Vehicle Description
You either understand Alfa-Romeos or you don't. Cars like this 1984
Spider Veloce 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. Every manufacturer
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
Veloce, which endured for decades virtually unchanged, shows off a
lot of flair in a compact package. The code 103 Ivory paint is in
very good condition with only a few signs of use, which is fitting
on a car that's designed to be the ultimate dance partner. 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 rear bumper,
and, of course, that Alfa grille standing proud up front, neatly
integrated into the bumper assembly.
The special Italian touch extends to the interior, where even this
bargain-priced roadster gets two-tone buckets that wear newer seat
covers. A wood-rimmed wheel adds to the interior's ambience, and
while it looks pretty weird, that 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 in a car like
this, although the A/C seems to need a recharge. There's also a
newer AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit that was installed many years
ago and probably due for an upgrade today. The trunk is actually
well-shaped and spacious enough to hold luggage for two, and a
black canvas convertible top fits neatly, even over the roll bar
installed behind the seats.
The rorty 2-liter 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.
Aluminum cam covers are a traditional Alfa look, and the fuel
injection system has that instant throttle response that makes
these cars such a joy to drive. And contrary to what you may have
heard, these tough little Italian sports cars are actually reliable
and sturdy, perfect for having fun without the worries. The 5-speed
manual gearbox snicks through the gears thanks to a new clutch and
the suspension has a great combination of control and supple body
movements, so the car is all-day comfortable. Four-wheel discs live
behind stylish 5-spoke alloys carrying 195/65/14 blackwall
radials.
Fun and stylish, this bargain-priced exotic is a great entry-level
Italian. Sure, it needs a little TLC, but for this price, you get a
genuine Alfa Romeo that gives you a real taste of pure sports car
magic. Call today!