Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1988 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce.
Let me start off by stating that I have owned five different Alfa Spiders over the years, so I have a bit of experience with these cars. An Alfa Romeo Spider is one of the best values for a true classic Italian sports car, offering stunning styling by Pininfarina, a legendary Italian drivetrain, and fun to drive. They do require regular service and more care than a Honda, but if you take care of an Alfa it is likely to take care of you.
The issue than many classic Alfas have today is that they have suffered decades of deferred or, sometimes worse, sub standard service. This means that a lot of the Alfa Romeo Spiders on the market are in need of a lot of work due to people treating them like a Honda, which they are not.
Happily, this Alfa Spider featured in this AutoHunter Spotlight looks and sounds like a car that has been well cared for and is in ready-to-drive condition.
The seller describes this 1988 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce as having covered a total of 72,350 miles since new and is powered by a Bosch fuel-injected 2.0-liter I4 mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It went through an exterior, interior, and mechanical restoration in 2018 and comes equipped with a rear spoiler, Cromodora wheels, power windows, and four-wheel power disc brakes. Finished in Alfa Red with a black cloth retractable top over a tan leather interior, this Series 3 Spider is now offered with owner’s booklets, more than $14,000 in service records, a CARFAX report, and a clear title.
The exterior of this Alfa Spider was repainted in its correct color of Alfa Red (code 530) and has a new black soft top, both of which were done in 2018 during the restoration process. Features include a front air dam, black and chrome bumpers, black and body-color mirror housings, a rear spoiler, and a single exhaust outlet. Service records also state that the rear side markers, rear spoiler, and rear lights were replaced in 2018.
Along with the exterior work described above the interior of this Alfa was attended to during the 2018 restoration. The drivers seats were recovered in correct tan leather along with new carpeting. Interior features include power windows, R-134a-compatible air conditioning, an AM/FM/cassette radio, and black and red floor mats. The seller adds that the turn signal switch was replaced in March 2024 and the driver-side power window is slow to operate.
Under the hood is the car’s original all aluminum 2.0-liter DOHC I4 is with its stock Bosch electronic fuel injection system. When new it was factory rated at 115 horsepower and 119 lb-ft of torque. The combination of the Alfa Romeo 2-liter twin cam engine with Bosch fuel injection makes this Alfa engine setup one of the most reliable versions of these cars. Service work in March 2024 included an oil change and an R-134a air conditioning refrigerant conversion. In 2023 the engine received an injector cleaning and the replacement of the fuel pump. In 2018 records show that the clutch, alternator, water pump, hoses, and belts were all replaced. It is important to note that every single bit of the work is documented and backed up by receipts. This sounds like it was a car that was serviced as it was supposed to be, which should make it a reliable example of these fun cars.
This is a car you buy when you want to know just how good a car the Alfa Spider is. I see nothing that makes me think that this is not an example that will deliver thousands of miles of amazing driving experiences. Yes, you will need to keep up with things as it is still a 36-year-old Italian car and these cars need regular care. If you do this an Alfa Romeo Spider like this will be the very definition of Italian sports car fun.
Sure you can buy a Miata, but no Miata will ever have the soul of an Alfa Spider.
The auction for this 1988 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce ends Friday, April 19, 2024 at 11:15 a.m. (PDT)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery
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