Alfa Romeo Spider S3

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“It was through its Spiders that Alfa Romeo, and to a certain extent Italy itself, exported la dolce vita to the rest of the world. Styled exclusively by Pininfarina and powered by perhaps the finest in-line four-cylinder engine of the classic era, these were cars that made the exotic and sophisticated the province of the many rather than the few” – Martin Buckley, Classic & Sportscar, May 2014.

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 the model that was launched at the Geneva Salon in 1966: the Duetto. 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, from 1967 the Spider was also offered with a 1,750cc engine and from 1970 with a more torquey 134bhp 2-litre unit. “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.”

Dating from May 1990, this particular Spider S3 looks particularly appealing in black and has been the subject of much recent expenditure including a full repaint (apart from the bootlid) and an interior retrim with new black leather seat covers and new carpets. Five-spoke alloy wheels and a beautiful Nardi wood-rim steering wheel complete the sporting look.

The car has covered around 72,500 miles backed up by some 18 old MOT certificates and a large history file. Said to be in good rust-free condition throughout, it is also said to drive well and has been recently fully serviced. MOTd and taxed until August and supplied with two sets of keys, it is ready to drive away today and is sure to draw lots of admiring glances in the coming summer months.