There aren’t many car manufacturers who hit the nail right on the head with every single one of their designs, but Alfa Romeo has a near-perfect track record. After all, the Italian firm is renowned as a brand for car enthusiasts rather than for the run-of-the-mill.
The 916 Spider came about in the early 1990s, with a need for Alfa to replace the ancient but still beautiful Spider sports car, which could trace its roots back to the original Duetto model of 1963 – one of the most enduring cars of all-time.
Its replacement was a brand-new direction for Alfa Romeo sports models – transverse-engined, front-wheel-drive and as angular as its predecessor was curvaceous.
It looked sensational, though. A wedge-shaped profile with a distinctive styling crease that ran the full length of the body gave it a purposeful appearance, while the delicate heart-shaped grille and beady headlights added a cheeky yet slightly mean-looking face. The rear lights, meanwhile, were part of a bigger styling feature, with a ribbon of red across the back of the car echoing the look of the iconic Alfa Romeo SZ.
Styled by Pininfarina’s Enrico Fulmia, the ‘Type 916’ was powered by either a four-pot ‘Twin Spark’ engine or Alfa’s legendary ‘Busso’ V6. It’s a beguiling and rewarding sports car to own and one that’s sure to be a sound investment for the future.
This one is a Twin Spark – featuring one of the most lively and characterful four-cylinder engines ever made, but then Alfa Romeo wouldn’t have had it any other way. And it’s Zoe Yellow – a fantastic and highly sought-after colour scheme for fans of the Spider and GTV. D0Uf5vg1hcQQHFrXrEzCeSifRF6DPbTyxgrp7JUN.jpg1.86 MB
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
First registered in July 1999 by renowned dealer Mangoletsi Alfa Romeo in Cheshire
MOT until April 2024
UK V5C
Several service and repair invoices
Some old MOTs
Genuine mileage
Last cambelt change at 83,212 miles
THE INTERIOR
Two-tone black and yellow leather seats
Seats in very good order with minor bolster wear
Electric hood – still in working order
Original spare wheel, wheel cover and tool kit
Good carpets and door cards
Sony CD-Radio stereo system with auxiliary input
Alloy-effect centre console with Alfa Romeo logo
Genuine ‘Spider’ dealer mats
Leather-rimmed sports steering wheel
Some wear to steering wheel and gear knob, commensurate with age
No signs of leaks or water ingress
THE EXTERIOR
Stunning Zoe Yellow pearlescent paint
No obvious dents or damage
Dealer fit 17-inch ‘teledial’ alloy wheels with minor kerb marks
Black mohair hood in fair condition, but showing some snags and pulls and discolouration
Sills and lower bodywork appear solid
New genuine rear screen fitted last week
All original badges and trim in good order
THE MECHANICS
2.0-litre 4cyl Twin Spark – two plugs per cylinder
Five-speed manual transmission
153bhp, 0-60mph in 8.3 secs, accompanied by gorgeous engine note
Cambelt replaced at 83,212 miles in 2016
New rear calliper, brake pads and CV joints
Genuine power flow performance exhaust
Drives very well with no known faults, according to the vendor
SUMMARY
Type 916 Alfa Romeos are really on the up at the moment as collectors catch on to their unique balance of sensational styling and driver appeal, while Zoe Yellow examples have been desirable things for quite some time.
Whilst not perfect, this one is still an extremely smart, seemingly solid and very well-presented example that’s mechanically spot-on and ready to use and enjoy over the summer. It’s a great-looking Spider, is wonderfully original and won’t require much to take it to the next level.
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