Alfa Romeo Spider Car of the Week

While the first factory Alfa Spider joined the model line-up in 1966, the Spider body type goes back to the mid-1920s.

Originally a designation of a light two seat sports car, the first Alfa Spiders were based on 6C and 8C models with body work by Carrozzeria Touring.

Many Alfas by them of this style followed and they are highly desirable classics on the collectors market. Those with a joint race history with the Scuderia Ferrari, (the Factory Race Team through to the late thirties) are also extremely valuable.

The first factory Alfa Spider was launched at the 1966 Geneva Show. It was based on the Guilia 105 chassis.

The body was both styled and built by Pininfarina and was the last project Battista Pinin-Farina had personal involvement with. The body design and construction was quite advanced with crumple zones incorporated front and rear. 

The name Duetto was eventually given to the car after a public naming competition was held. This was not the only significant marketing coup for the Spider however it was also an early product placement in a big box office movie when Dustin Hoffman drove it in The Graduate.

Production of this basic body style continued through until 1993, evolving through four significant updates from the Duetto round tail through to the big plastic bumpered final version for the US market.

The second generation body design of the GTV period 1995-2006 saw the introduction of what can only be described as a controversial styling -- some would say the ugliest car ever produced from a Pininfarina design. The front-wheel drive layout did not lend itself to the sporting nature of the previous generation.

The current production Spider launched at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show -- where is it was well received and praised as the Cabrio of the Year -- marked a return to classic style.

While the V6 has been criticised as not being a true Alfa, as it utilises a Holden-sourced engine, the performance is definitely in a league of the best of the Spiders.

The engine features a thorough make-over by  Alfa, including completely new heads.

The Spider name has also be used on the current Alfa limited production supercar, the 8C.

For images of examples from the original 1920’s cars by Touring  through to the new 8C, explore our gallery at right.

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