The Alfa Romeo Spider is part of a motoring dynasty that has long been coveted as one of the most admired drop-head sports cars to ever have come out of Italy. The vivacious curves styling by Pininfarina, along with the vibrant twin-cam engine, perfectly capture the joy of owning a car so rich in motoring heritage. 

This 1977 Series 2, is a direct descendant of the 1966 original and is powered by the final evolution of the classic twin-cam engine mated to twin-choke Dell'Orto DHLA 40s. Fitted with two small rear seats, it is characterised by its Kamm tail and raked windscreen, it offered the public a cost-effective and highly entertaining alternative to the traditional British open-top sports car. 

Originally registered in London as an RHD UK import, the car comes with invoices stretching back five decades, with the current mileage reading of just 68,406 miles is believed to be genuine. The car has only travelled 1,500 miles since its sympathetic profession restoration 8 years ago, with a large body of subsequent invoices since then. A unique chance to acquire a meticulously maintained Series 2 model, it comes with a variety of elegant cosmetic upgrades. 

Attracted to the car's original UK status and its quality restoration, he bought the car unseen from a Norfolk-based enthusiast who had relocated to the Isle of Mull, where its lack of use had forced its sale. The car has spent the last 30 years under the hands of just 3 Alfa Romeo aficionados, as is frequently the case with many older Spiders. In 2006 the car was placed in storage until it was given a sympathetic restoration by Norfolk Classic and Sports cars in 2014 at a cost of around £7,000. 

They retained as much of the original bodywork as possible, with the current owner stating that there are new rear side panels, floors, outer side sills, inner sills, cross member, rear inner arches, front valance, 4 x jacking points, door skins and a fuel tank, as well as other smaller parts. All were sourced from EB Spares or Classic Alfa. Much of the interior and exterior trim and glass are original. 

More recently in the hands of the current owner, the car has seen attention to the running gear including a new clutch master cylinder, attention and renewal of the brake calipers, as well as a new radiator and hoses and servicing carried out by the owner. The carburettors have also seen tuning courtesy of a Jaguar Dell'Orto specialist. The Spider has been subject to a handful of tasteful enhancements, which include the 1750 style wheels and hubcaps, as well as the addition of a rare dealer-fit Colombo Tecni Filter. 

The owner informs us that the Spider is a stage where he is happy with its reliability and mechanical durability, and has used it regularly mostly for weekend drives as well as the local car shows. Sold with two sets of its original ignition, door and glove box keys, an owners handbook and an excellent reference book written by a leading authority on the Spider, the owner has also retained its original wheels and trims, as well as its pressed steel white/yellow number plates and a couple of boxes of spare parts.

As a genuine ‘Alfista', he has decided to replace the Spider with his first love - a 105-series Giulia coupe, which fulfils his desire for a fast road car, instead of the open-top touring glamour of the Spider. 

The cabin's most enduring feature has to be the originality of its presentation, which is believed to extend to the steering wheel and the lack of a fitted car stereo. The seat foam retains a level of firmness, with no significant issues in terms of its presentation, with only the passenger side showing a handful of blemishes on the cushion. The interior is fitted with rubber mats, all of which are clean and offer a decent fit. No issues were noted on the door cards, other than light wear in places.

The dashboard is free from cracks or wear, the dials and their respective bezels, along with the neatly designed binnacle housing a set of legible instruments. The centre console, along with the rocker switches and controls are in tidy shape. The handbrake lever displays a little damage, the owner has also pointed out the gear knob may have been a retrofitted item but suits the car perfectly. 

The ‘Personal’ wood-rimmed steering wheel has lasted well displaying a little patina, and it is believed to be the original fitting. All of the dashboard items operate as expected, with a recently tidied-up wiring loom adding a little more confidence to their usage. 

The owner's fastidious care of the car, which not only includes an all-year garage cover, but a reluctance to drive the car in the damp or rain can only mean good news for any prospective buyer. More importantly, the structural side of the car is solid, an observation of the floor pan, foot wells, front cross member, A-pillars, inner wings and chassis rails all look positive, with the underside of the car looking particularly clean, protected by an underbody ‘Schultz’ coating protection. Externally the panel work is notable for its cohesive panel fit and even panel gaps. The panels themselves are free of any damage, with wheel arches, doors and sills appearing to be in tidy shape. There were no significant signs of dents or road wear noted on the panel work and all of the doors function without any issues.

The Rosso Red paint has an even application and matches throughout with very minor age-related marks. The finish reveals a healthy lustre, with no observation of paint chips or damage on the door edges. The Carello Perspex headlight cowling has been polished up to a passable degree, revealing little more than a subtle sheen of ageing. 

The glass and their corresponding seals are intact. The rear light lenses are all in clean condition, with minor signs of age noted on the rear items. The chrome trim is correct for the Series 2 models, most of it is original and as a result, displays light signs of age, but nothing outstanding to cause concern at the moment. The bumpers are well placed, with the rubbers in line with the age of the car. 

The steel period 1750 style wheels and hubcaps are an unexpected delight and one of the few non-factory enhancements carried out by the current owner. They show very little in terms of wear since a recent powder-coat treatment and are complemented by a full set of recently fitted H-related Continental tyres. The owner has retained the 2000 wheels and trims and they will come as part of the sale. The door mirrors are also aftermarket fittings but the original, along with the dealer issues white/yellow pressed steel plates will come with the car. 

The soft top is in excellent shape, with very little to give away its age other than a few light blemishes, it raises and lowers without any obstructions although it will need a hood cover to finish off what is a very appealing interior.

The 2.0-litre twin-cam engine bears a resemblance in appearance to the 1950s racing engines and it is an instant starter. The recently tuned twin-choke Dell'Orto carburettors, which are mated up to a dealer fitted desirable Colombo Tecni Filter offer a soundtrack that is just part of the Alfa's driving allure. 

The car idles well, with no undulations or unwanted noises. All warning lights remained off, with no signs of issues with the oil pressure at any point. On the move, the owner informs us that the car is mechanically confident and drives well with no outstanding issues, the engine temperature is at a constant level, no doubt helped by the new radiator, thermostats and a host of cooling hoses. The car is also fitted with a Kenlowe fan but has not needed to be pressed into action. 

The visual presentation of the engine is impressive, the cam cover has been renewed with a heat-resistant crinkle black paint finish, following sandblasting and a rub-down, with a new cam cover replacement seal for good measure. The condition of the ancillaries and hoses support the car's careful servicing and maintenance schedule, which was recently carried out to include new spark plugs, leads, ignition coil and distributor cap. The car has also received new Millers Mineral Oil for the engine, gearbox and rear differential.

The gear change is said to be slick, with the advantage of a new master cylinder being fitted as part of a recent mechanical renewal. The clutch has a strong biting point with the owner noting that double declutching in second is standard procedure. The calipers have all received recent maintenance; the two front pieces have been rebuilt, and the rear pieces have been entirely replaced. 

The twin servo set-up is effective and the car stops with confidence, helped by its recently replaced brake fluid. The suspension has also seen fettling, with the owner recently amending the securing pans to level up the front suspension in preparation for the sale. 

Offering a compromise between the original Spider and the plusher trimming of the later cars, this is a genuinely rare opportunity to obtain a beautifully presented and well-maintained UK spec Series 2. With its efficient owner's club and good parts availability, the Alfa Romeo Spider offers genuine exclusivity in an undeniable sense of style. 

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*