1986 Alfa Romeo Spider

Convertible

2.0

5 speed

zarba5416g1040728

Clear

Nothing will brighten a winter's day like a sharp red Alfa Romeo Spider Quadrifoglio -- and come spring, you will be looking for any excuse to take a drive on a winding country road! Owning an Alfa Romeo goes far beyond transportation; it is more than a hobby car; it can truly transform your life. I have owned Spiders for 16 years now and from my and my friends' experience I assure you, there is no less expensive way to enter the joyous world of open-air motoring, Italian style than in an '80s Alfa. This particular car is a 1986 Quadrifoglio. This was the first year for this special top-of-the-line package that enhanced the already classic and delightful Spider that was first introduced 20 years prior. It has power windows and other niceties, and rides on distinctive 15-inch "phone dial" rims that Alfa would use into the '90s. The Quad also featured distinctive body-cladding front, side and rear. This red car has been owned for the past few years by my favorite Alfa technician, a factory trained Alfa specialist. He bought the car from a customer and has done major mechanical work to it while he has owned it. He rebuilt the engine, with new rings and main and rod bearings plus a valve job, and overhauled the transmission with new synchros (no gear crunching here!). This guy is really good -- you will be impressed by how smooth and fresh this powertrain feels. The car starts up fast and runs great. I have driven the car quite a bit recently, at speeds up to 80 mph, and it's mechanically a very, very happy car. The technician owner also put on four new tires and ensured brakes and suspension were in good order so the car has passed inspection. Everything seems to be working except the odometer, which recently stopped (as alas all these Jaeger instruments seem to... though they sometimes will come back to life!) The speedometer and tachometer work and look to be accurate. The car has a nice modern stereo installed with front and rear speakers and it sounds good. The air conditioning was not working so it was removed -- why carry the weight without the benefit? The power windows work, but the mirrors don't. This car is mechanically excellent, and cosmetically decent. The current owner had minor rust and dings repaired and repainted it. The paint looks OK as the photos show, but it is not show quality. There are a few areas where it's a little flat. But it's certainly nothing to be embarrassed about. The side skirts were removed for the repaint and not reattached -- the owner didn't like them but he has them available if you want them to have the full Quad look. He said he prefers them off looks-wise and because they could cover up rocker rust. The only area where I found any rust bubbling, and it's not broken the paint, is in front of the passenger headlight (in the cove at the bottom, right by the trim ring). The body is overall very straight. The hood isn't perfectly flat but as the photos show it presents well. The top is a nice black cloth one, which looks very good but it's not new. The rear window is intact but it is cloudy. This car is ready to be enjoyed, but as suggested above, an Alfa perfectionist will find some things to tinker with. The original Quadrifoglio seats, in grey leather with red stitching, are in good shape for their age but the passenger seat has a couple of splits along its front-most seams and the leather has hardened with age. The door panels are black rather than the original grey. The dash isn't bad but has a chip out of it by the glovebox. The red carpets are aged but complete in the cabin; the trunk carpeting has been removed and is not included. I have helped many Alfa club friends buy and sell dozens of cars over the years, and every Spider is a unique balance of its positives and its imperfections. A Quad that is this straight and solid, and has had thousands of dollars put into its mechanical refurbishing, and has new tires, is a great place to start, especially when it's offered with no reserve! This may not be a $10,000 car but it is a lot of good Alfa. Now, if you or anyone you know is looking for something more polished, please check out my other auction for a 1983 Pininfarina (Fiat) Spider that is a truly stunning car, shown in a couple of the photos with the Alfa here. That car does have a very reasonable reserve, but these auctions are is a win-win proposition as you can buy whichever suits you or -- buy both classic cars for less than one new 2013 Fiat (and even that ain't much!) By the way, if you're not too familiar with Alfas and are wondering how you'd keep one running, good news. I will share contacts with you for new and used parts. The owner of this car is a terrific mechanic and is happy to service it if you are local. There are also lots of connections and support both local and beyond to be had through joining the Alfa Romeo Owners Club, which I highly recommend doing at arocusa (dot) org. I welcome any questions that you may have on this Alfa Romeo. I'm located in Alexandria VA, near Washington DC, if you'd like to arrange to see it or take a test drive. This is a convenient location near three major airports if you send a shipper or want to fly in and drive home. I believe this Alfa could be driven to California in its present condition. Please plan to send a $500 deposit by PayPal within 48 hours of the auction's end and the remainder within a week, unless other arrangements are agreed to in writing during the auction. I will be glad to mail the title, and prepare the car for delivery or shipping, as soon as payment clears. I also am open to adding a buy-it-now price to end the auction early if a buyer wants this car to be under the tree on Christmas morning. Happy Holidays!