Vehicle Description
1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder Veloce
• VIN 149504709
• Engine No. AR131531683
• Completed on September 25, 1958
• One of 2,796 Spyder Veloces produced from 1955 to 1962
Hoffman Motor Car Company in New York originally delivered this
very desirable first series short wheelbase Spyder Veloce. Finished
in Red over Black leatherette upholstery. Immaculate condition
throughout with the paintwork in beautiful condition with perfect
gaps and panel fit. The upholstery features black leatherette seats
with red piping, red Italian wool carpets, a P275RA fire
extinguisher, and black Alfa floor mats. A beautifully refinished
two-spoke Giulietta steering wheel is paired with Veglia
instrumentation and a Pininfarina radio-block-off plate.
The earliest known history begins in January of 1992 when this Alfa
was comprehensively restored over a 10-month period by Ashcraft
Restorations on behalf of Mr. Weatherford. The results of the
restoration led Mr. Weatherford to win at the Palm Spring Concours
d' Elegance on November 22, 1992. In 1994, the Spyder was purchased
by Mr. Birkheimer and through the efforts of Conrad Stevenson and
Phil Reilly & Company Auto Restoration, the Spyder was fine-tuned
and sorted over the next decade.
On October 5, 2006, the vehicle was purchased by its previous
longtime owner of over 16 years where the Alfa lived in Northern
California. As an avid collector who likes to keep his cars fresh,
he spent the next decade improving various components of the
vehicle to further enhance the aesthetic and mechanical qualities
of his Alfa. On November 13, 2006, at 60,996 miles, The Pit Stop
Automotive was commissioned to perform the following; rebuild the
transmission, replace the rear main seal, replace the clutch,
replace the exhaust mounts, rebuild the generator, rebuild the
brake master cylinder and bleed and adjust the brakes: this totaled
$8,803.87. Over the following years, the same facility restored the
convertible top frame, installed a new canvas top and straps,
restored the gauges, and refurbished all four wheels.
On June 1, 2008, at 63,001 miles, The Pit Stop Automotive was
commissioned to remove the original engine and install a
performance engine at a cost of $15,310.56. On March 23, 2020, the
following was completed; overhauling the front suspension,
replacing the front and rear shock absorbers, overhauling the
complete brake system, replacing the front and rear wheel
cylinders, replacing the brake master cylinder, rebuilding the
steering box, replacing the front wheel bearings and seals, tuning
the engine with new spark plugs and installing four (4) new
Continental Conti Pro Contact 175 65 HR15 tires; this totaled over
$7,000.
Mechanically powered by a performance engine that runs phenomenally
paired to a manual 4-speed transmission and four-wheel drum braking
system. The original engine is also included in the sale. Complete
with Giulietta instruction manual, tonneau cover, and 31 years of
service history. Eligible for many classic car rallies, this Spyder
is the final iteration of the early, first-series, Spyders' and
remains one of the most iconic sports cars ever produced. This fine
example deserves serious consideration and would be a great
addition to any collector's stable.
History
By the 1950s, Alfa Romeo had an enviable reputation as a
manufacturer of incredibly successful racing cars and stunning road
cars. This reputation was developed over successive decades and
resulted in wins in the most iconic road races, including the Mille
Miglia and Targa Florio. Alfa Romeo could also boast that the
world's best drivers, including Tazio Nuvolari, Giuseppe "Nino"
Farina, and Juan Manuel Fangio, had won races in its cars.
It was with this backdrop that Alfa Romeo set the standard for
meeting the high expectations of its customers. With each of its
models very well received, the real stand-outs throughout its
history were its glamorous convertibles, including the 6C 250 SS
Spider.
In 1954, Alfa Romeo introduced the 1.3-liter Giulietta,
establishing its reputation for producing small cars with "big
performance", and this reputation has continued to this day with
the recently launched 4C. Such was the success of the Giulietta,
whose introduction caused a sensation, that Alfa was forced to
change its whole ethos and become, for the first time, a
high-volume manufacturer.
Berlina and spider versions quickly joined the original Giulietta
Sprint Coupe of 1954, and the spider benefitted from simple and
elegant coachwork designed and built by Pinin Farina. In 750 series
form, the Veloce Spider came with an up-rated engine that was
equipped with dual Weber carburetors and could produce a healthy 90
brake horsepower, which was 10 horsepower higher than the standard
engine. The Giulietta Veloce enjoys the honor of being the best
performing and most developed open variant of the 1300 line.
