Italiaspeed Book Review: Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider-The Essential Buyers Guide - by Keith Booker and Jim Talbott

Buying a classic car is an expensive business and mistakes can prove costly financially and in time, effort and stress. Wouldn’t it be great if you could take an expert with you? With the aid of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider-The Essential Buyers Guide offering a step-by-step guidance from a marque specialist, you can! You’ll discover all you need to know about the car you want to buy. The unique points system will help you to place the car's value in relation to condition, whilst extensive photographs illustrate the problems to look out for.

The following paragraphs are excerpts from several chapters taken from Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider - The Essential Buyers Guide:

Chapter 3: Living with a Giulia Spider - will you get along?

Good Points: With its timeless Pininfarina styling, an Alfa Romeo Spider is a visual delight. It is one of the world’s most admired, two seat open sports cars, as popular today as when it was in production. Within twenty-eight years of manufacture there should be a model to suit everyone. If you’re looking for a classic to pamper and use on hot, sunny days, the elegant, long-tailed Spiders from the late 1960s/early 70s may be for you; a Series 3 or 4 will meet the needs of someone who wants to use the car more often, perhaps everyday; the 1750 and 2000 Kamm tails are a good compromise between the two.

With a well-proven, all-aluminium, twin cam engine, five speed gearbox, all round disc brakes, double wishbone front and well located rear suspension, combined with precise steering and excellent throttle response, a good Spider is a pleasure to drive. Like most Alfas, the harder you push a Spider, the better it rides and responds. With an easy to use soft top and an excellent heater, an owner can enjoy open air motoring throughout the year. It’s a comfortable car for two people and their luggage and, whilst the driving position will not suit everyone, most soon adapt to it. A Spider’s major mechanical components are robust, if properly maintained, and an excellent network of specialists provides support.

Bad Points: Compared to its more ‘agricultural’ contemporaries, a Spider – with its advanced specification – will have required greater care and attention over the years. In many cases it will not have received this, and so suffered neglect and abuse. It is important, therefore, to exercise caution when buying one and ensure that you continue to look after it properly. A local garage may not be able to help with this, so you will need to make a little extra effort to keep it up to scratch.

Compared to modern cars, the gearbox will feel notchy and slow when starting from cold, especially if the second gear syncromesh is worn. The steering, on non-power assisted models, will feel heavy when manoeuvring and in traffic. This, combined with awkward pedal angles on some models, will make slow driving hard going. In such conditions, Spiders fitted with carburettors, will often ‘oil’ their plugs, requiring a burst of high revs to clear.

Chapter 4: Relative Values - which model for you?

The Spider enjoyed a production life of twenty-eight years, more than twice that of the Giulia GT coupé, with which it shared much of its running gear. During this time it underwent many changes; some more desirable than others. Cars exported to the USA – although looking similar to those sold in other markets – differ significantly, which can affect their value outside that country. Only the 1600 Duetto and Series 4 models have similar specifications for both markets. (See Chapter 12 for value assessment and Chapter 16 Vital statistics for more information.)

Listed below, in percentage terms, are the relative values of individual models in relation to the United Kingdom market. Local markets may differ considerably. (Note: From 1975 (US and 1.6 from 1972) all models have a 115 model designation, except RHD cars which remained as 105 series until production ceased in 1977. US cars did not have headlamp cowls but broad rimmed chrome headlamp bezels instead.)

1600 Spider Duetto-1570cc. Made in RHD/LHD. Long, rounded tail. Exported to the USA in small numbers. 1966-67: 100%
1750 Spider Veloce-1779cc. Made in RHD/LHD. Similar in appearance to Duetto. Exported to USA. 1967-69: 100%
1300 Spider Junior-1290cc. RHD/LHD. Visually similar to Duetto but no headlamp cowls or bezels. Not exported to USA.1968-69: 80%
1750 Spider Veloce Kamm tail-1779cc (subsequently known as Series 2). Made in RHD/LHD. First short tail model with increased windscreen rake. Continued in various styles, on subsequent versions. Exported to USA. 1970-71: 90%
 

1300 Spider Junior Kamm tail-1290cc. LHD only. Similar in appearance to 1750 but no headlamp cowls or bezels. Not available in USA. 1970-77: 60%
1600 Spider Junior/1600 Spider Veloce Kamm tail-1570cc. LHD only. Appearance as 1300, SV as 2000. Not exported to USA. 1972-81: 65%
2000 Spider Veloce Kamm tail-1962cc. Made in RHD/LHD. Similar to 1750. RHD manufacture ceased in 1977. Exported to USA where cars have extended chrome bumpers and overriders, changing to prominent rubber bumpers with a token Alfa shield from 1975. US limited editions: Niki Lauda and Enthusiast's models. 1971-82: 90%
2000 Spider Series 3 (Aerodinamica)-1962cc. LHD only (RHD cars converted). Euro cars without headlamp cowls but broad bezels. Plastic front and rear bumpers/coloured coded front and rear large black rear spoiler. Exported to the US. Lower spec US limited edition was called the 'Graduate'. 1983-89: 65%
1600 Spider Series 3-1570cc. LHD only (RHD cars converted). Appearance as per 2000. Not exported to US. 1983-89: 60%
2000 QV Green Cloverleaf Series 3-1962cc. LHD only (RHD cars converted) Exported to US. As per Series 3 but fitted with colour coded body kit. 1986-89: 70%
2000 Spider Veloce Series 4-1962cc. LHD only (RHD cars converted). Complete restyle with integrated body coloured bumpers/grille/side skirts, kicked up boot/trunk lid and wrap around rear lights. Two-tone 'Beaute' and US 'CE' special editions. 1990-93: 80%
1.6 Spider Series 4-1570cc. LHD only. Offered in some European countries. Similar appearance to 2000. 1990-92: 75%

Chapter 9: Serious Evaluation - 60 minutes for years of enjoyment (excerpts)

Gearlever (gearshift) gaiter (boot): Both parts of the gearlever gaiter – the outer leather/PVC item, and the rubber inner part – are prone to splitting, allowing gearbox and road noise, and engine fumes into the cabin. Replacements for both are available. Various styles of gear knob were fitted during the Spider’s production.

Seats: Spiders were fitted with several styles of PVC or leather seats. Early cars had vertical pleating; later ones horizontal. Green Cloverleafs/ Series 4s had their own style. Token ‘rear seats’ changed to a shelf from 1979. Check that the seats are correct for the car as this can affect value. Headrests were fitted in most markets from 1968. Seats are prone to splitting along the stitching, and the foam diaphragm of the base can compress. Excellent retrims are available from specialists, but can be expensive. Fragile seat back hinges and frames crack easily. Check seats slide on their runners: if rusty, this can point to problems underneath.

Carpets: Embossed rubber matting was fitted until 1977 and then various types of carpet. Green Cloverleafs have red, Series 4s beige or black carpet, prone to rapid deterioration, particularly in the oversill area. Good quality replacements are available. New rubber sets are expensive.

Door cards and door locks: Various styles have been fitted. Warped cards are usually a result of missing or torn door gaskets, resulting in the backing rotting and water ingress. Are the armrests secure and/or split? Replacements are available, but check availability and cost. Check function of door locks, both inside and out. Replacements are obtainable from specialists.

Door handles: Long tailed Spiders and Kamm tailed Juniors have push button handles. Flush fitting, teardrop-shaped items were fitted to subsequent models. These are hinged at the rear, and if not adjusted correctly can be difficult to operate. Later cars have rubber gaskets which give a better seal with the door skin. Handles are made of poor quality metal and tend Seats can wear, too!