1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider

Supplied new to a customer in the United States, the 2600 Spider listed arrived in New York on 1 July 1963, imported by well-known foreign car agent, Max Hoffman. 29 years later, it was bought by a German doctor and Alfa enthusiast; it went to live in Munich with a Giulietta Spider 1300.

By 2000, some bodywork had been refreshed – while still in Germany, it received new offside wheel arches. The work by German specialists continued in 2013 into the new year, where, after a thorough brake overhaul, including a new servo, front brake caliper, rear wheel cylinder, hoses and master cylinder, it underwent a roadworthiness inspection (TÜV) to gain its historic vehicle registration.

Three years later, the car was doted on by its new Belgian owner, who spent nearly 40,000 Euros at Wallonia-based historic vehicle specialist, Carrosserie Janssens. It passed a Contrôle Technique roadworthiness inspection during this period and had a compression test carried out in 2018.

The car’s present custodian wishes to auction the Alfa because he isn’t in the country enough to take out and enjoy its charms. His most cherished memory of the 2600 Spider is of a road trip to France in July 2020, travelling from Belgium to Orléans. The car then took in Périgueux to Carcassonne, the Camargue region, and the Var, before travelling along the Gold Coast in Burgundy; the car, despite operating in the middle of summer, took the four-figure trip in its stride without any mechanical issues. A major service was performed on the 2600 a year later.

Sprayed in iconic ‘Rosso’, the consigned 2600 Spider doesn’t want for much. Its brightwork presents as excellent, with both bumpers having been replated by Carosserie Janssens in 2017. The correct Carello headlights and surrounds are fitted, and the sidelight clusters look original – the clear offside item is just starting to craze.

The car benefitted from new hood fastenings and a window regulator, fitted by the aforementioned specialist, means that the soft-top functions as it should. That said, some slight adjustments are needed on the nearside to improve the fitment of the hood at the B-pillar where it sits taut against the window glass. The hood itself was renewed along with all rubber seals over a 10-month period in the same year and looks perfect, aside from a tiny burr on the nearside near the edge of the rear window seam; preparation, fitment and repainting took place when this work was carried out alongside a new windscreen and surround. The included tonneau cover presents tautly, fits correctly and seems free from nicks and tears.

The steel body panels, themselves a departure for Touring as it was more used to working in aluminium, appear straight and undamaged; there are no reported issues with the tubular superstructure to which the panels attach, and the inner arches and underside were thoroughly undercoated with stone chip, again by Carosserie Janssens which also fitted new sections of copper brake lines and an exhaust.

Fitted with 165 HR 400 Pirelli Cinturato CA67s from the factory, alternative rubber was the identically-sized but higher rated Michelin X; the listed 2600 has the latter, along with a full-size spare with a matching tyre. A keen driver might look to have these replaced eventually; as they’re beginning to crack slightly on their innermost sidewalls.

It’s as Alfa Romeo intended. The front seats and full carpet received attention from Carrosserie Janssens in 2017, which also fitted soundproofing; the carpet is lifting slightly in the corner of the driver’s footwell. Instrumentation is factory and is presented as (and can be seen) working. While the seller has declared the mileage at 85,000 km (52,816 miles) , the Veglia odometer reads 24,881 km (15,460 miles). An expensive-in-period, late-Sixties Blaupunkt Montreal radio is also fitted.

It’s better to think of the 2600 Spider as a functional 2+2; there are no marks declared on the upholstery but the inner hood bay behind the seats needs its lining re-gluing as it’s come adrift at the top edges. The hood frame looks sound and is finished in black.

There are no issues to report in the boot either; the inner wings have been undercoated in stone chip, the factory jack is included, and the fuel filler neck and cap appear sound and original. The telescopic props support the lid as they should – and the underside of the boot lid itself has again been undercoated in stone chip.

The engine bay looks original, down to its VDO washer fluid bag, and inner wing black finishes, with no leaks or low fluid levels. The car retains its Touring and Alfa Romeo identification plates. The bonnet, like the boot lid, has been painted with stone chip on its underside, and a small corner of its sound deadening has worked loose.

Girling brake and clutch ‘twin tank’ master cylinders mark this car out as an earlier disc/drum car; these items were renewed by Carosserie Janssens in 2017. Many 2600s are converted to Webers by owners keen to extract more power from the Satta-designed straight-six; continuing with the originality motif, this car retains its triple bill of Solex 44 PHHs, for which its former German owner had gaskets and seals replaced in 2013.

A great deal of undersealing work had been completed in 2017 to keep this 2600 safe from the elements; a recent exhaust, runs the length of the car undamaged.

The valance appears sound, with its outer edges and perforations coated in stone chip to preserve the metal for as long as possible – just like the flat-bottomed outer edges of the rear wings. There’s no surface rust on the bottom arms, all-round coil springs or steering gear, while the solid rear axle, specified in place of the De Dion rear which chief designer Giuseppe Busso longed for, owing to cost, is painted matt black, its differential cover dry and clean. Recent-looking axle check straps, and a thoroughly undersealed spare wheel pan and fuel tank add further reassurance that this car could cope with a longer tour in inclement weather.

New rubber seals, preparation and painting - Carrosserie Janssens – 20/03/2017

Stone chip and soundproofing – Carrosserie Janssens – 20/03/2017

Rechroming front and rear bumpers – Carrosserie Janssens – 20/12/2017

New windscreen and windscreen surrounds -Carrosserie Janssens – 20/12/2017

Alfa Romeo author, Lorenzo Ardizio, puts the total number of 2600 Spiders built at 2,257 between 1962 and 1965, making it the second rarest of the three ‘standard’ models offered by Alfa Romeo; while fewer Berlinas were built (2051), auction prices suggest that the Spider is the most valuable. The listed example wants for very little and is well preserved for the future, should the new owner wish to add more miles to the odometer.

We estimate this Alfa Romeo will reach anywhere between €90,000 - €110,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, within Govt. guidelines of course, and as stated this car is located in Mons, Belgium; and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.