Up for sale on Craigslist in Seattle is this rather nice 1983 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce 2000, in the possession of a 15-year owner who’s done a whole heap of important things to it. The owner wants a very specific $19,830. Thanks to Curvette for the listing.
As the previous owner of a 1976 Spider, I know their quirks, Mine got bodywork and paint, an Ansa exhaust and I forget what else, but it still had needs, including a growly rear end, when I sold it. This owner has emptied his wallet for a “new paint job, rebuilt transmission, stainless-steel exhaust, new fuel injectors, new suspension, frame stiffener, new radiator, and many more [things].”
The Alfa has always been garaged, and only sees the daylight in good weather. The owner says he’s spent more than $30,000 making the Spider right, which means he got a red mist and had to see the thing through, even though he knew he’d lose money.
Often, the history of classic cars is a mystery, but here we’re told that “much of the mechanical work was done by the previous owner of Rallye Round. He was Keith Magnussen’s partner at Rallye Round since the early ‘80s, and took over the shop when Keith retired. The shop moved away from South Lake Union to the Eastside and has since closed.” For the record, the actual name was Ralli-Round LTD. It offered, “highly skilled auto repair and diagnostic services.”
The current owner is a victim of the “too many cars, too little time” syndrome. “I love the sound, and the handling of this Spider and never get tired of all the smiles, thumbs-up, and comments I get whenever I take it out for a drive or a Cars and Coffee,” he says. “I already have seller’s remorse about this one before I’ve finished writing the ad. Come take a look at your next dream car Alfa. My pain, your gain.”
The 1966 Spider “Duetto” Dustin Hoffman drove across that bridge to stop the wedding in The Graduate was a proud member of the first series. The big change in 1970 was the abandonment of the curvaceous round tail for the more aerodynamic Kamm-tail cut-off. The car had been the 1750 Spider Veloce, but in 1971 the twin-cam was upgraded to a 1,962-cc version with 132 horsepower. Thus, the 2000 Spider. Other changes were the revised grille, new door handles, a more steeply raked windshield, top-hinged pedals, and updated interior trim.
These cars had a five-speed shifter sprouting from the console, a soft top that went down easily but leaked like a sieve no matter how new it was, and a tendency to rust early and often. But I know from experience that they were pretty and exhilarating to drive, even when one cylinder had low compression.
The car being sold is in the third series, introduced for North America in the 1982 model year. A welcome upgrade was the abandonment of the SPICA fuel injection in favor of a more reliable Bosch electronic setup. In 1983, this car’s year, the dreaded black rubber front and rear bumpers made their somewhat unfortunate appearance. The Spider also got a rubber rear spoiler. That’s “our” car in the middle below, beneath a chrome-bumper MGB and an SL Mercedes. The owner likes sporty European convertibles!
Did you know there was a Graduate model? It was a budget version of the Spider, mechanically identical, but with roll-up windows, steel wheels, vinyl (instead of leather) seats, and top. Air and the radio were options. The high point of Spider sales was 1986, with more than 7,200 sold, but in 1983 the company moved a healthy 5,365. Production ended in 1993, with 1,956 sales.
They say to buy the best example of a classic you can find, and that might be this example. If you want a Spider, this one—with 70,000 miles on the clock—has had all the hard work done. It’s difficult to spot any significant flaws in the photos, which lack an engine shot. But the price is kind of high. Hagerty puts a 1983 Spider Veloce in good condition at $9,800. This one is better than “good,” though how much better? One feels for the vendor, who just wants to get some of his invested money back.
One of the best driving cars ever built. With the bugs out of it this one might be worth the extra money.