When the redesigned Alfa Romeo Spider GTV hit Europe in 1995, the company had been out of the American market for four years. The classic 105-Series Spider was then 30 years old, weighted down with rubber bumpers, and ripe for replacement.
Alfa built 39,000 of these new Spiders and not a single one was sold new in the US. The Spiders, designed and built by Pininfarina, remained on foreign markets until 2006. The best sales year was 2003, with 2,094 sold.
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But the racy little roadster did come over here on the grey market, and this tidy 1996 example is available - opens in new window or tab. for a $13,800. It has just 38,240 miles on the odometer.
A Front-Drive Alfa Isn’t Blasphemy if Done Right
The build quality of these Spiders was much improved over earlier models.
The seller tells us this Alfa Spider GTV is one of only a few in the country, and “runs and drives great” with “no problems at all.” Sparco seats - opens in new window or tab. complement a Clarion radio - opens in new window or tab. and Azev wheels - opens in new window or tab.. Photographs of the black-on-black car reveal no obvious flaws. It should be a very fun “never-seen-one-of-those” cruiser, an alternative to the contemporary Nissan 350Z - opens in new window or tab., Toyota MR2 Spyder - opens in new window or tab., and Mazda Miata - opens in new window or tab.. Luggage space is scarce.
The Spider was front engine, front drive—a first.
The new front-engine, front-wheel drive 916-Series Spider (a departure from the rear-wheel drive 105) was offered alongside the GTV coupe, which sold slightly better (41,700 units). They’re both handsome cars, true to the Alfa brand, designed by Pininfarina’s - opens in new window or tab. Enrico Fumia.
They were built on an existing Fiat Group platform, but heavily modified. The slippery and wedge-shaped Spider had an 0.38 drag coefficient. And for the first time, an electric top was an option. To save weight, the cars had a composite hood—an innovation at the time. The curb weight was 3,020 pounds.
Alfa Spider GTV buyers had a choice of a Fiat-derived two-liter Twin Spark four with 148 horsepower, or a three-liter V-6 with 189 horsepower. Both five- and six-speed manual transmissions were offered.
With the V-6, a 7.5-second zero to 60 was possible, but with the Twin Spark it was 9.1 seconds. The latter could reach 134 miles per hour. This one has the smaller engine, but that shouldn’t be a deterrent. The four boasted 26 miles per gallon.
Alfa Spider GTV: Defying a Reputation
The wedge-shaped styling by Pininfarina stands up well.
The earlier Alfa Spiders had a reputation for poor mechanical reliability and rust. European critics say the new ones have much better build quality. On the newer cars, cam belts - opens in new window or tab. are known to break—though not usually until they’ve accumulated more than 70,000 miles. Soft tops - opens in new window or tab. can leak—they definitely will on the 105 Series —but the list of known faults is much shorter.
With less than 40,000 miles, this Alfa Spider GTV is barely broken in. It should provide trouble-free motoring—at least for a while. Should it break down, however, help is on the way. eBay provides a complete supply of parts - opens in new window or tab. for the broad range of Alfa Spiders.
Only 39,000 of these Spiders were sold, none in America.
The brand has been back on the American market since 2006). So Alfa Romeos are more visible and supported by the factory. Plunging ahead with a rare model like this Spider GTV - opens in new window or tab. isn’t as fraught as it once was.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.