1957 ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA SPIDER 1.3 (D-182)

This is a 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider - prima serie (750 D) in truly superb condition. This rare first series Spider is has just undergone a full mechanical restoration and cosmetic Concours detailing by our Italian experts. Shows beautifully and ready for all vintage events with a complete engine, drivetrain and chassis rebuild - no detail unattended. This is a numbers matching US spec car that was built on March 6, 1957 and first delivered in April 1957 to the Max Hoffman Motor Car Co. in New York, US importers at the time. The car was sold to it’s original owner shortly thereafter and accumulated only 31K miles thereafter. We acquired the car in 2015 as a very straight and solid, low mile example and proceeded with a complete cosmetic restoration. Paint, interior, trim and minor bodywork were all well taken care of, and the car drove and presented very well at that point. The car was shown on several occasions in 2017 and various marque experts noted small details and minor issues, such as top fit, misc. trim items etc. that should be attended to to make this a 100 point car. We thereupon decided to take advantage of a shipping opportunity and returned the car to our Italian restoration experts for attention to all cosmetic details and a full mechanical restoration to prepare it for vintage events and rallies etc. As a first series 750D it is fitted with a matching numbers version of the 1.3 liter version of the legendary Alfa Romeo DOHC engine and a 4- speed manual transmission. Excellent paintwork, redone interior with new covers and carpets and a full mechanical refresh have been completed, and all minor flaws are now correct. Has a current California title and comes with various original documents and historical items. Designed by legendary house of Pininfarina, the truly classic lines of the Giulietta Spider are graceful and sensual, perfectly suited to the character of this sports car. Under the hood is the Alfa Romeo DOHC 4-cylinder fitted with a simple to tune dual barrel downdraft carburetor. Compression is a modest 8:1 and power quoted 79 HP SAE at 6000 rpm. Transmission is a rugged 4-speed manual. With a curb weight well under 2000 lbs this provides lively performance and pleasantcruising. Top speed is right at 100 mph. At 152.8” long on an 86.6” wheelbase, the Spider is neatly sized and very wellproportioned. The cockpit is relatively roomy for a sports car and the trunk is ofquite useful dimension. The Spider features a robust unibody with front suspension by control arms and a well located solid axle with coil spring and hydraulic dampers at all four corners. The ride is quite civilized in concert with excellent handling for the period. Overall production of the Giulietta Spider is quoted at 14,300 units over the long production run, so they are very rare today. An exceptional example of one of the true classic mid-century Alfas. Very collectable and remarkable fun to drive, this sports roadster is sure to please the collector seeking the right open Italian sports car for tours, rallies and shows.

MODEL HISTORY

Alfa Romeo retired from Grand Prix racing after ruling the sport from 1946 to 1951, as it lacked the finances to develop a replacement for the aging 158/159 racers. When the Disco Volante sports car failed to re-establish the company’s sporting reputation, Alfa turned to engineer Dr. Orazio Satta Puliga, who designed the versatile 1900, the company’s first unitary body design. In 1954 it was joined by the smaller new Giulietta Sprint and, in 1955, the beautiful Giulietta Spider, with elegant Pininfarina coachwork and modern refinements such as wind-up side windows and a neatly folding soft top. The Giulietta series proved very popular and the sporting models have become iconic and highly sought after. The elegant styling and advanced engineering of the DOHC engine and unit chassis made these popularly priced cars compare favorably with domestic and international competition and the series sold very well. Innovative in its day, the Guilietta Spider is now regarded as a classic rendition of the sporting Italian roadster, riding on front double wishbone suspension and a live rear axle with coil springs and hydraulic shocks at all four corners. Alfa’s lively 1.3L DOHC inline-4 engine provides the motive power, producing 79 HP at 6,000 RPM, a generous figure for a car with a curb weight on the slim side of 2,000 pounds. A sturdy 4-speed manual transmission completes the powertrain, which affords energetic performance and enjoyable cruising. These cars are well known for a particularly enjoyable and unique driving character. Small, light and simple, while exceptionally fun to drive these cars remain very desirable today. The Giulietta Spider proved a very popular model in its day and is clearly one of the cars that built the well-regarded reputation of Alfa Romeo in the enthusiast community.

Check out our YouTube page to see how to operate the soft top! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxZAEmC1Ioz3NLjCkOyH0hw