Back in 1967, a young man called Benjamin Braddock fell in love. The object of his desires was Mrs Robinson, his father’s friend’s stunningly beautiful wife. Brilliantly portrayed in the film The Graduate by a young Dustin Hoffman, the protagonist also had a love affair with another gorgeous model – a 1967 Alfa Romeo Spider.

Looking at this one, it’s easy to see why. It’s vintage and beautiful, just like Mrs Robinson herself.

An early version of the Spider, originally known as the Duetto Spider, it’s a seminal example of a car that went on to have a 27-year production run. To put that into context, that’s almost a decade longer than the MGB, such was the brilliance of its design and the pleasure to be found in driving it.

Later in life, the Spider gained a few facelifts and its rear end was nowhere near as attractive, but it’s beauty was still very much evident. We’ll stop drawing comparisons with Mrs Robinson there, as that would be cruel and unfair, but it’s fair to say that the early examples are the absolute purest of the breed and are significantly more collectible as a result.

This one won’t disappoint. Until this year, it lived in the sunny and arid climate of South Africa’s Cape Province, meaning the notoriously fragile bodywork has held up well. It also has a 1750cc version of Alfa’s famously responsive twin cam engine, meaning it goes as well as it looks, with larger radial tyres to give it better grip.

Its stunning to look at and intoxicating to drive – as we were lucky enough to find out – and it’ll be handed over to its new owner fully UK registered and with a fresh MOT issued November 2024. Whoever buys it will be a very lucky person indeed – with something sensational to look forward to when the grey days of winter give way to the first blooms of spring.

There are two things that really stand out with South African imports. The first is that they’re right-hand-drive, and that means that they will appeal to UK enthusiasts more than cars imported from the USA or Europe. The second is that the warm and sunny climate is kind to metalwork, so if you’re buying an Italian car there’s far less scope for corrosion.
 
Alas, the strong sun can take its toll on the paint finish, so it’s no surprise to learn that the Alfa has been painted at some point. The vendor has also had the underneath wax coated to protect it from the less forgiving UK climate, should it end up with a British buyer. The paint still looks great but there are a couple of minor blemishes including some micro-blisters on the front panel ahead of the bonnet, a small chip behind the Alfa Romeo shield on the car’s nose and some imperfections under the paint in the same area, plus a chip on the boot lid, but these are all minor and easy to rectify – in all other respects it looks marvellous.

The roof is in good order and inside the black seats are good, though there’s some wear to the carpets and the plastic on the dials is sun-faded, so they’re a little cloudy.

Overall, though, it’s a really lovely car – and an achingly pretty one.

Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 1750cc example of Alfa’s rorty twin cam engine, which starts on the button and sounds fabulous – raucous, but free-revving and a delight to tune into.

We were able to drive the car a short distance for the photos and can confirm that it drives well – responsive, fast and agile, with the major controls working as they ought to. It holds a steady temperature and idles smoothly, while the five-speed gearbox is light, precise and feels superb for a 57-year-old car.
 

BEFORE YOU BUY 

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following: 

✓ The seller of this vehicle is registered as a business seller. And you are covered by Car & Classic’s Terms and Conditions. 

✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted. Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates. 

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind. 

✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing. 

✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence. 

✓ We also  check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and  it's always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer. 

✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection 

or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it's worth checking beforehand.