Head to Head – Porsche 356 vs Alfa Romeo Spider

Along with gifting us some of the best music of the last century (or any century for that matter) the 1960s was also a wondrous time to be a car nut. For us at least, music and motoring go hand in hand, not head to head and the list of phenomenal bands and musicians from that most groovy of decades is a truly incredible one, with the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Who, Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles all creating outstanding, groundbreaking albums. But it wasn’t just about the rock and roll that struck a chord. The cars that these very musicians were cutting about in, and from which enthusiasts were blasting their trendsetting tunes, were also pretty bloody special.

Click on the 1960s link on Car & Classic and you’ll see exactly what we’re talking about. Go on, go and have a glance at the myriad models and come back, It’s OK, we’ll wait. From American Muscle cars to elegant British sportsters the ’60s truly was a fantastic era for the humble motor car. The energy crisis was yet to factor into proceedings and designers were unburdened by pesky focus groups and intrusive safety measures. It was a simpler time when individuality was still celebrated and it’s why we’ve chosen two ’60s heroes for our latest head to head battle.

Made famous by celebrity endorsers both the Porsche 356 and Alfa Romeo Spider have had some high profile owners. Whether it be James Dean racing around in his 356 or boxing legend Muhammad Ali (somehow) squeezing into his Spider they were both hugely popular cars, and not much has changed today. Still loved and revered by many these cars were popular for a reason, but which of our two beauties are you choosing?

The proof, as they say, is very much in the pudding and Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche really was a star baker when it came to his premier effort. Not only was Porsche’s first production car a hit on the streets but it also cleaned up on track, too. Introduced in 1948 it would be just be a few short years before the 356 would prove itself at Le Mans, coming top of its class in ’51, so inherent was its hoonability.

Rather revolutionary at the time, the car’s setup was an unusual one by ’40s standards. The decision to utilise an air-cooled, rear-mounted flat-four engine, however, proved to be a wining one. Porsche had created a lightweight, nimble little sports car that would lay the groundwork for the forthcoming 911.

The 356 would be continually developed and refined over its 17 year lifespan but these were all minor amendments in the grand scheme of things. The initial design language would essentially remain the same throughout the 356’s tenure, testament to how right Porsche got it from the very beginning.

Our German contender in today’s fracas then is this 1960 Porsche 356B. The B arrived in 1960 and was bestowed with numerous design tweaks as well as a few useful mechanical upgrades whilst still retaining the excellent driving characteristics of its predecessor. This example has been further fettled, however and those in the know will no doubt recognise the “Outlaw” nomenclature from the listing.

Denoting a Porsche that’s been restomodded with a keen focus on performance the term has been widely embraced by the Porsche community and this car is a perfect representation of that particular ethos. Just take a look at the pictures and the list of tasteful modifications and you’ll understand exactly what we’re talking about. Imported from Florida in 2014 and fastidiously maintained what we have here is a rather special and unique 356B. The gloves are well and truly off!

One of the quintessential Italian roadsters the Duetto has definitely come to duel in this particular head to head. Beautifully penned at Pininfarina following a series of concept studies the Alfa Romeo Spider is a design masterpiece and the car looks just as good today as it did when it debuted at the Geneva Motor Show all the way back in 1966.

Much like the 356, the Spider is a lesson in sublime simplicity. Based upon the previous Giulia platform and retaining that car’s sweet twin-cam, in-line four engine, the “Duetto”, as it was known, wasn’t a particularly complicated car. Of unibody construction and with independent front and solid axle rear suspension the car was immediately recognised for its balance and composure on the road and the 110-ish bhp from that wonderful little 1.6-litre four-cylinder with twin Weber carbs was enough to excite all but the most apathetic of aficionados. A five-speed manual gearbox and disc brakes only added to the excitement and a legend was born.

In production for three decades the Spider would evolve from its initial, boat-tail incarnation through three distinct series, with the fourth and final manifestation appearing in 1990. Much like the Porsche these updates weren’t complete redesigns but they are a tad more pronounced than the 356’s tweaks with the most noticeable change being the adoption of a Kamm tail rear end in 1970. Larger engines were introduced, along with a three-speed automatic gearbox for the last gen cars but the Spider remained an achingly pretty car throughout its life.

The model we have available via our auctions platform is a 1967 Series 1 – arguably the best and certainly the purest of the bunch. A wonderfully original former concours winner this stunning example was subject to a full restoration in Johannesburg before arriving rust-free in the UK. And yes, that is a red Spider Duetto that Dustin Hoffman drives in The Graduate. OK, it’s a ’66 but who’s gonna argue? Actually, scratch that…