1985 Alfa Romeo Spider

convertible roadster

2L

Manual

ZARBA5412F1021477

Clear

Gasoline

1985 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce, Red Italian Roadster Convertible, 5 Speed, 2 liter VIN: ZARBA5412F1021477 This is a great example of a mechanically near perfect Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce with 60,600 original miles on it (give or take as it will be test driven locally). Manufactured in September 1984 in Milan Italy, this vehicle has been extremely well cared for. I purchased this vehicle from Alfa Romeo Auto Clinic (a very well regarded Alfa mechanic in Long Island) about 18 months ago. My original intention was to keep this car -forever- however am in the process of a massive move and will no longer have a garage or time. According to Alfa Auto Clinic the transmission had been re-built 2 years prior to me purchasing it, and the canvas top was 1 year old at that time. A stainless exhaust (from the tranny back) was also installed, and the throaty muffler gives the car a Ferrari growl. Since I have had the car I have had no mechanical issues. The car starts every time and has taken me on 2 road trips to the Berkshires without incident. I have put about 1500 miles on the car since I've owned her. Since owning the car I have done a lot of work to her (mostly myself) at an approximate value of $6,500 in labor and parts. Here is the list: -Changed Motor Oil to Mobil 1 Synthetic 15W-50, using Bosch "DistancePlus" oil filters. I initially flushed the motor oil out by doing 4 oil changes, with 50 miles between oil changes. This way I was certain the inside of the motor was crystal clean. -Changed Transmission oil to Redline 75W90ns, the best stuff on the market. Washed tranny out three times with the stuff. This made shifting immediately smoother and the infamous Alfa 2nd gear issues disappeared. -Changed plugs, cap, rotor, etc. -Flushed cooling system. -Replaced fuel filter. -Flushed entire brake system. -Rebuilt suspension. I used IAP high performance springs, this lowered the car to European factory specs (about 1" lower) and makes for a sportier ride (never bottoms out). The car rides incredibly. Also installed new Bilstein shocks all around. The rear suspension received the most attention. I removed every single component, I painstakingly removed any surface rust and dirt, down to the bare metal where possible. I then re-coated all components using several coats of epoxy automotive paint. I replaced 100% of the bushings, using High Performance Powerflex Bushings where available: trailing arms, reaction triangle, sway bar, etc.. I also replaced one of the trailing arms, and once it arrived I noticed it had a stronger weld on the bushing sleeves than the original equipment, so had the original arm re-welded to strengthen it. I replaced the retention straps, installed stainless steel braided brake lines (front and rear), cleaned and painted all existing brake lines on rear axle, installed a new e-brake cable and a fresh, rear exhaust hanger. When the rear axle was removed in the suspension re-build I had the opportunity to clean it to a factory shine, repainted the axles with epoxy paint, changed the pan seal, flushed out and left it with Redline 75W90 gear oil. Since purchasing the car I noticed that the rear has very slight play in it -It registers as a very occasional and very slight clunk when shifting (I am probably being overly anal). I asked Alfa Auto Clinic their advice, they said keep an eye on it, however more than likely it will last forever like this, it has no effect on driving or reliability. Since owning and driving it it has stayed exactly the same, a used replacement rear is between 100-300. The front suspension was super tight so I only had the upper and lower ball joints replaced (besides the springs and shocks) and at that time cleaned and painted all the parts I removed. -While under the car I scrubbed away any surface dirt and the very occasional surface rust and coated it with RustBullet undercoat -this stuff is $240/gallon and is amazing! I then top coated it with black enamel paint. When I had the rear suspension removed I wire-wheeled the wheel wells down to bare metal and also coated it with RustBullet undercoat and then black enamel paint. I spend about 30 hours on the wheel wells and under the car. -I had new Italian leather installed on the original seat frames, with red piping and "Alfa Romeo" embroidered onto them. In the photos the head-rests are missing, they are still at the Upholstery shop (I just had the work completed this past week) and will have them on the car before auction close. The shop that did the seats handles some of the most amazing vehicles ever made, so the quality of the work is impeccable. -I brought the car to Alfa Auto Clinic in July to have the U-joints replaced in the Drive-Shaft, NYS Inspection done and to see if there is anything else that needs to be addressed. It passed inspection without a problem and I was urged to keep the car when I mentioned I needed to sell her. He said it was one of the nicest Alfa's he gets to see. He also inspected the work I did to the suspension, brake lines, undercoating, etc.. and gave it his stamp of approval. I may be missing something but that gives you an idea of the work done and the care taken. I really was playing for keeps. The body was not touched at all by me. I know these cars' Achilles heel is the rocker panels. While not having x-ray vision I did knock on them from underneath and the outside and they seem solid. I tested the original jack at all 4 jacking points and they are solid and still intact --the factory jack puts a ton of stress on the jacking points and this is a great test to see how the body (and rockers) are doing. The bottom rocker section is coated in what I was told is 3M rocker panel coating, so it has a slight texture while retaining the car's color; it is very hard to see unless you are fairly close. This 3M product is a great way to protect that vulnerable area of this car. At the time of purchase there were a few slight chips in that section so I had a friend custom mix some automotive enamel paint for touch ups, it matches extremely well. The rest of the body shines very nicely with the occasional chip and slight ding, one chip the hood, a small ding on the passenger door, a hairline crack in the paint near the trunk and a few not so neat touch-ups form the past. In the trunk, near the seal, there are a few spots that I coated with rust converter. Inside the trunk where the tools/jack are stored is an area (I coated with rust converter) that has the red coating missing. I intended to address that but have not had time. It is not rusted through or structural in any way, just missing the coating. I was not certain why until I was caught driving in the rain and found a small amount of water in that area. I am not a body specialist but the car may have been repainted at some point (this is not very obvious). There is some slight discoloration in the paint, one large spot is on the center of the hood. Despite this the car has started a lot of conversations as well as constant waves and honks form other drivers. I give it a 7 out of 10, but have been described as the most anal human ever. Overall she looks great. Mechanically the motor is strong and smooth, with a 2.0 liter, Bosch L-Jet fuel injected Alfa Romeo Motor. I usually visit the car every 2 weeks to start her and drive her for a few miles, and find a few small drops of oil under tranny and engine, nothing to write home about and never effecting fluid levels between oil changes. The 5 speed tranny shifts as it should. All the gauges work -the speedo needle does a funny little shake and quake at lower speeds, but it hasn't bothered me enough to address and overall works fine. I have gotten caught in the rain only twice so know the wipers work -slightly weak in the low setting. The power windows and power mirrors work, the Alpine cassette radio works, horn, headlights, tail lights, signals and all gauge lights work, AC blows cool air, heat is hot, all blower motors work. Rear plastic window on canvas top is clean and clear. Both doors, door locks and key mechanisms work. Top goes up and down smoothly and both latches latch perfectly. For the car I will also include a set of rubber floor matts, extra fuses, gas tank seal, front sway bar PowerFlex bushings, exhaust hanger, exhaust seal, a set of head lamps, brake caliper bleed valves and caps, 9 extra oil plug washers, 1 extra Bosch oil filter, a few quarts of Mobil1 oil, 2 blank original Alfa ignition keys, Alfa workshop manual binder, and a semi-fitted car cover. I have disclosed everything I know about this car, if I have missed something please fee fee to ask. Overall this is an amazing example of an Alfa Spider, it looks and drives incredibly and was very well maintained and stored. I have looked at and driven many Alfa's and have worked on creating a tight, smooth, and ultra fun example of this automotive icon. If you are new to the world of Alfa ownership and considering this car, please go online and read up about the Alfa Spider, all it's quirks and joys. This car has afforded me one of the best driving experiences ever. As Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear said, "You cannot be a true petrolhead until you’ve owned an Alfa Romeo – it’s like having really great sex which leaves you with an embarrassing itch." Will deliver within 300 miles, after that please arrange your own pick-up/delivery. Please feel free to ask questions.