Alfa Romeo Spider vintage cars
Open for all times – Romeo´s „late“ (1966 – 1993) Spiders
With Dustin Hoffman at the wheel, escaping Mrs. Robinson´s clutches, the Spider was soon after 1967 widely known even in the USA, also thanks to the Hollywood movie „The Graduate“. The open sports cars from Milan are a hit there anyway.
But when the new Spider, futuristically pepped up by Pinin Farina on the basis of the Giulia series 105, celebrated its first appearance in 1966, the fans of the classically styled predecessor were thoroughly sad.
But the flat sports car, formed like a flounder, with the two headlights positioned in streamlined clear-glass domes, soon found its faithful fan community. And for a very long time. In fact, the Spider, carefully modernised from time to time, has been produced for 27 years. Alfa Romeo thus shows its faithfulness to the roadster even in the years when the open car species, due to the more and more drastic safety regulations, is threatened by extinction, and secures its survival. The first Spider – with 1.6 litres – appears as „round rear“ Spider. Due to its extraordinary rear design, which could be admired before on some of Pinin Farina’s prototypes based on the 6C 3000 and the Giulietta, it was named „Osso di Sepia“ meaning „bone of the squid“. Mockers called it „rubber boat“. Well, this isn’t very nice, and therefore the marketing specialists in Milan quickly looked for a new name for the round rear Spider. A competition brought among numerous nonsensical proposals the new name „Duetto“.
The development of the Alfa Duetto to today´s Spider
Same as the coupe, the Duetto received the more powerful 1750 engine and from 1968 a starter model with the 1300 Junior. 1969 the Spider was reworked for the first time. The unusual round rear disappears and is replaced by a modern cut rear which causes the models of this production series to be called „Fastback“ (Coda Tronca). In front, the comet disappears and the Scudetto between the broader bumper halves appears more dynamic. The Fastback-body remains optically unchanged from 1969 to 1983. Since 1971, 2 litres models have been available. Inside, two big glare shields containing the speedometer and rev counter now adorn the dashboard. The cut rear shortens the Spider by a 13 cm. Nevertheless the capacity of the boot, which is obviously much more useful, increases. Beside the classical steel rims in the „hole“ style typical for Alfa, Campagnolo aluminium rims with their delicate turbine spoke-design are very popular. The persons responsible for the product do without the aerodynamically favourable Perspex-covers of the headlights and the new dashboard. Already in 1974 the Pinin Farina designers experiment again with the Spider. But the design is thoroughly successful and not easy to improve. So Pinin Farina gives one prototype a conspicuous front- and rear-spoiler and paints the sicke in the vehicle´s side with a contrasting colour.
The draft was not realised then – many years later Pinin Farina remembers this prototype. 1983, the Spider Aerodinamica appears, with the big front spoiler, steep rubber lip on the rear and large shock absorbers with rubber-Scudetto; people baptised it disrespectfully „spoiler-Spider“ or „rubber lip“.
When, in 1986, the small chromium mirrors were replaced by big parts and the ice-cream cup-shaped instrument housings were replaced by one big panel housing all instruments, the plastic era had begun.
The alterations, however, had no negative effect on the sales figures.
But many agree with „Auto Motor und Sport“ (a leading magazine) editor Mr. Clauspeter Becker who compares the Fastback with a „crisply baked pizza“ and the new Aerodinamica with a „Hamburger roll“.
When the Spider experienced its 4th spring in 1990, the waves of enthusiasm rise high again. The new shock absorbers are now part of the handsome bodywork and a band of lights is harmonically integrated in the rear, which underlines the family resemblance with its sister models. Thus the „Nuova Aerodinamica“ or „Classico“ has regained its timeless beauty, but the Spider’s production period of almost thirty years naturally leaves its track.
