Why the Alfa Romeo Spider’s Popularity and Panache Are Timeless

Certainly one of the most memorable films of its era, The Graduate is as good today as when it was released in 1967. The only lovable character in the movie, though, wasn’t a person at all, but an Alfa Romeo Spider, and that car, like the film, remains an undisputed classic.

The little Alfa achieved overnight stardom when the protagonist, relationship-challenged Benjamin Braddock, drives it to interrupt his true love’s wedding and whisk her away. (Never mind the fact that it breaks down on the way and is abandoned.) Regardless, “happily ever after” is how a lot of owners feel about the Alfa Romeo Spider, which enjoyed a long production life—longer than many marriages—from 1966 to 1994.

Born from Alfa’s Pininfarina-designed Giulia Spider, the model relies mostly on the former’s mechanicals and features the tried-and-true inline-four, DOHC engine. The power plant’s displacement ranged from 1.3 liters to 2.0 liters through the production run. The shape is something special, derived from a 1956 Alfa Romeo show car, the S3000 CM Superflow by Pininfarina’s Aldo Brovarone (author of Ferrari’s Dino 206) and Battista Pininfarina himself. If the moniker “Spider” seems prosaic, it’s thanks to an Italian court ruling that barred Alfa Romeo from using “Duetto” (for its two-person capacity), a name already appropriated by an Italian chocolate snack. But Duetto it is to the marque’s cognoscenti.  

When it comes to choosing, there is no wrong Alfa Romeo Spider. The decision is mostly informed by design preference and one’s affection for the original concept. Spanning 28 years, the four generations of the model are unofficially identified as Series 1 through 4. The car shown here, which sold through RM Sotheby’s last year, is an example of the round-tail original Series 1—the iteration that co-starred in The Graduate. Made from 1966 to 1969, it was launched at the Geneva Motor Show with a 1.6-liter engine which grew to 1.8 liters during the run. The 1750 Spider Veloce (more like 1.8 liters) makes about 116 hp, and with its five-speed manual gearbox, held its own with any four-cylinder competitor. Of course, enthusiasts will insist there is no competition for Alfa’s sweet, rev-happy aluminum DOHC engine.

Series 2 spans 1970 to 1982, identified by its Kamm-tail rear end, an abrupt but elegant design. In 1971, its engine displacement grew to 2.0 liters, with output increasing to 132 hp. In 1974, the Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Veloce received some unfortunate rubber impact bumpers, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Series 3 cars, made from 1983 through 1990, have a more aesthetic bumper treatment, as well as a soft-rubber spoiler to the rear decklid. Spoilers were all the rage at the time, and the Quadrifoglio version, introduced in 1986, was offered with a snazzy detachable hardtop, and also featured a revised and updated interior.

With a nod to the model’s cinematic moment, Alfa Romeo offered the Graduate in North America from 1985 through 1990—a less expensive variant equipped with steel wheels and a top and interior made of vinyl. Series 4, the most luxurious iteration, was made from 1990 through 1993, and features tastefully integrated front and rear bumpers, Bosch Motronic electronic fuel injection, and even an automatic transmission.

The joy of driving an Alfa Romeo Spider is a rare treat. Featherweight and flickable, it engages its driver without a dare, as if to say, “let’s enjoy this drive together and not try and prove who’s boss,” as one might find with an early Porsche 911. Really, Alfa got it spot-on with the Spider. Few models look as good, feel as right, and offer such an ideal point of entry when it comes to owning a classic sports car.

Series 1 examples are the most collectible, but don’t discount those from the last of the series, which promise to appreciate with time and look fantastic today. Including every iteration, a total of close to 125,000 examples of the Alfa Romeo Spider were made, which is hard to believe, as seeing one on the road today is a sight almost as rare and delightful as the car itself.

As with any automobile of the era, beware of rust, and buy the best car you can afford of your preferred series. Round-tail cars range from about $50,000 for one in excellent condition, to about $100,000 for a concours-quality example. Series 2 and Series 4 cars command about half as much, respectively, and the Series 3 offers a delightful entry into the Spider’s web, with prices ranging from $15,000 to $25,000. That’s a lot of Italian flavor for relatively little dough.

Click below for more photos of this 1966 Alfa Romeo 1600 “Duetto” Spider.