Vehicle Description
You either understand Alfa-Romeos or you don't. Cars like this 1976
Spider don't make a lot of sense to our rational minds, but slide
behind the wheel and it whispers seductively in fluent Italian and
suddenly you find yourself running it through the gears just for
the sheer joy of the sound and the feel of a machine acting as your
dance partner.
It also helps that it's good looking. Sportier than an MG and
undeniably Italian, this Alfa is the entry-level two-seater for the
guy who knows the real thing when he sees it. Everyone has built a
two-seat roadster, it seems, but few can do it better than the
Italians. It starts with great bodywork, and the Spider, which
endured for decades virtually unchanged, shows off a lot of flair
in a compact package. Panel fit is quite good given the era and the
hand-built nature of the car, and the shape works just fine without
the body add-ons that would come a few years later. Simple,
elegant, and extremely sporty, it shows off the little things that
the Italians do so well. Note the neat little flush-fitting door
handles, the exhaust pipe that's almost (but not quite!) centered
under the chrome rear bumper, and, of course, that Alfa grille
standing proud up front. The light yellow finish is a strong
driver-quality presentation that looks fantastic when its bombing
down the road, punctuated by the blacked-out, painted-on LeMans
style stripes that run down the center of the car. The '76 gumball
was painted on as well, giving this little roadster a little added
character, and eve with the American spec bumpers fore and aft this
Spider looks very trim.
The special Italian touch extends to the interior, where even this
bargain-priced roadster gets handsome black buckets that wear fresh
seat covers. An elegant wood-rimmed wheel adds to the interior's
ambience, and while it may look a little awkward at first, the
shifter is intuitive and easy to use without any strangeness at
all. Beautiful Jaeger instruments in a pair of hoods jutting out of
the dash show off the simplicity that has long been a hallmark of
Italian automotive design, with the secondary instruments slightly
canted towards the driver. The ventilation system is typical
Italian, with controls that are hard to decipher, but that's really
all part of the charm. The trunk is actually well-shaped and
spacious enough to hold luggage for two. Uniquely, this Alfa comes
with two top options, a vinyl covered hard top as well as a black
convertible top which in good shape and seals up tightly in case of
inclement weather.
The rorty 2.0-liter flat-four engine sings to life with gusto and
loves to rev, and with a glorious sound from the new muffler out
back, you'll be looking for reasons to drop a gear or two and pin
the throttle. Bright silver aluminum cam covers are a traditional
Alfa look, and the two Weber side-draft SU carburetors have instant
throttle response. Upgraded/maintained ignition parts and other
miscellaneous signs of work mean it's ready to enjoy immediately,
and the engine bay is really presented nicely. The 5-speed manual
gearbox snicks through the gears and the suspension has a great
combination of control and supple body movements, so the car is
all-day comfortable. Power four-wheel discs live behind stylish
alloys carrying 175/70/14 radials with plenty of tread left.
Fun and stylish, this bargain-priced exotic is a great entry-level
Italian. With plenty of parts, easy maintenance, and performance
that will always make you smile, this is an excellent choice for a
fair-weather toy. Call today!
