Maybe it’s because of that cold, white, fluffy stuff falling from the sky as I write this? Or it could just be down to the news reporter in the background who is telling me that all Danish borders have just been closed entirely? More likely, it’s the combination which has me fleeing reality as I dream of a proper roadtrip in a classic roadster. More than ever, the desperation is taking over as I cling to the sensation of breaking free from all of this…
So I do the only thing I can right now – I trawl through the classifieds (again). Searching for that dream.
A few appropriate search criteria entered and I’ve soon got pages full of suitably old and suitably open cars currently offered for sale. Hmmm… Spitfires and Midgets galore and all at very reasonable asking prices. I’ve always quite liked them, but granted, they are both best suited to a blast down a local, twisty, backroad – with emphasis on local. As I require warmer temperatures, I equally require something with longer legs. So I continue my search for something a bit more capable in the Grand Touring department. A couple of early Golf convertibles pop up. Capable cars no doubt, but something based on a shopping trolley just doesn’t possess enough sex-appeal for this particular dream. Next up are a few 2CVs and ragtop Beetles. They’re certainly old enough. Iconic too. But I want to reach the Riviera before next winter, so perhaps a bit more oomph could come in handy for my journey. And then, there she is…!!
A proper 2-seater roadster and from a brand overflowing with Italian heritage and pizzazz. Add to that a Pininfarina design, rear-wheel drive and one of the worlds most legendary 4-cylinder twincam engines. Bingo! I just found the perfect set of wheels for my dreamy escape.
Now as we’re all for a bargain deal here at ViaRETRO, I’m not about to splash out on an early Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider “Boattail” – not even when it’s just a virtual reality. Something a little less coveted will have to suffice. So let me introduce you to the Series 3 Spider which entered production in 1983 – all of 17 years after the original Boattail Spider was first introduced. Admitted, the Series 3 is no doubt the least liked of the four different incarnations of the Spider, which in turn is also why this is where you’ll get most bang for you buck.
Admitted, go back a few years and I wasn’t particularly fond of the Series 3 Spider either. The clumsy rubber bumpers did nothing good for Master Pininfarina’s otherwise elegant lines, and that rubber spoiler added to the clean-cut Kamm tail of the Series 2 car was just too 80s. But the 80s are now further away than ever (suppose that’s kind of obvious, isn’t it…?) and the decade which taste and style forgot is somehow starting to appeal more and more. So back to that rubber rear spoiler again – is it just me or does it suddenly look strangely cool? It helps of course when you set the scene by wearing your black Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunnies. If you’re still not convinced, just remember that the Italians called the Series 3 the “Aerodinamica“. Say it again and stop to taste it this time. Delicious isn’t it?
And more importantly right now, it’s quite amazing just how much you get for your hard earned cash when you opt for the eighties Spider. It was this 1983 car which caught my eye – probably largely because it wasn’t just another resale-red Alfa Romeo. Now I know that’s THE Italian sportscar colour of choice, but it’s also somewhat unimaginative in my opinion. The light blue metallic of this example makes it a much more stylish and interesting car – at least to my eyes.
Both judging from the description and not least the pictures, this is a very clean, well-maintained and unmolested 2-litre Spider. Just what we need for that transcontinental blast to the south coast. There’s a set of rare, after-market Zender alloy wheels under the arches which would have been regarded as hugely cool back in the day. Now had I been aiming for purity, I would have insisted on the early Boattail anyway; so instead I embrace these period-correct alloys to maximise on that 80s vibe. Besides the alloys, the Spider appears to be entirely original. The dealer in the very southwestern corner of Germany claims the Alfa Romeo has only covered a mere 79,000 km (or 49,000 miles) in its 38 year life and that there’s service history to document it. The interior certainly backs up the low mileage too as it’s nothing short of flawless. There’s been recent work to the head and the transmission while the clutch, tyres and fabric drop-top are new. Enjoy the pictures which we’ve borrowed from the advert…
And this is where it gets really interesting, because all of this can be yours for Euro 15,900 which currently equates to approx. £ 14,300. I’ll argue that if you were after a Boattail Spider – which is of course largely the same car – you would have to pay at least three times as much if you wanted a car in this condition. Food for thought…
As always – even with a car which appears to be this good – we still advise a very thorough pre-purchase inspection. Should you want (or perhaps even, NEED…) to dream along with me, here’s a link to the advert: 1983 Alfa Romeo 2,0 Spider
With our Saturday instalment of Prime Find of the Week, we’re offering our services to the classic car community, by passing on our favourite classic car for sale from the week that passed. This top-tip might help a first-time-buyer to own his first classic, or it could even be the perfect motivation for a multiple-classic-car-owner to expand his garage with something different. We’ll let us be inspired by anything from a cheap project to a stunning concours exotic, and hope that you will do the same.
Just remember – Any Classic is Better than No Classic! We obviously invite our readers to help prospective buyers with your views and maybe even experiences of any given model we feature. Further to that, if you stumble across a classic which you feel we ought to feature as Prime Find of the Week, then please send us a link to primefindoftheweek@viaretro.co.uk