1967 Alfa Romeo Spider 1600

A left-hand-drive example of a Series 1 ‘boat-tail’ (also known as ‘coda-longa’ long-tail), this elegant 1600 Spider (1570cc) was built in June 1967 and first registered in Newark, New Jersey, USA in September 13 of the same year.

At some point in its four decades Stateside, it was painted in Rosso Farina, possibly to more closely resemble the movie star Duetto and given later-looking BWA Sportstar alloy wheels.

In around 2010-11, noticing its remarkable condition, it was bought by an Italian collector who repatriated it to his home near Milan and had a comprehensive and photographic nut and bolt restoration carried out, returning it to its original Avorio (Ivory) colour.

It was then bought at a Paris auction in 2015 by a pair of collectors who shipped it to the UK where it has been dry stored and used only for “a cheeky test drive around the North Yorkshire Moors”. In near perfect condition, the only two jobs their maintenance guys have had to do was re-hang the doors and give the cam cover a good polish.

The owners are now thinning out their collection to fit into smaller premises and in a toss up between this and a 190SL, the Mercedes got to stay. But it means that some lucky person can be the new owner of this utterly fabulous Duetto that could possibly be one of the best available. In addition to its condition, this Duetto also has important accreditation from the Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI) and entry into the Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo (RIAR).

The seductive body and Ivory paintwork are in a fabulous condition with just the odd imperfection such as mild rubbing around the inside edge of the driver’s door. The brightwork fittings and trim around the car are excellent, some are not perfect but only because they are the originals.

During the restoration nearly 10 years ago, the car was completely stripped down but the Carrozzeria have done a great job at getting it back together with straight panel gaps and nice even shutlines. As mentioned before, the doors have recently been rehung to improve their gaps, this is a notoriously difficult job on a Spider – the results here are now superb.

The fabric hood, which replaced a light grey one during the restoration, is now a more correct black colour, and we believe to be in superior mohair. It appears largely in good condition with no creases or splits in the plastic rear window and the folding frame underneath is in very good order too. A small area of the seam taping has come unstuck underneath but this should be straightforward to rectify.

The car sits on original-fit 15-inch Fergat steel wheels, which are in a good but not quite perfect condition with original-fit hubcaps and all are fitted with matching Landsail tyres.

On a convertible, the look of the inside is as important as the outside and we’re pleased to say that the cabin looks fantastic too. The seats, dash top, door cards and A-pillars are all trimmed in black “Skai” artificial leather and show in a good unworn and undamaged condition. The sun visors are a little baggy and the mirror in the passenger one has become detached but there’s very little else to find fault with around the cabin.

Whilst the main instrument panel is black, the rest of the dash is body-coloured, setting off the Pininfarina radio blanking-plate and the fuel, oil and water gauges nicely. The steering wheel is likely the original - it is certainly of the correct style for a 1967 Spider.

The transmission tunnel is cloaked with insulating quilts and sound-deadening carpets, which are in good condition and the footwells have Alfa Romeo fitted rubber floor mats and sill protectors which also are in good order and reminiscent of the original fit.

You don’t have to take our word for how wonderful this Duetto is; we’re looking after it during the sale so why not use the ‘Contact Seller’ option and arrange a personal inspection or a video call to go over the car in more detail.

Under the front-hinged bonnet, the engine bay looks as exceptionally clean and tidy as you would expect. The air box appears like new and is ducted across to a grey painted inlet manifold. The engine looks clean and oil free and is topped off with a highly polished cam cover. All power cabling is clipped and taped neatly between the battery, fuse board and electrical fittings. The radiator and hoses also look fresh. It is fabulous, there are no signs of deterioration around the bonnet shut or around the hinges, catches or the bonnet lid itself.

The underbody of the car, including the wheel arches, is painted in body colour stone-chip or underseal and looks virtually as good as the top side. Suspension and other mechanical components look pretty clean and tidy, many appearing like new, and what looks like an OEM CISAM exhaust is in good order. Be sure to scrutinise the large number of detailed photos of the Spider’s undersides, very few cars coming through our hands look this stunning underneath.

The boot is lined with rubberised matting and holds a full-size spare wheel with Pirelli rubber and a jack. The hinges and catches appear rust free and the boot lid itself is in exceedingly good order with just a little discoloration on the underside from what looks like glue around the boot badge pins. The rubber boot seal seems in good order with just one or two pinch-points.

Having gone straight into a collection, UK registration has only just been applied for. In order to do this, the car has recently passed an MOT with no advisories and will be sold with full UK registration papers and age-appropriate plates.

The car’s history file includes an album with over a hundred photos showing the extent and quality of the frame up restoration, including mechanical repairs. The file also contains a statement on work done by the well-respected Carrozzeria Baltieri Nereo & Figli estimating the work carried out at around € 20,000.

Following restoration, the car received the certificate of the Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI) and entry into the Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo (RIAR). These documents and others including registration certificate, export certificate, title letter from US and the lot listing from the Artcurial sale in 2015, are all included in the file.

The car’s odometer currently reads nearly 84,000km which is just over 50,000 miles. Whilst this is possibly correct, it would have been supplied to the US reading in miles and there isn’t enough history or documentation to validate the conversion. However, given the thoroughness of the restoration, we all know that the exact mileage is largely irrelevant.

This Alfa Romeo 1600 Spider still runs and drives as good as it looks and aside from needing to hold the stick in reverse, we could find no mechanical issues with the car. This Duetto has been superbly restored with an eye to originality and authenticity; particularly in relation to the colour scheme, the type of wheels, steering wheel and even the exhaust. It must be one of the sharpest available and a privilege for us to offer.

With only just over 6,000 Series 1 boat-tails built, they’re no longer so common - in fact reportedly fewer than 60 are currently registered in the UK. So to find an example in a condition like this, which is one of the very best out there, must put the value somewhere between £45,000 and £60,000.

The ASI and RIAR certificates, along with the photographic record of restoration by one of the best-known Alfa Romeo carrozzeria take this car to the top of the table. Bid high and strong, there won’t be many more as good as this to choose from.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment 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’.