Back Yard Find: 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider
Fancy a cheap Italian restoration project? Here on craigslist is a 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider awaiting adoption by an energetic enthusiast with welding skills. The asking price is $3000 firm and the car can be trailered to its new garage from Sacramento, California. The seller is transparent about its condition – he says it needs a total restoration. We owe a nod to Todd K for finding this listing for us – thanks! The car’s unkempt appearance distracts from the Alfa Spider’s worthy pedigree. The first generation was launched in 1966 as an evolution of the Giulia Spider. Its beautiful lines accented by a round boat tail came courtesy of Pininfarina; this version was christened the Duetto via a public competition. But a confectionary company with a chocolate biscuit of the same name disputed its use by Alfa; consequently, the official name became simply the Spider. With its twin-cam engine, good looks, and convertible top, the Spider sold voraciously.
Of course, Alfa aimed the Spider at the lucrative US market. But it was the late 1960s and regulations were forcibly altering car makers’ plans right and left. The ’66 Duetto came equipped with a carburetted twin-cam 1570 cc four-cylinder engine – a time-tested configuration at Alfa. With emissions regulations looming, Alfa followed in the footsteps of many other car makers – increasing displacement to maintain power but controlling fuel delivery via an injection unit. By 1974, Alfa offered a fuel-injected 2.0-liter twin-cam that zipped through its five gears to 118 mph in spritely fashion. Even when bedeviled by regulations, Alfa managed to produce a well-performing car. This car’s odometer reads 80,000 miles. No word on the engine’s running condition.
No matter how this photo looks, note that the seller says the floors are rotted because the top leaked. That implies damage to the rest of the interior – this car has been stored outside for some time in both sun and rain. Still, parts are available: some 38,000 series 2 spiders were made. The car comes with its attractive original Turbina wheels; there’s even a spare in the trunk.
The worst thing about the series 2 Spiders is the truncated tail. I mourn the loss of the graceful boat tail, but of course that serves to make early Duettos very valuable indeed, while leaving these “coda tronca” cars affordable for the rest of us. And on the bright side, 1974 was the last year before the Spider was laden with large ugly rubber bumpers in response to safety regs. That said, recognition has come to these early 70’s Alfas and prices have increased. Driver quality cars sell in the $20k area now, and nicer examples will cost much more. What do you think, is this one worth rescuing?
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Comments
Perfect for Ca Hwy 1 when redone, but it’ll be a chunk of change before the new owner drives it out of the garage.
Wasn’t there an article somewhere some time ago in one of the automotive magazines saying the tail was lopped off because of the instability it caused at high speeds on the straights? Or was it just another victim of the industry being forced to make cars ugly by the banks, I mean, insurance kings?
I’ve seriously considered one of these to invest in and read everything I could get my hands on about them but have never heard that issue. My take is that it was a redesign. I’ll check my resources today and post it later.
Yes, I think it was just a styling update. Everything had a “kamm tail” back then. It also increased trunk space a good deal.
Just buy one already done and save yourself 5k. Pretty rare to see 20 grand newer spider. Older, sure, 30-60, but not these.
At least what I’ve seen. Maybe with inflation, I don’t know.
It was purely styling, the kamm tail was in vogue and the round tail was actually not liked in period, it is the reason that the car was nicknamed “cuttlefish”. I own both a 67 and a 73 and really don’t understand why people romanticize the round tails, the 70-74 kamm tails are a better car and really a better car and better looking.
If you are after aerodynamics get a Giulia sedan in a bit of irony the boxy looking 4 door sedan is much more aerodynamic than the sleek 2 door spider.
I have owned several Alfa’s over theyears including a 1300 Giulietta Super that I dropped a 2 litre engine into. A couple of Alfetta’s, a Berlina, a GTV 6 and several Sprints, although none of them have been Duetto’s. Great cars all of them, and rust buckets to boot.
And here is another car that makes me wish that the shop was built already, I have wanted one of these for years but don’t have the garage space to dig into this one.
Cheap Italian car restoration projects don’t exist.
I think Michelle was making the point that an Alfa such as this one will not bankrupt you like a Ferrari, Lambo or Maserati could. Someone could pour in $15 thou while still coming out ahead. It depends on the buyer’s upholstery/welding/mechanical skills and a good in-person inspection to ascertain exactly what one is getting into. This Alfa could be a good buy for the right person. However, if a potential buyer were to pay retail shop rates for all the work and parts, he/she would get a much better deal by just buying a well-restored one.
Hi Michelle, love reading your writing/ opinions on classic cars. Miss the old times when restoring them… your “old”friend Bob.
Ha ha, thanks Bob. This Alfa is right up your alley – you could hot rod it! Take care –
This one looks like it would definitely need everything. Appreciate the seller’s transparency, but there are still a lot of these cars out there, unless you are wed to this particular year or early seventies for some reason I would shop around for a project that needs a little less work.
If I remember correctly, that year ( and other years) came with Spica Fuel Injection. It was basically a modified diesel injection system. I worked and repaired a lot of them .
Miata drive train & call it a day FAR more reliable esp electrical
good potential