Alfa Romeo Spider

Alfa Romeo has been producing pretty little roadsters endowed with the 'Spider' name since the launch of the Giulietta in 1955. The most famous is probably the model that was launched at the Geneva Salon in 1966: the Duetto. Beautifully styled by Pininfarina and overflowing with Italian brio, the car was a huge success from the outset but was immortalised by its starring role in ‘The Graduate’ in 1967, sharing the limelight with Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft.

The original 'boat-tail' design of the Duetto was dropped in the late sixties in favour of a more aerodynamically efficient Kamm tail which also greatly improved luggage space. The underpinnings were effectively the same as the superb Giulia saloon, so beloved of the Italian Carabinieri, comprising independent front suspension, coil-suspended live rear axle, servo-assisted disc brakes all round and the most communicative steering you could ever wish to experience.

Initially only available with a 1.6-litre double-overhead-cam four, it was later also offered with a 1,750cc or a 2-litre engine. “It is difficult to put into words the sheer charm of this open sports Alfa Romeo,” wrote Autocar’s John Bolster of the Spider in 1969. “It is the kind of car that even an experienced test driver will take out for the sheer fun of handling it… yet it is just as easy to drive as the most unexciting family hack.”

First registered in August 1989, this Series 3 Spider is fitted with the 103bhp 1.6-litre engine driving through a five-speed manual gearbox. Officially only available in left-hand drive, this is one of the cars that was converted to right-hand drive when new by the sole UK importer, Bell & Colvill. Now with some 153,500km on the clock (95,600 miles), it was treated to a full engine rebuild with four new pistons by marque specialists Intaservices of Leicester less than 9,500 miles ago. The gearbox was also rebuilt and a new clutch fitted at about the same time, while the brakes and suspension were overhauled in 2007. A new heater motor was also fitted last year.

Said to be in good running order throughout and to drive well, it has very good bodywork and is currently MOTd until May 2011 and taxed until October. These pretty little sportscars are wonderful to drive and this one appears to be in fine shape after much recent expenditure.