1989 Alfa Romeo Spider S3

The Series 3 Spider we are offering for sale was manufactured in 1989. We believe it was briefly registered and used overseas, hence the odometer reads in kilometres.

Our seller acquired this fine example in May 2017 and has enjoyed over 5,000 trouble free miles, using the car on high days and holidays. The car has been safely tucked away when not in use. It has been displayed at a number of car shows, where it has always attracted plenty of attention. No surprises there as who doesn’t love a red Italian sports car?

Our seller is a serial Alfa owner, having owned another Spider in the past. So why sell this desirable car? Sadly, his wife is no longer able to drive the car, so the decision has been made to let her go. And with summer just around the corner, allegedly, what could be nicer than roof down Alfa motoring…

Given the Alfa’s modest mileage, it is more than likely that the red paintwork is all original. We offer no guarantees. It certainly sparkles still, and we can tell it has been well looked after and polished regularly and most importantly, stored safely away when not in use.

Close inspection will reveal a few small imperfections here and there with some touched in stone chips noticeable on the front of the car. Pause a while and look at our photographs in detail or better still come and stand in front of it yourself.

Our seller recently had the wheels refurbished and they look oh so smart. We like the stick-on front number plate as it allows the distinctive Alfa nose to be viewed in all its glory.

The observant amongst you may have noticed that the car is sitting a little lower that standard. Our seller tells us that a previous owner has fitted some Koni shocks and obviously desired that lower stance.

We should mention the chip in the windscreen visible in picture 53, which may need some attention.

Contrasting beautifully with the exterior are the black seats, with red piping for a splash of visual interest. Comfortable, supportive, and most importantly they are in good condition.

The driving position is a little ‘Italian’ and by that we mean it more comfortably suits those with long arms and shorter legs. No matter, for once ensconced behind the wheel, roof carefully stowed and that perky engine fired up, all cares will be forgotten, and it will be all about the drive.

Those averse to draughts will be pleased to see that there is a mesh wind deflector that can be fitted behind the seats and very effective it is too.

Door cards and carpets appear to be in good order and the latter are protected by overmats.

Our seller chose to fit a wood-rimmed steering wheel and this together with the wood gear knob not only add some visual interest, but they are both a delight to hold.

The dashboard’s simple design is a delight, with just enough information available for the driver and no more. Sounds are provided by an Alpine radio/cassette player, so time to dig out those old tapes. However, why would you want to listen to music when the best tune is played by the twin-cam engine at full chat!

The boot is neat and tidy with a non-alloy spare wheel lurking under the boot floor. Also on display is the battery which was replaced before the start of last winter.

A look at the pictures of the Alfa’s underside should reassure. There are a few areas where we feel a bit of a tidy up would not go amiss and we are always very much in favour of topping up on the underseal to help deal with the UK’s damp climate.

The engine bay looks very presentable, and we cannot spot anything untoward.

We are told the car starts easily and is a delight to drive. It changes gear well and has proved a very easy classic car both to drive and to own. Not something you can say about many classic cars. We see no reason why it should not continue to provide sterling service to its next owner.

Our seller bought the car from a small trader, so details of the previous owners are unknown. There have been just five of them, not bad for a 34-year-old car. It would appear that most have enjoyed the Spider for many years before passing it on.

The last MoT was carried out in August of last year, the odometer reading 55,871kms. Just 64kms have been added since. There were no advisories. There are certificates going back some 20 years which are available for inspection.

During our seller’s ownership, his only repair was for a seized brake calliper. And as already mentioned, a new battery was fitted late last year.

The oil has been changed but nothing else has been required.

In our gallery, there are a variety of invoices for parts fitted over the last decade or so, most of them from specialists Classic Alfa.

By 1989, when this Alfa Romeo S3 Spider was produced, the small two-seater convertible sports car had almost disappeared. MGB gone. Triumphs TR7 and Spitfire, extinct. It would be left to Mazda to carry on the good work with the MX-5.

The Spider had the market to itself, yet UK sales in the latter years were modest and many of the cars have now quietly faded away.

Nothing could be further from the truth with this low mileage example, which has clearly been loved and cherished during its lifetime. It would appear to want for nothing except a new owner, ready to have some exciting summertime adventures.

If you like what you have read and can see from our picture gallery, then why not put in a bid? We expect a sale price of between £10,000 and £15,000 to be achieved.

The car is with our seller in Burnley, Lancashire. To arrange an appointment to view, please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions.’