USED BUYER'S GUIDE Alfa Romeo Spider

FROM £2,000 Eye-catching Spider version of Italian marque's sporty 916 model is still an attractive choice if you do your homework thoroughly before buying

- Richard Dredge

ALFA Romeo is no stranger to making distinctive and desirable cars, but the ‘Type 916’ Spider is on another level when it comes to standing out from the crowd.

Designed by Enrico Fumia while he was working at Pininfarina, with the interior penned by Walter de Silva, these wedge-shaped sports cars arrived in the UK three decades ago next month, yet they still look fresh and interesting, and are thoroughly usable modern classics.

The Spider brand goes back six decades; Alfa Romeo introduced the original boat-tailed ‘Duetto’ in 1966, although in the mid-fifties there was a soft-top Giulietta, which was superseded by the Giulia convertible in 1962. The last time you could buy a new Alfa Romeo Spider was in 2010 (although this model was axed in 2004); now the ‘Type 916’ Spider covered here is a bona fide classic and one that’s well worth a closer look.

HISTORY

THE Spider was launched in the UK in April 1996 and only available with a 2.0-litre twin-spark four-cylinder petrol engine. In May 1998 this motor received a power boost from 150bhp to 155bhp, and these updated Spiders are known as Phase 2 cars.

From April 2001 a 3.0-litre V6 engine was available, then in July 2003 the Spider was facelifted inside and out to become the Phase 3, with a refreshed nose and tail design, plus a new dashboard. In the process a 3.2-litre V6 engine superseded the 3.0-litre unit, and the 2.0 JTS replaced the 2.0 TS engine, which brought a more efficient direct-injection system for the fuel delivery.

In November 2004 the run-out Special Edition Spider was introduced, with just 80 examples available. Based on the Lusso, the Special Edition had 17-inch alloy wheels, black leather trim and a choice of red, blue or grey paint.

WHICH SHOULD I BUY?