmetic updates. The Series 4 model benefits from the last round of factory improvements before Spider production ended in 1993. The enhancements included:
- Revised styling with a smoother, more aerodynamic look
- Power steering
- Fuel injection
- New safety features, including a driver’s side airbag
This model, which was offered with a Buy-It-Now price of $25,500, had fewer than 20,000 miles on the odometer.
Understated Color Choice
This immaculate example from South Florida is finished in gleaming silver. That gives it added distinction because so many Spiders were produced in red, the iconic hue of the famous Spider featured in the 1967 movie The Graduate - opens in new window or tab. starring Dustin Hoffman. It’s rumored that Hoffman’s uncle, an Alfa Romeo dealer, influenced the Spider’s selection for the movie.
The attractive silver model for sale has a contrasting blue convertible top - opens in new window or tab. and a spotless interior featuring bucket seats recently refinished in tan leather. Dark gray carpets with branded off-white carpeted floor mats complete the look and stylish details, including a wood shift knob and hand brake handle.
Modern creature comforts include:
- Air conditioning
- Power mirrors
- AM/FM stereo
The sporty two-seater rides on Goodyear tires - opens in new window or tab. on spoked alloy wheels featuring Alfa Romeo center caps. The original “phone dial” wheels are also included with the sale, which is a boon should someone want to restore this beauty to showroom condition. This car also comes with extensive service records.
Twist the Key, Drop the Top, Cruise Into the Sunset
The correct 120-horsepower, twin-cam, and fuel-injected two-liter four-cylinder engine is under the hood. It runs well and was just serviced in preparation for sale. The tidy engine compartment reflects this Alfa’s low mileage and excellent care.
Alfa Romeo values have been on the rise. On average, the Spider has been selling for about 30 percent more than it did five years ago, according to Classic.com. Good examples are hard to find. Models like this Spider are reliable with regular maintenance, and its long run in the marketplace means Alfa Romeo Spider parts are easy to find on eBay - opens in new window or tab..
Considering its compelling price tag, you could be the next to discover what Dustin Hoffman and his uncle already knew. A well-sorted Alfa Romeo Spider like this one is an easy-to-live-with classic roadster that will bring smiles all around.
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