1977 Alfa Romeo Spider

Convertible

original 4 cylinder

5 speed

AK115023050622

Clear

Gasoline

This little convertible has long been one of my favorites to drive. When I had the choice of this, a V-12 e-Type Jag OTS, a TR6 and a Porsche Boxster. the Alfa was the most fun to run through the hills and curves of Arkansas. Lively is the best description. She isn't running right now. My Jag mechanic was baffled by this little Italian car. My health kept me from seeing to her and so she has just sat in a barn. Having given up on getting well enough to enjoy her and all the frustrations with a good mechanic it is time to sell her. She has had several upgrades while I was driving her. First was the International Red Springs. When this car was imported Alfa, to meet import requirements on headlamp height, simply used a spring that made her an inch higher. She is back the way she was intended and thus improved the ride performance. Having grown increasingly tired of coaxing the mechanical fuel injection I ordered the "Weber" style carbs that were available through International Auto Parts, the Alfa and Fiat parts house. The carbs are marked OER Racing, Type 45U, No. 6-y, Made in Japan. She is shod with Yokohama AVID H4S P195/65R/14 88H, under a 1000 miles of use. The Clutch Master Cylinder and Slave Cylinder are also new. The pictures best speak for themselves but she definitely needs new seat covers. The door panels are in nice shape. The dash is cracked. When last she was running all of the gauges were working. The top is shot. It may be the original. The spare tire well has rusted through. I had bought a new well but right now I don't seem to be able to lay my hands on it. The only other significant rust I find is on the right rear fender behind the wheel well. I tapped on it pretty hard and in a spot about 2-2 1/2 inches round is obviously soft and needs to be cut out and replaced. I took some random photos of the chassis, since the car is on the ground and I don't have ready access to a lift, to give a feel for the condition under. The diagnosis on the engine is lack of compression, in the front two cylinders I think. Since some creature of the barn did me the favor of feasting on the plug wires, further follow up is made more difficult for me. I have wondered if it needs to be re-sleeved but perhaps it was a failure to reseat the head properly. The body is straight, I haven't found any evidence of any repairs. It had a bad repaint on it when I bought it. The original paint was not taken down. I can't even tell that it was sanded at all so the repaint is peeling off all over. In a couple placed it has spider webbed. But, all of the panels, save the description above, seem very solid and without dents or marks. The rear bumper is dull and the center chrome piece is missing and the front bumper cover is busted through. There is a tiny dent near the point of the hood which would be of little consideration during a repaint. I would love to have her fixed up but my clutch leg doesn't work right so I would be getting my hopes up for nothing. High bid takes her home.