Why Buy an Alfa Romeo Spider? | 5 Reasons in Less Than 5 Minutes

Why should you buy an Alfa Romeo Spider? Here are 5 reasons in less than 5 minutes from Classic Motorsports Editorial Director David S. Wallens.
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[@alfafreak2011]

Great video celebrating Alfa Romeo? I restore them full time, and get to drive Spiders and GTV6's every day. So fulfilling to drive, and the Harder you Drive them, the better they run! Glenn, Heavy Metal Alfa.

[@fredgarv79]

I wish you lived near Seattle, I have a 74 with the spica and I think it's leaking gas into the oil and want to convert it to webbers but I don't know who to get this donekzbin.info/www/bejne/qJfQhJKgn9ibbcUsi=p7-SyjOpS-rwfmH3

[@dude36]

Love my 81 Spider…I also have a Miata but the Alfa has so much heart and style and the motor sings.

[@patriziacasagrande3833]

how did you deal with the spica system and the rare 2 point electronic distributor. i too hsve an 81. grest car. depends, fun can for sure.

[@tmartin2039]

Think 1966 with 1.3 HP per cubic inch: an aluminum block, dual Weber side draft carbs, twin cams, 5-speed transmission and 4-wheel discs. MSRP was higher than the Corvette, and remained so in the 70's. These cars are great fun to drive, and have every reason to be. Alfas beg to be driven hard and reward you with big smiles, I don't think I ever pulled my '75 out of the driveway without redlining it!

[@ddrennon]

I drove an early 70s model and thought that shifter location was weird...until I used it. Super smooth. Nothing shifts like an Alfa.

[@lawrence471]

I just purchased one here in Denver a month ago for $1,800 no rust 1987 spider voloche. Runs fine put in new seat skins and new top some headers. a free flow mid section. And a stinger pipe with a reverse cone megaphone tailpiece. It sounds phenomenal and it did a fast pass at emissions. I repainted it Patriot blue.

[@LaurenMcCollum-bo4cs]

I bought my 86 Spider in 92, and I'm loving every moment of it today. You talk about smiles....You couldn't be more right, haha!

[@gordonkachuk5457]

Had a 1975 2000 Spider during the late 1900's in Europe (yes with the light covers). Had it restored in 1992 and unfortunately had to sell it (together with my 1991 Lancia 8.32 and '84 Lancia Beta 2000 Coupe Volumex) when moving to Canada.I also raced a 2000 GTV (105) in touring car championship in 79-80. Italian cars rock. I even owned a 2000 Berlina. These Alfa 2000 series were fabulous with the ultra reliable Busso 4 cylinder twin cams. And the handling even with the solid rear axle; unbelievable. Great times.

[@rutlefan6476]

My first car purchase was an '83 Spider (in '87). Was in the service and drove it all over the country (hard, crossing-the-desert miles too). Never let me down and have loved Alfa since. Owned several more Spiders over the years, including two currently, a '74 and a '92. The '74/early S2 is the real early Miata alternative, a pure sports car. The '92 is more mature and well-behaved, in part a touring car. My son prefers the '74 because he likens it to a roller coaster. I love the '92 as well because when it came out I saw it as a budget Ferrari (looks-wise at least), so though dynamically it suffers some in comparison to the '74, it has such a presence that you forget its (relatively) tame manners and still feel great driving it through the countryside on a weekend morning.

[@zbou23]

Bought my 1986 spider veloce in 2020 and have love the thing ever since, it's really easy to own, and it does absolutely get smiles when you drive it around town!

[@markseesink1971]

We drive a 1971 Alfa Romeo Spider 2000 Veloce. Driving it frequently when the weather is nice during the year. Love to make a trip to Italy to see the Mille Miglia once a year with it. Greetings Mark and Maud from the Netherlands

[@studiocalder818]

Het Klaverblaadjie !

[@markg1531]

I’d love to have a meticulously and impeccably restored boat tail Spider (Duetto). Just beautiful, a real dream car. As it is, I’ve ordered a 2024 red Stelvio Tributo Italiano : ) It also drives beautifully.

[@user-fi9bq5rr5t]

I Owen two Spyder's. An 82 for the track and an 84 for the street. Luv them both

[@zachgeo]

I bought an '84 in '87 and it was my daily driver until 2000 when I bought an '87 Maserati Biturbo Spider. That's long gone now as well, and I recently thought back to which I'd like to have again (but not as a daily driver!) and bought myself an '82 Alfa. Needs work, but I've been enjoying every minute of it!

[@DavidM-mb1vx]

I have a 69 Spica spider. Had the injection unit rebuilt by Wes Ingram. I had a 70 Kammtail with twin side draught DelOrtos. Both have their benefits but the round tail is the most beautiful of all

[@snowjerkface]

Just spoke to Wes last week! Can't wait to get my Alfa taken care of by his crew.

[@garydaniels1420]

Have a 23 year old 916 GTV..its a labor of love...I ain't rich I drive this car to work and back every day thats as far as it goes only 4,500 miles a year and plenty bill's to boot..but every time I turn the key it's absolutely wonderful car to drive..❤😊

[@mrandyknight1]

I agree with all your reasons. We’ve had a 78 red one for the last year - probably paid too much for her but love the drive and the attention we get whenever we’re out in it

[@studiocalder818]

Absolutely f a n t a s t i c car, a joy to look at and drive.

[@sdfswords]

Alfa Syders are great, had both a 1967 and 1986, reliable, fun, passionate cars. Miss the red '67 for sure!

[@rjhorwitz4174]

I own 2 spiders & GTV6 & GTV4. Driver’s cars that visceral connection to movement through air. Sound, vibration & movement in harmony.

[@Alfaspiderman84]

I love my'84 Spider!

[@francescotenti193]

Great car! I am the original owner of an '88 and I love it. Just turned over 100,000 miles and it has been incredibly reliable with the only issue being a failed water pump at age 26. A blast to drive, fast? Not really but nothing beats those looks and that fun factor. Inside it's very roomy and ditto for the trunk and the space behind the seats. I have no issue going cruising 100's of miles away from home. And comparing it to the Miata? What's that?

[@bboross]

I had an '84 Spider Veloce from 1991-92. Sold it, unfortunately, to raise money for a business. One positive thing you didn't mention was the sound of the exhaust - throaty and spirited. So much better than the '87 Porsche 924s that I had in 2005-07, which sounded to me like a vacuum cleaner. Also loved the dual pointy dashboard frames over the speedo and tach (like you have in the video)- this went away after about 1986, and the new rounded frame did not compare. Negatives were the worry about rust in the rocker panels, the transmission problem when shifting from 2nd to 3rd (or was it first to 2nd?), and the low windshield height. I'm 5'11, but often with the top down felt that the top of my head was above the top of the windshield. That all being said, I wish that I had kept it.

[@speedsterjohnny7191]

We owned a '86 Spyder Veloce and loved driving it. The wife got two speeding tickets in rather short order which is to say it liked to go fast. I have a suspicion that the Chicago winters would have taken its toll on the body (i.e., RUST) and had to replace universal joints at 11k miles. Sweet car but not for a daily year-round driver. Fun car, yes, absolutely!

[@zorngottes1778]

I own a 1980 2.0 l spider veloce. Its a great and really beautiful car. I mean its a REAL beauty. Especially the fastback version like mine. Its an italian car, so it rattles everywhere. Like a friend once told me: Even a Ferrari is only an expensive Fiat.

[@MsAston007]

Love my 1990 Alfa

[@Thechefdrivesfast]

I’ve had one for years. Best kept secret in the vintage sports car world .

[@marcmenton8063]

Only major issue is weak second gear synchros requiring a rebuild of transmission, you can’t get away from it. They all have it

[@adriancoates7723]

Makes me want to get my 1977 outta storage :) Great video :0

[@klaytonhulsberg4059]

I currently own a 79' Veloce. It's not running, definitely a project car. Parts are easy to find with lots of suppliers. I'm from Florida so everything has to be imported but really that's the only hiccup with these cars. It's italian so by default it has a following no matter what country you're in and chances are you can find a guy who knows a guy about these cars if you really have to bring it to a mechanic.

[@enricoroselli5328]

Miss my 78 Spider! I was a knucklehead to sell it! Younger days...

[@noushitaisa]

I have always loved the Alfa Spider, ever since seeing 'The Graduate' (lucky bastard graduation present, dumps it at the roadside) and would love to have one - some day ;-)

[@stevecaskey7895]

Yep, have an S4 and wonderful car

[@tractioncontroloff9796]

That Alfa interior! Mama Mia!

[@1BrundleFly1]

I picked up a pristine, low-mileage '85 Spider Veloce in Bozeman, Montana for $10k and drove it home to Colorado in 2017. For me, the '83-'85 S3 is the one to have as a daily driver because it has the common and reliable Bosch L-Jet fuel injection and factory shoulder belts but retains the older interior stying (including the three center gauges that were replaced by air vents in '86) and is dirt-cheap as late-classic European sports cars go. Plus, I graduated college in '83 so this would have been the model I was gifted if I had been as spoiled as Benjamin Braddock. ;^)

[@studiocalder818]

Hi mate, I totally agree with you. My favourite is the first serie of the mk3, which I once didn't appreciate, along with the mk2. The mk4 has too much plastic and the butt looks a little fat.

[@fredgarv79]

Don't like the black spoiler so I went with a 74

[@edwingodoy1765]

I have 1990 spider quadrifoglio with all upgrades , suspension etc... best can it is a dream car

[@ErickSowder]

Looking at.a 81 now. It’s said it has injection problems and needs to be changed to carburetors. The guy said it needed a spring like one in a ballpoint pen? What do you guys think? I have other cars with carburetors and they are fine to work on.

[@mariesimon-ho7ft]

Love it

[@scottyjoe22]

Looks like Flagler County Florida.

[@sotirisbakaimis3276]

awesome car, maybe the best spider ever

[@caddyguy5503]

People who currently own one and have experience with these spiders please answer this question for me. I am looking to buy one as a daily driver, is it reliable? How is the general quality? How is the Engine and Transmission?

[@jotighe2]

thumbs up

[@lawrence471]

I found a 91 for sale in Colorado needs engine rebuild.

[@doublevisionary5926]

I love love Alfas. The have soul and character. You don’t just drive an Alfa, you wear an Alfa.

[@dillontingle2511]

I don’t know if you’ll see this comment but I was curious if my dad would be too big for one of these, he is 6’2 300lbs. Thank you for any help!

[@ClassicMotorsports]

Out of all of the classic roadsters, this one seems to have the most open cockpit.

[@kennethhancock2433]

Nothing wrong with the Spica cars up to 1974 IMHO. Wes Ingram is where to go if yours doesn’t work. I had over 100,000 trouble free miles on a Spica 1969 1750 GTV with the exception of two failed thermostatic actuators. $35 to replace in the old days.

[@fredgarv79]

I have a 74 and yes wes ingram will rebuild them but not install them and tune them, plus he's 6 months to a year out. like the video said, "you need to know "a guy" to help with the spica. I don't know a guy

[@kennethhancock2433]

@@fredgarv79 The Alfa club had a reprint of setting up the FI and I thought Wes had a booklet on it. There is a caliper like tool that sets the proper angle at the cable end and I believe there was a way to make a home made tool to adjust the richness setting at the actuator. The 69 was simpler than 71 onward. Once properly set there isn’t much else to do. Good luck.

[@fredgarv79]

@@kennethhancock2433 Yes I downloaded all that stuff. I can change my own oil, I repaired a broken cable to my trunk, put a new cable in and got that to work. replace spark plugs etc but that's about it and I don't have much in the way of tools. My problem now is I think the pump is going bad because I smell gas in the oil, even after just changing it, after all its a 50 year old spica pump. I had the top end engine rebuilt after the head gasket blew so it has all new seals so it must be the pump? I'm afraid to even drive it now with gas mixing with the oil plus I think it's running too rich. It went from hard to start to now starting easily but it dies at idle until after like 20 minutes when it warms up then it's ok so I think too much fuel is getting in and the plugs are fouled after just a few hundred miles.

[@alastairwatson3201]

Are you sure that Spiders have IRS? I’m fairly confident that they don’t; my understanding is that they’re solid, just like their coupe and Berlinetta siblings.

[@maxab6645]

No they don't , its a coil sprung live axle, same running gear as most 105s

[@ClassicMotorsports]

The Alfa uses a de Deon rear end. While technically not fully independent, it offers a bit more articulation than a traditional stick axle. Sorry for any confusion.

[@kennethhancock2433]

The DeDion is on the transaxle cars Alfetta, GTV6, Milano. The 105/115 series are live axle with trailing arms and coil springs. Very well controlled until the road deteriorates.

[@jusztinnemeti6380]

I'm 6'5" tall. Can I fit in this car?

[@georgeholtby]

I’m 6’ 4”. Plenty of room, you’d be fine

[@jusztinnemeti6380]

@@georgeholtby thank you for the answer. Is the steering wheel miles away?

[@georgeholtby]

@@jusztinnemeti6380 no. It all works nicely from an ergonomics / comfort point of view. Great cars, I love mine. I’ve got a 1985 S3

[@michaelwilliams8781]

Yep, it’s a great car. But, it is not a Ferrari and I can’t see how it resembles one!

[@maxab6645]

Good review but not rear IRS

[@ClassicMotorsports]

The Alfa uses a de Deon rear end. While technically not fully independent, it offers a bit more articulation than a traditional stick axle. Sorry for any confusion.

[@maxab6645]

@@ClassicMotorsports Sorry but its not a De Dion either - its a live axle plain and simple

[@rutlefan6476]

@@ClassicMotorsports maxab6645 is correct; the 116 chassis (the transaxle Alfas from the '70s & '80s) use the De Dion suspension. Great video regardless.

[@bluebear6570]

I am always amused when an American talks about "quick enough for modern traffic" ! Hey you guys - you don´t even know what speed is!

[@Mark-rt6fy]

Not necessarily the top speed but highway merging acceleration

[@merc340sr]

Chic magnet!...loll...

[@doublevisionary5926]

Your girlfriend probably plays pickle ball and owns a labradoodle

[@SPQR101010]

everything breaks and rusts unfortuantely.