Description
1969 Alfa Romeo Spider (Duetto) Veloce. RHD
Exported new to the dry climate of Johannesburg, the car stayed in that area until it was imported into the UK in 2022. It has therefore avoided the ravages of the UK climate.
It was restored by a well known South African collector between 2004 and 2006 to concours standards and subsequently was shown in the South African Alfa Romeo Owners Club concours three years running (judging sheets in the history file).
The bodywork is still in immaculate condition, but in the intervening years it has picked up the odd minor paint blemish. However, it could still pick up a local 'best of show' award. For me, this is ideal, as it is in great condition, but can be used as intended!
Underneath is where the car really stands out. Everything was refreshed and prepared to show condition in 2006 and is still excellent today. You would be hard pressed to find a better Duetto.
The interior has been completed to a similarly high standard. The seats retain their original pleating pattern, but have been finished in leather rather than the original vinyl. All the instruments work as they should. The carpets are in good condition. The hood is like new and is probably a recent replacement.
When I bought the car at auction in June 2023 it was supposed to be 'running and driving beautifully'. Sadly this was not the case!
During the last two years much money has been spent bringing the mechanical side of the car back up to the same standard as the rest of it. It now drives as well as it looks. Work included a rebuilt cylinder head complete with Columbo and Bariani fast road camshafts, rebuilt Weber carbs, overhauled brakes including new servo and master cylinder, new clutch slave cylinder, new gearbox mounts and propshaft balancing. The car has also benefitted from new door handles and locks, chrome rear deck trims, windscreen washer pump and other sundry items.
The car was last MOTed in June 2023, and was checked over by a specialist in July 2024.
The car is only for sale as my circumstances have changed.
Alfa Spiders are pretty cars that evoke everything that is good about 1960s Italian style. I couldn't resist this car once I had glanced underneath it. Rather than a sea of dodgy black underseal, the underside of the car was body colour and everything else was either painted or plated.
The car drives as it should and now the sun is out, I've been using it regularly and enjoying every moment. It's a car that gets positive reactions from other road users and passers by. Unusually for an import, the car has plenty of history going right back to 1974, when ownership changed, possibly for the first time. Originally white, it was first refurbished by its fourth owner in 1979 and painted red. He obviously liked the car, because he kept it for 20 years!
It then went through several short term ownerships before being bought by the collector who restored the car. Through the South African Owners Club, I have managed to contact him and he confirmed that the car was restored in his workshop, using his own staff for most of the work. The bodyshell was more or less rust free and he found no evidence of accident damage during the rebuild. Having restored the car, he kept it for 10 years. By chance, I also came into contact with the judge who scored it at one of the three annual concours it was entered in. He confirmed the story, as he knew the collector well.
The car then had several short term owners, once of which owned it twice. After placing a request for information on the AROC (South Africa) Facebook page, the dealer who brokered most of the sales in this period contacted me. He said it was the one car he wished he'd kept for himself.
I bought the car at auction in June 2023 and have subsequently spent time and money improving it to a standard I'm happy with. There is always more that could be done!
If you are looking for a Duetto that you can just buy and enjoy, then this car fits the bill. The fact it is the most sought after model, the 1750 Veloce and is in great condition, underneath as well as on top, just adds to its appeal.
It's a great car to drive that hides its age well... Alfa engineering was certainly ahead of its time.
