Alfa Romeo Spider
312 pages, 226 black and white photographs and 30 colour photographs.
Size: 25,7 x 22,9 cm Weight: 1,6 kg
Language: English – German
Author: Patrick Dasse
ISBN 978-3-87166-126-6
Free shipping within Germany.
79 Euros
Order here
Review by Pete Vack
As summer is coming, temps up and tops down, for the next Patrick Dasse 105 Alfa book we chose the Spider, aka, the Duetto, 1600, 1300, 1750 and 2000, built from 1966 to 1975.
Again, it follows the same format, with a brief discussion of the book’s intent and organization, then proceeds quickly to a wonderful cornucopia of factory photos of each model at the point of introduction. This was of course the goal, to provide as much contemporary information of each model type as possible in an effort to assist proper restoration and identification. The documentation covers the following models produced by Alfa Romeo between 1966 and 1977:
Tipo 105.03 Spider 1600
Tipo 105.57 1750 Spider Veloce
Tipo 105.91 Spider 1300 Junior
Tipo 105.62 1750 Spider Veloce U.S.A.
Tipo 105.24 2000 Spider Veloce
Tipo 115.02 2000 Spider Veloce U.S.A.
Tipo 115.07 Spider 1600 Junior
Of course 105 Alfas have been collectables for years, but at the same time prone to being changed, restored, and or modified in a variety of strange ways. Dasse’s book on the Spiders reminded us of our experience making non-standard mods on a lowly 1300 1970 round-tail Spider. When originally purchased second hand in 1974 with a blown head gasket for $1500, the car was unfettered with and totally stock. A few years down the road, it was repainted (and the ever present rusted panels repaired) and we added vent windows from a 1600. Why? In order to save production costs, the 1300 did not have opening vent windows, a very nice touch only available on the 1600 cars. While we were at it, we added plexiglas headlight covers, never available on the 1300 or on any U.S. Alfa. Then, the front bumper/ grilles from the 1600 were nicer than those less expensive 1300 items so those were replaced as well. We found a perfect Pininfarina hardtop fo it. The two-spoke 1300 steering wheel was replaced by a nice Nardi, the wheels with the small hubcaps were shed for five spoke Cromadoras, and before long it was very hard to determine if the car was a 1300 or 1600 unless it was driven..then the lesser performance of the 1300 would be a dead giveaway. Were it to be put on the market today, Patrick Dasse’s book would be a great help in figuring out what is incorrect on the car. Finding the correct 1300 parts might be a bit of a challenge though!
It follows that many Spiders of all types, having had a rough life, were changed, repaired, restored and/or modified over the years. What cars did not have a brake booster? What cars had one? What cars had two? What was the correct cam cover for a Tipo 115 car? When was the transistion from Webers to Spica F.I. and on what models? What did the orginal tool kit look like? (We’ve never seen one!). What were the numerous, annoying additions necessary for U.S. dot/epa spec cars? The list is endless and most answers can be found by carefully scrutinizing Dasse’s book.
The book focuses exclusively on several model variants of the Spider from the Tipo 105 series which were produced between the years 1966 and 1977.
The 312 pages contain solely contemporary photographs, which for the most part are published here for the first time, documenting different variants of the model. In the respective chapters the modifications to the cars that Alfa Romeo made over the years are documented in detail for each model.
Book reviews of other 105 series books:
Read Review of Book 1: Berlina
Read Review of Book 2: RHD Alfas
Read Review of Book 3: Junior Zagato Alfas
A few of the hundreds of photos in the book:
Prototype undergoing wind testing at the Balocco test track in 1965.
The 105.03 1600 Alfa pre-production model. Dasse notes what changes were made before final production. Note the ride height of the car.
The 1600 was introduced at the Geneva Auto show, March 20th, 1966. Alfas always seemed to sit high, except at auto shows. Readers?
The 1600 with the optional Pininfarina hardtop.
Alfas enroute to the U.S. for shows were driven on the decks of the cruise ship Raffaello which carried them to America. Good PR. Take that, Dustin Hoffman!
The new 105.57 1750 stripped and ready for studio photography.
The first 1750 fastback, 1970. It got confusing between US regulations and a variety of models.
The 1300 Junior added more variations on a theme. The Tipo number here is 105.91 and was introduced in June of 1968.
A dished, two spoke wheel was standard on the 1300 Alfas.
Turin Auto show, 1968. Perhaps the apogee of the 105 Series cars. Readers?
1300 square tail. Or is it? In 1972 the 1300 Alfas could also be had with the 1600 engine.
You won’t find shots like this in ads or brochures.
Hardtop for the square tail. Where did the hardtops all go? With the toolkits?
Whatever charms the original front end offered had disappeared by 1974.
And since we all hated the placement of the battery in the rear on the 101 series coupes, it naturally ended up in the trunk, again, on the last of the Spiders.
Drove my 115 Spider to Amelia Cars & Coffee last Saturday. Perfect weather.
Bought a 1969 spider new as a 1970 1750 model…to allow it to be sold in US and meet smog laws. Had Spica injection which allowed it to avoid other smog devices..at least for a while. Loved that car and kept it for over 40 years. Finally sold to a collector to make garage space for a new 2015 ALFA 4C Launch Edition. If I had space I would have both. Love the 4C too. The old spider was my first car and daily driver. Shortly I married and for a year or so it was still the sole family car. A baby seat could fit behind the passenger seat although now days that would be frowned on?. For a while I and a buddy campaigned a 1967 ALFA 1600 GTV in SCCA. Some go fast parts found their way to the spider of course. The car was very reliable too.
I have a 1969 Duetto. Bit of a resto-mod w/ 2L engine, dual Weber’s, Campagnolo wheels and bullet door handles from a later year. I love this car more than my E-Type. Much more advanced than either of the late-series big Healey’s I have had. The torque, sound and speed;. Nothing beats an Alfa!