Alfa Spiders

[pwig]

Any good? Was tempted by this in the classifieds:

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=17532&s=33

[mustard]

Eeeek! Varible valve timing on an early eighties Alfa.... adjustable suspension will it work?

Stick with your Rovers mate, at least the parts are easily obtained!

[pwig]

Seemed perferct though... RWD, sort of powerful, cheap to insure, convirtable that aint gay.. etc etc

[davidd]

Go on, you know it makes sense.

At least take a look..

D.

[wombat rick]

mustard said:

Eeeek! Varible valve timing on an early eighties Alfa

Yup.
Some versions of the Twin Cam have had it since the late 1960's!
Just works on the inlet cam.
I think the Spider got it in 1980.

[Mon Ami Mate]

pwig said:

Any good? Was tempted by this in the classifieds: www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=17532&s=33

I've got one - well, sort of, I bought it for my girlfriend last year. It's a 2.0l import from the US, with a Bell and Colville RHD conversion.

It is fun to drive, although far from being fast (it is pretty torquey - you find yourself driving around in 3rd gear everywhere). The main thing is to check for rot, especially the bulkhead around the engine mounts, the inner sills and the wheelarches. They do rot. Spares are plentiful from EB Spares. Insurance is no problem at all (she's 21 and I'm not sure what it costs her, but it isn't a lot!). In typical Alfa fashion it is mechanicaly pretty bulletproof.

All in all I'd say just do it!

[John Mac]

This one was sold some weeks ago for £5500, it had done 80,000 miles.
The owner hasn't got around to taking it off the site yet.
Been looking myself for one for some time but seem to miss the "good " ones.
Look at www. classsic-chrome. co.uk if interested in others.