Spider, Veloce, Quadrifuglio?

[Cairorex]

I am a car guy. I have always wanted an Alfa Spider.

Can someone help me with the differences? I prefer the cars with chrome accents and not all the plastic facia stuff. So what I think I am looking for is a 70's or 80's car.

Can I get a spider 101 course?

Any help to a newbie is appreciated!

you might want to pick up a copy of Joe Benson"s Alfa Romeo Buyer's Guide. It will expain the differences between the various 105-115 models, the 66-69 duettos and Kammn tails up to 74 have stainless bumpers both ends, the 75-82 have black bumpers, and later models have body colored bumpers with accents to 91 and no accents 91-94, the duettos have no plastic in the interior, and the later models have more plastic and padding with each redesign. that's a very quick description, the book is much more detail and illustrated. It also describes the 101 spiders which are the cobra-esque bodies built from 54 - 65

[bill_bain]

In 115 Spiders, "Veloce" and "Quadrifoglio" were simply different trim levels (alloy wheels vs. steel, cloth top vs. vinyl). The "Quad" (with special interior trim and a matching hardtop) was only available in the Series 3 (black "ducktail") version. I don't think the pre-'75 cars were offered in a "Veloce" version.

in 101 Spiders, the "Veloce" had a "hotted up" engine with twin Webers instead of a single Solex carb. Not sure if the Veloce also had different cams.

[Roadtrip]

If you like the brightwork, go for a Spider up through 1974. In 1975 the Feds started requiring the 5mph bumpers.

Actually the brightwork on those cars isn't chrome, it's polished stainless steel.

If you don't like the plastic add-ons, you don't want a Quadrafoglio.

My 2 cents:

66-67 Duettos - Great looking. Good luck finding one in decent shape. Expect to pay a premium.

69 Spider 1750cc - 1750 engine is very sweet. First year of SPICA fuel injection and last year of the rounded-tail. Old style flat instrument panel.
71 Spider 1750cc - First year of square tail style. New interior.
72-74 Spider 2000cc - More power and torque. Body and interior unchanged.
75-79 Spider 2000cc - "Rubber bumpers" some minor changes to interior. Added emissions equipment, air pumps, EGR, etc.
80-81 Spider 2000cc - Intake system changed to single butterfly. These years are the bastard children of the Spider family due to the unique intakes. Lots of emissions crap added on. End of line for mechanical fuel injection.
82 Spider - Changed to Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection

[Cairorex]

I appreciate the input.

[Cairorex]

Have found severla spiders for sale.
Most out there are 86 through 89... Then some of the 90's with all the fascia stuff which I don't care for.

What is the difference between the spiders in these years?
Graduate, Veloce?

Yes I will get the book recomended!

[John M]

Several pictues must be worth several 1000 words.......

Dan Walker's very pretty Duetto with later Daytona style wheels. This body shape ran from 66-69. 1600 and 1750 motors. Probably the most collectable of the early years. What Dustin Hoffman drove in the "Graduate"



Kcabpilot's very pretty 1972 Spider with early cromodora daytona style wheels. This kamm tail body shape ran the same from 1971 through 1982 with changes around the bumpers. 71-72 had bumperette free stainless bumpers. Notice the nice smoothness of the bumper rubbers. 73-74 got big bumperettes on those rubbers. These are Spica injected cars. Many have been converted to twin carbs over time more for lack of knowledge with the Spica system rather than any problem with reliability. Rubber mats in the interior. Dual dash pods that housed the tach and speedo.



JClark's very pretty 82 Spider with later Daytona style wheels. These are the fed reg bumpers. But these cars can be converted to the earlier style stainless bumpers. The 75-78 fed reg bumper cars are basically the same interior wise to the earlier 74. They did get carpet around 77. Basically same dash and console. 79-81 seats and door panels got changed. And continued to get smog laden. 82 saw a mid year transition to the bosch Ljet injection. So some 82s with spica out there too.


Chuck King's very pretty 86 Graduate with after market wheels. This body style ran from 83 through 90. The clean design is shared by the Graduate, Spider, and Spider Veloce. All trim levels. Same mechanically...different wheels and interior and accessories. These are the series 3 bosch Ljets. 83-85 shared the same dual pod dash of the 70s...but now with color. These had a foam spoiler across the back. 86-90 got the monopod dash and a plastic spoiler across the back. 1990 had a series 3 body with the series 4 motronic controlled ignition/injection.


Martin's (AlfaRomeo1750) very pretty 87 Quadrifoglio Spider with phonedial wheels. Just its back side. Martin has the removeable pininfarina hardtop installed.


Pgcooldad's side and front shot of his 88 Quadrifoglio Spider. I believe the Quad trim package was available from 86-90.



My own 92 Spider Veloce with polished phonedial wheels. 91-94 got this body style, Spider or Spider Veloce trim levels, and the only ones with power steering. 94s also saw 190 CE commemorative edition with special badging and some wood trim in the interior. Motronic ignition/injection 4.1 control.


And its companion..78 with bumper conversion.


Buy the best you can afford...you'll save money in the long haul. Be sure to post some pictures up as soon as you get her. My best advice is to get a series 2 and a series 4. .....or better yet....one from each of the series.

Best Regards,
John M

[Cairorex]

That is exactly what I needed. I have already ordered the book by Joe Benson.

I do think a nice mid eighties car will work for me. Seems they have a good injection system and I should be able to find one out there resonably.

Most of my history has been with Stuttgart.... But I think a spider is what I need to be off the beaten track! I just want it to bomb around town here in the central valley of California. I will never drive it without the top down Strictly a pleasure vehicle.
Thanks ,
Again!
Al

[AlfaPunK]

Hi everyone im a new user to this site i have an 84 alfa romeo spider i just started driving and the car isnt running i live on long island and i dont no where there is a mechanic shop anywhere around here if anyone knows anything please contact me at ercj14@aol.com is would me so helpful if anyone could send me info thank you

[chasking]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cairorex Have found severla spiders for sale. Most out there are 86 through 89... What is the difference between the spiders in these years?

[bill_bain]

One note to the above -- in the US, certain model year only had the Veloce avalable ('83 for sure, not sure about '84), and leather seats were an option for the standard Spider.

Also, A/C was a factory option after '82. Apparently there are very few Graduates with A/C. The Series 4 Spiders all had power steering and were also available with an automatic transmssion. A lot of the Series 4 Spiders in eBay are automatics, for some reason.

Just to be a bit of a contrarian -- the Series 3 Spiders are good values right now since they are slightly less attractive than the earler or later Series, BUT they are also easy to find parts for since they were the largest sellers (at least in the US), and the L-Jetronic system was widely used in European cars of the period. Having said that, I do think the Series 4 Spiders are more attractively styled, but as was said earlier, condition matters most. Pat Braden's "Alfa Owner's Bible" has a check list and rating system for Spider purchasers. It's a bit dated, but a very good place to start.

[alfa63]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill_bain Also, A/C was a factory option after '82. Apparently there are very few Graduates with A/C.

[bill_bain]

The A/C in my '83 is currently inoperative, but when it worked, even with a R134a conversion, it made summer driving in Hot'lanta tolerable when it was/is simply too hot to drive wit the top down nad the sun beating down. Fortunately, the Spider cabin is small and doesn't have that much glass, figuratively speaking.

If the A/C isn't cold (around 40-45 degrees with R-12), you might try having it recharged, even though R-12 is expensive. With R-134a, the best I could get was 20 degrees cooler than ambient. Not great, but better than nothing!

[Griff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John M Several pictues must be worth several 1000 words....... John M

[John M]

Thanks Griff.

Best Regards,
John M