Highlights
- Pretty Vinaccia Red burgundy metallic paintwork with tan interior
- Professionally converted to RHD by Ellison of Hull
- Huge history file of ongoing maintenance and servicing
- £7,000 invested since 2021 including gearbox rebuild
- Retrimmed seats and new roof in recent years
- Three registered UK keepers and current keeper for 20 years
- MOT to June 2025
The Appeal
The Series 4 Spider was the final outing for a beautiful design that began its life three decades earlier. Clever cosmetic updating by Pininfarina, which virtually hand-built each one, plus fuel injection for the classic Nord twin cam, delivered a car that was comfortable and sporting in equal measure.
This 1992 car spent the first part of its life in Germany before arriving in the UK in 1999 when it was professionally converted to RHD by Ellisons of Hull. Finished in one of the best colours for these cars - Vinaccia burgundy red metallic - with tan interior, the bodywork is in good condition thanks to a full cavity wax injection process undertaken when the vendor acquired the car in 2005.
Since then it has been used regularly - including trips to Europe - but maintained accordingly. The thick history file is impressive, contained in a well-ordered folder and documenting over £7,000 of work since 2021 by marque specialists. That work included attention to the fuel injection, cooling and exhaust systems, a gearbox rebuild, new starter motor and regular servicing. The last work was in May 2024 when £1,155 was spent on replacing the exhaust manifold and lambda sensor and completing a full service. It has covered only 120 kms (74 miles) since that work. Earlier work includes a replacement fabric hood, which is in very good condition, and retrimmed seats with new foam.
Alfa’s Series 4 Spider is that rarity - a classic car with modern ‘90s reliability. This car, with its long MOT to June 2025, has clearly been maintained to a high level. With all its recent investment, it is ready to enjoy.
The vendor writes:
“I’ve owned this great car for 20 years and will be really, really sad to see it go, but I just don’t use it enough. I put a lot of money into it during 2023 and 2024 expecting to keep it, so it runs and drives very well with no known issues. I got it wax injected when I bought it, which has kept the bodywork in good order.
“I’ve really enjoyed driving it in the UK and across Europe. I’ve done over 100,000 kms in it and it’s only let me down twice. I think burgundy metallic is the best colour for these stylish cars and with the tan cabin it looks fantastic.”
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in Germany on 15th February 1992
- First UK registered 11th May 1999
- Three registered keepers since arriving in UK
- Current keeper since 4th June 2005
- Converted to RHD on arrival in UK by specialist Ellisons of Hull, one of the ‘official’ converters for these cars
- Always garaged by current keeper
- Thick history file in folder as shown
- Most old tax discs and MOTs included to verify mileage
- Regularly serviced by vendor’s own workshop and specialist marque repairers
- V5C in current keeper’s name plus old-style V5C
- Factory handbook and reprinted service book
- Service book shows regular maintenance during car’s time in Germany
- Original German registration document
- Roof professionally replaced in 2014
- Seats professionally retrimmed in 2019
- Alfa Romeo Owners Club 2007 magazine article featuring the car
- UK market sales brochure and sales flyer
- MOT to 18th June 2025 with one minor advisory to note
- Over £7,000 of recent maintenance summarised below
- 1 set of keys with ‘Spider’ keyring
- Spare door keys
- Factory workshop ringbinder as shown
Recent maintenance:
- 30/05/24: exhaust manifold, lamba sensor, alternator and full service at 187,341 kms (116,4078 miles)
- 13/07/23: gearbox rebuild, clutch slave cylinder replaced
- 17/04/23: overhaul of fuel injection system
- 10/06/22: starter motor replaced
- 19/10/21: cooling system overhaul
- 05/02/21: clutch, exhaust and cooling system repairs plus full service
The Condition
- Rare and attractive burgundy metallic paintwork in original, fair condition
- Paintwork shows various scuffs, stone chips and marks as shown in photos
- Bodywork is presentable and well kept due to older wax cavity injection process
- There is an area of damage to the passenger door as shown
- Small areas of bubbling to offside rear arch and beside rear numberplate
- These areas aside the bodywork looks very solid
- Underside is in very good condition with no structural advisories on current MOT
- Factory alloy wheels in good order with some marks to note as shown
- Tyres show good tread and condition and are mix of brands
- Black folding fabric roof replaced in 2014 and remains in very good condition
- Rear plastic screen is clear but with light scuffs and small crack at top as shown
- Car is supplied with its rare factory-supplied tonneau cover
- This is in good condition but would benefit from a deep clean
- Exterior lights and fittings in good order with clear headlights
- Glasswork is original with clear screen
- Quarter lights to both side windows but driver’s side is sealed shut
- Tan interior with seats retrimmed to correct factory design in vinyl and fitted with new foam
- Seats are in very good order with no obvious deterioration to bolsters
- Original tan carpets through cabin and boot in presentable condition with some sun fade and stains
- Car is supplied with tailored and branded black over mats from Classic Alfa
- Boot carpet shows some stains but is undamaged and complete including factory logo
- Matching spare wheel with some light scuffs as shown
- Electric windows in working order
- Dashboard and console in original, unrestored condition with no visible cracks
- Light wear to dashboard knee roll as shown
- Door cards original with some light fade to tan vinyl trim but presentable
- Fitted with a correct Alfa Romeo radio cassette but not currently plugged in
- Retains its ‘KPH’ speedometer for originality because it is a match for the rev counter
- The heater has been disconnected and is not currently working
- No electrical or switchgear faults except as noted
- No dashboard warning lights
The burgundy metallic paintwork of this car - known as Vinaccia Red - is a stylish twist on the classic Alfa Red. It is a rare choice and one that suits the Series 4’s modernised lines. This car’s paintwork is original and shows some marks and stone chips typical of a car that has been used and enjoyed. There is a dent to the passenger door caused when the seller’s Saab’s handbrake failed.
The tan interior is a mix of refurbished items and original features. The seats were professionally retrimmed five years ago in vinyl - the same as the originals - to the factory design. The seat foams were also replaced. The roof was replaced a little earlier and remains in very good working condition, albeit with a small area of damage to the rear screen. The rare factory tonneau comes with the vehicle.
This is a very tidy Spider. There is scope to improve the paintwork or simply enjoy it as it is, perhaps improving as you go.
The Mechanics
- 1,962cc Alfa Romeo ‘Nord’ twin cam engine developing 120bhp
- Fitted with reliable fuel injection system with recent overhaul
- 5spd manual transmission with recent gearbox rebuild
- Over £7,000 of work by specialists since 2021
- This work covered cooling, fueling and exhaust systems
- Car starts easily on recently rebuilt starter motor
- No issues with overheating and will sit steadily at 70 mph on the motorway
- 120kms since last service by specialist WAD Developments
- No reported running or driving issues
- MOT to June 2025 with one minor advisory to note
The Series 4 was the last open-topped Alfa to use the firm’s venerated ‘Nord’ twin cam engine. Pushed out to 2L and 120bhp, these final cars were equipped with fuel injection to improve emissions and reliability.
This car has been used and enjoyed over the last 20 years by its current keeper, including holidays in Europe and the UK. It has amassed a thick history file of maintenance with the records showing regular servicing and maintenance as and when required.
Since 2021 over £7,000 has been invested in the mechanicals via well regarded marque and classic car specialists. Alongside servicing this has included attention to the fueling, cooling and exhaust systems, a new starter motor and a fully rebuilt 5spd manual gearbox.
The car has covered less than 120 kms (74 miles) since the last service and maintenance work by marque specialist WAD Developments. The MOT runs to June with one minor advisory.
The vendor reports that the car starts easily, idles smoothly and runs well with no issues to report.
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