Joined
·
12 Posts
eBay Motors: Alfa Romeo : Spider (item 220171113834 end time Nov-18-07 16:30:00 PST)
Perhaps I can shed some light here... The hard top was introduced as standard equipment for the top-of-the-line series 3 Quadrifoglio only. (Quads were introduced in 1986 and sold until 1990.) It was not an option for the series 3 Veloce, although the Alfa factory wired all Spiders from 1986 on with the connection for the hard top rear defogger. Hence, while not an official option, there was nothing preventing anyone form ordering the hard top and the console switches to make the rear defogger operational. The Quad springs are indeed taller than the Veloce (and Graduate) springs because of the hard top weight.It was listed as a Veloce, and it is a standard Spider ...
Previously, it has been noted that "OEM springs on a Quad are a little taller than those of the Veloce models" in the S3. Should there be a weight issue on the 91, if so would a dealer installed hardtop address the problem with different springs?
Just wading through the weeds to find the right spider.
Thanks
All series 4 cars came with a canvas top, and the Alfa brochures that list the options also indicate this. (I have double checked this against the 1991 and later Spider brochures, and I also remember this being the case.) I have heard people state that the regular Spider came with a vinyl top, but this is not the case. Alfa started using canvas exclusively in 1982, with the introduction of the "luxurious" Spider Veloce. Then they re-introduced the vinyl top for the "base model" Graduate only (1985). When the Spider line evolved to the series 4 cars, Alfa abandoned any "base" or "entry-level" edition, which had been significantly cheaper than the two higher end editions (Quad and Veloce). This made sense, as the series 4 Spiders were marketed as "luxury" cars, and they were not cheap by any means, and the higher end Spiders had been fitted with canvas for almost a decade by 1991...Enrique,
I thought the '91 Spider (non-Veloce) had a vinyl top, not canvas. Am I mistaken?
All series 4 cars came with a canvas top, and the Alfa brochures that list the options also indicate this. (I have double checked this against the 1991 and later Spider brochures, and I also remember this being the case.) I have heard people state that the regular Spider came with a vinyl top, but this is not the case. Alfa started using canvas exclusively in 1982, with the introduction of the "luxurious" Spider Veloce. Then they re-introduced the vinyl top for the "base model" Graduate, starting in 1985 and ending in 1990. When the Spider line evolved to the series 4 cars, Alfa abandoned any "base" or "entry-level" edition, which had been significantly cheaper than the two higher end editions (Quad and Veloce). This made sense, as the series 4 Spiders were marketed as "luxury" cars, and they were not cheap by any means, and the higher end Spiders had been fitted with canvas for almost a decade by 1991...
Best regards,
Hooligan,Enrique,
Thanks! You are a treasure trove of information. As long as I'm picking your brain, a/c was an option on '87 Spider Veloces, right?
Enrique,Hooligan,
Thanks for the your nice comment... I just happen to have been lucky enough to have grown-up with these cars, and when your a bit crazy about them, it's easy to keep up and save brochures.
Yes, A/C was an option on the '87 Veloce. I have to say however, that the vast majority of series 3b ('86 and forward) Veloces that I have seen have A/C. Also, I must emphasize that "options" on Alfa Spiders are a bit misleading. There really wasn't anything truly optional. You couldn't go to an Alfa dealer and order a car with the options that you wanted. Alfa would simply decide what they thought would be sought after in the U.S. market and would fit the cars according to their perception. So it was more like the options list was used to know what was going to be added to the base price of the car, as no buyer had a choice!
Best regards,
I don't believe that the switch itself is different in a '87 and say, a '84 Spider. The position of the switch is. In your car, the A/C switch is to the left of the clock, and both right below the stick shift opening. In the earlier cars, the switch is at the very end of the console (toward the back), next to the cigarette lighter...Enrique,
Totally understandable! I think my '87 is one of those few non-a/c Veloces, however. Because of the peculiar a/c switch (from a pre-86 car), I think it was added on at a later date. I'll hopefully talk to the original owner soon to confirm.
These are very minor but I've noticed two other differences:.
As far as the differences between a Spider and a Spider Veloce, there are only 5:
Other than that, they are identical, both interior-wise and mechanically.
- 14 in. x 6 steel wheels (with in 5-star wheels optional) vs. 15 in. x 6 in. phone dials
- Optional A/C vs. Standard A/C
- Vinyl seats with suede inserts vs. Leather seats with suede inserts
- Spider badge vs. Spider Veloce badge
- Plain trunk vs. one with Alfa emblem embossed in jack compartment door.
Sorry man, but that's incorrect. My '91 came with a vinyl top from the factory. Verified it with the original owner.All series 4 cars came with a canvas top, and the Alfa brochures that list the options also indicate this. (I have double checked this against the 1991 and later Spider brochures, and I also remember this being the case.) I have heard people state that the regular Spider came with a vinyl top, but this is not the case.
Close... the sun visor's courtesy mirror is only covered (and lighted) on Quadrifoglios. There is a mirror on Veloces and some years of Graduates (I think).These are very minor but I've noticed two other differences:
The passenger side sun visor has a covered courtesy mirror.
The steering wheel is leather wrapped.
I hear you and I don't know what to say except that when questions arise at a concours event about what is or isn't OEM, and the Alfa brochure states a material different from what is on the car, the owner of the car being judged who is making the claim is asked to produce documentation (such as the window sticker) in order to avoid an incorrectness deduction from the judge. In this case, the 1991 factory literature for Spider models indicates that the standard material of the top is canvas, for both the Spider and the Spider Veloce.Sorry man, but that's incorrect. My '91 came with a vinyl top from the factory. Verified it with the original owner.