Gift Horse: 1982 Alfa Romeo Spider

Alfa’s evergreen spider was launched at the 36th Geneva Auto Show in March of 1966 and stayed in production until the last one was sold in 1994.  The venerable spider went thru 4 updates throughout its life, some more successful that others.  Find this 1982 Alfa Romeo Spider for sale in Friday Harbor, WA for $1,000 via craigslist.

The Series 1 Spider that debuted in 1966 was known as the round tail or Osso di seppia.  In 1970, the Spider’s tail was cut off and windshield rakes a bit more becoming the Series 2 or Kamm tail spider.  In the US, Alfisti subdivide the Series 2 into Series 2a from 1971 to 1974 and the Series 2b from 1975 to 1982.  The dividing line between a and b is the gigantic rubber baby buggy crash bumpers that got slapped on in 1975.  The Series 2 a/b cars used SPICA mechanical fuel injection until 1982, when the SPICA was replaced with Bosch electronic FI.  The Series 3 Spider debuted in 1983, with its “Giuseppe The Janitor” look sporting a big black rear spoiler and awkward front air dam.  The Series 4 design, which returned the design back to its roots debuted in 1991 and ended production in late 1993 as 1994 models in the US.

The seller only included one picture and the following brief text: “Alfa Spider for sale, as is. It was gifted to me but I have no time to work on it. It runs and drives.”  Being a 1982, its a series 2b with the old black rubber bumpers, but has the Bosch injection, so you won’t have to deal with a f’d up SPICA or a poorly executed carb swap.  Or you could just buy it and part it.  If in good shape, the Cromadora Daytona alloy wheels should get you around a grand alone.  

I will give the seller points for typing Spider and not Spyder.

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Gianni is Daily Turismo’s Pacific Northwest correspondent.  No SPICA, German.