A young “old timer” that has become increasingly attractive with the times

*This is a translation done by a machine.

10 years have passed since the production of the Type 939 spider was discontinued in 2010. After that, only the 4C spider was born, and there is no open sports car in the Alfa Romeo lineup. The 4C is a slightly special model in terms of its standing position, so you can say that the Alpha spider that ordinary people can ride on will be discontinued. There are about 11 years between the 2nd Generation Type 916 and the 3rd Generation Type 939, but as of the end of 2019, there is no sign or sign of "spider" in Alfa Romeo's business plan for investors. An open sports car that makes you feel Dolce Vita (= sweet life) in addition to the upper class and successful people, even though production was temporarily interrupted from the time of Giulietta Spider that appeared in 1955 Alfa Romeo was always produced. The current situation makes me feel lonely.

The model that comes to mind when you think of Alfa Romeo "spider" may vary from generation to generation, but for those of you older than a certain age, you might have been attracted at least once to the 1st generation that lived through evolution and change from 1993 to 1966.

The first-generation Alpha Spider can be divided into four major categories.

The first series 1 is from 1969 to 1966. In the movie 'graduation' starring Dustin Hoffman, this model is called "Duetto(or Round tail / Boat tail)" which made the existence of Alfa Romeo Spider known to the world. There are still many proponents of the rounded design, which gently descends from the rear of the cockpit towards the rear end.

Series 2 is a model called "coda tronca (or Kamm tail)" from 1970 to 1983. It has a coda tronca shape with a rounded tail cut off in a straight line, and the front window is tilted, and the edge of the side window is narrowed down to the upper side. The impression when viewed from the side and rear has changed greatly.

Series 3 is a model called "Aerodinamica (or Duck tail)" from 1983 to 1990. The front and rear bumpers have become large impact absorbers, and urethane rear spoilers are provided. It depends on the year and grade, but some models had aero parts such as air dam style front apron and side skirt.

And finally, Series 4 is the "Ultima (or Last)" from 1990 to 1993. The smooth design of the nose and tail gives a modern impression, and modernization is being promoted such as the injection of engines, the addition of standard power steering equipment, and the addition of 3-speed AT.

This time, I will introduce Aerodinamica of Series 3. The style of the duet era, which Battista Pininfarina is said to have done at the end, is quite different from that of the Duetto era, and some fundamentalist Alfista ridicule it as "heavy makeup". However, during the period of the Series 3, there was a boom in imported cars that began to rise in the wake of the bubble economy, and Alfa Romeo, which until then had been indulged only by enthusiasts, was also caught in the spotlight. Many people say this is the first time they've seen a spider, and some say it's "I like this style the best, although the beauty is inferior to the Duetto.".

Italy has 2 types, 2 liters and 1.6 liters, but most of them brought to Japan were 2 liters. Because the import had changed many times and the market was not stable, and there were many cars imported in parallel, both twin carburetor specifications for Europe and injection specifications for North America were mixed in the Japanese market. Both cars run briskly, but there are differences such as carburetor specification like Alpha in the era when throttle response was excellent, or injection specification which is also excellent in drivability, which can be said to be a matter of preference.

The classic, slender and beautiful styling, the ease of use and speed that the flexible torque characteristics support, the handling that is far superior to what you can imagine from the look, and the taste of the 1960s and 1970s still remain just the right balance that only the Series 3 can offer. It's been overshadowed by the enduring popularity of Series 1 and Series 2, and by Series 4, which is modern and easy to handle, but more and more people seem to be rethinking it, and in recent years the market has been slowly rising.


Tomoyuki Shimada's Highlights!

This car is a 1987 carburetor model, and it was produced from the middle to the latter half of the series 3. As you can see, it's full normal. The meter is over 83000 km, and it stopped running just recently, but it only ran about 5000 km in the 5 years since the current owner came.

The good thing about this car is that the basic parts are in good condition. Of course, in addition to the fact that the integrating meter stopped earlier, there are some minor negative points such as scratches on the front bumper, light damage on the right side sill, scratches on the wheel other than the rear right side, cracks on the left and right tail lamps due to aging, and one crack on the dashboard. But they're not hard to improve, and they're all inconspicuous.

It's worth noting that the car has only been running for 100 kilometers since it was replaced with a rebuilt engine in June 2019, the battery has been replaced with a new one at the same time, the cell motor has been replaced 3 years ago, the hood has been replaced with a brand new one 4 years ago, the Continental tires have been replaced about 2 years ago and the tire tread remains at least 90%, and so on. Especially, the engine system was in excellent condition, the basic condition of the body was very good, the leather seat was not scratched, the interior was in good condition overall, and there was nothing wrong with the balance of the car, so it was very good.

Utilizing the goodness of this car that can still run, you can enjoy the spider's unique sophisticated ride and the exquisite balance of classic alpha, or finish by refining it by putting your hands in detail Whether to prepare for the ever-increasing value of “Classic Alfa Romeo” depends on the next owner. I think it is a car that can handle both.

I can't explain it well, but the Alfa Romeo Spider is a rare car that always makes you feel romantic. I'm sure this car will do a great job of creating your own "Dolce Vita".

Vehicle Specifications

Model Year1987
Year of PurchaseNov 1987
Engine Capacity1,962cc
Mileage
Transmission5MT
Steering WheelLeft
ColorRed
Chassis No.ZAR11538002491196
Engine No.
InspectionNovember 2020
AreaTokyo, Japan