1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider in Amelia Island, Florida

Chassis No. AR170259

The Giulietta marked a decisive shift for Alfa Romeo. Before and immediately after the Second World War, the marque's reputation had been built on larger, luxurious performance cars; with the Giulietta, Alfa Romeo embraced a new philosophy centered on compact dimensions, light weight, and mechanical sophistication. First conceived as a special series, the Giulietta Sprint astonished early adopters with its speed, balance, and responsiveness. Demand built rapidly. Alfa Romeo rushed the Bertone-bodied Sprint into full production, followed by the practical Berlina sedan and, in 1955, the open Spider styled by Pinin Farina. Powered by the eager aluminum block 1,290 cc twin-cam engine, the Giulietta proved unexpectedly dominant-frequently matching or surpassing larger, more expensive automobiles on road and track alike.

As described in period Alfa Romeo literature, the Giulietta Spider was conceived as "the touring car for high-speed travel," its highly aerodynamic line and clean proportions showcasing the unmatched superiority of Italian design. Pinin Farina's body combined pure lines with ingenious function. The Giulietta Spider delivered performance, beauty, and versatility in equal measure-a true expression of Alfa Romeo's postwar renaissance.

Research indicates that a restoration of this Giulietta Spider was completed by the early-2010s which included fresh paint in red and an interior in black with red carpeting. Simple rubber floor mats, roll-up windows, and lap belts feature in the interior. The dashboard is set with a Blaupunkt radio and Veglia gauges framed by a two-spoke Giulietta Special steering wheel. The engine compartment houses a correct-type aluminum block 1,290-cc twin-cam, which falls in the serial number range as original to the chassis, topped with Weber side-draft carburetors.

With a 1,900-pound dry weight, independent suspension, and an aluminum twin-cam in the front, the Alfa Spider more than lived up to the La Gioia di Possedere "Thrill to Own" tagline from their marketing department. Today it is an exceptionally usable and engaging mid-century sporting car that offers endless vintage charm that rewards time spent on the open road.