Alfa Romeo is synonymous with style and performance. These qualities are epitomized in forty years' production of the famous Alfa Romeo series of Spider sports cars. From the Giulietta Spider of 1955 to the latest style launched in 1996, John Tipler offers the full and fascinating story of the conception, design, introduction and production of these stylish automobiles.
The Alfa Romeo 105 series Spider is one of the most admired drop-head sports cars to come out of Italy. Launched in 1966, its radical new look was not immediately welcomed. As prospective buyers gradually warmed to the model, enhancements were introduced including more powerful engines and higher-spec body and interior fittings. Despite its inauspicious start, production of this much-admired car lasted for twenty-seven years, finally stopping in 1993. Jim Talbott and Andrew Brown pay homage to the 105/115 series Alfa Spider. With over 330 photographs, many specially commissioned, this new book describes the Alfa Romeo company history including its philosophy of incorporating driver appeal into all of its products, resulting in some of the most desirable vehicles of their age; it details the evolution of the 105/115 series through four distinct body styles; lists the technical design specifications and every major version of the Spider and finally, discusses the issues and challenges of finding and owning a classic Spider.
Immortalized as Dustin Hoffman's transport in The Graduate, the Alfa Romeo Spider enjoyed an extraordinarily long production span of 27 years. Launched as the 1600cc Duetto with Pininfarina's simply-styled round-tailed body, it got a 1750cc engine and a boxed off tail in 1969, grew into a 2000cc in 1970 and was saddled with rubber bumpers in the 1980s, but mercifully lost them in 1990. Chris Rees has assembled a comprehensive production history of the car that was offered in literally dozens of different versions with a bewildering multiplicity of minor changes and variants. This task has never been properly attempted before, and the result is sure to be eagerly seized upon by the thousands of Spider enthusiasts hungry for a definitive volume.
Head gasket repairs, valve adjustments, camshaft timing, carb and SPICA fuel injection tuning, and driveshaft donut replacement are all explained. Experienced, hands-on guidance thatll keep you in the drivers seat.
Revised and updated to 2007, “Alfa Romeo - Production Cars” was first published in 1996, written by two experts: Stefano d’Amico (President of RIAR, the Alfa Romeo Italian Register) and Maurizio Tabucchi (consultant at both RIAR and ASI, the Italian Vintage Automobile Association).This fascinating story of Alfa Romeo’s cars is told model by model by a text that results from precise reconstruction of the facts, enriched with detailed technical specifications (chassis numbering included) and rare archive illustrative material. All of Alfa’s recent production can also be found in the book, starting with the 155, the last car in the previous edition, the following 156, 145, 146, 147, 166,159, up to the last “Brera” and “Spider”; A long-awaited new edition that no Alfa Romeo fan should miss. Written in English and Italian.
The company that became Alfa Romeo in 1920 was founded as Societa Anonima Italiana Darracq in 1906 by the French automobile firm of Alexandre Darracq. When the company name was changed to Alfa Romeo car production started again with the Torpedo 20-30 which became the first car to carry the new logo. The company produced solid road cars as well as successful race cars. In 1932 Alfa Romeo was rescued by the Italian government and Alfa subsequently became a ‘national emblem’, and in the years between 1934 and 1939 they built 1,994 cars. A portfolio of road tests plus historical and contemporary articles drawn from the worlds leading motoring journals covering Alfa Romeo’s classic saloons, sports and racing cars produced between 1920 and 1940.
Alfa Romeo All-Alloy Twin Cam Companion provides an excellent technical and historical overview of the Giulietta and Giulia family of small sporting roadsters, coupes and sedans. If an Alfa Romeo had one of the all-alloy four-cylinder engines and reached production, it's covered in the Alfa Romeo All-Alloy Twin Cam Companion. That means that even after the Giulia name was dropped - particularly in the United States - the many variants of Duetto, GTV, Berlina and Alfetta are covered, from 1954 through 1994 when the final Alfas-including the four-cylinder Spiders-were sold in the United States. When it came to Alfa Romeos, author Pat Braden was an enthusiast's enthusiast. Pat didn't just write about Alfas - he lived and breathed Alfas. From the mid-1950s when he first owned a Giulietta Sprint until his death in August 2002, Pat had owned scores of Alfa Romeos, ranging from a 6C 1750GTC and an 8C 2300 to 1900s, Giuliettas, Giulias and countless later models. Alfa models are discussed according to history, engine, chassis and trouble spots. Without being a repair manual, this book contains important technical information needed to understand and enjoy one of these Alfas, as well as to perform many minor repair, maintenance, and service tasks. Braden starts with a brief overview of Alfa Romeo history, followed by a look at Alfa's presence in America. He also explores the major models of coupe, spider and berlina that used the all-alloy four-cylinder, as well as the limited production variants. Of course, he also gives much attention to that mighty engine itself. Braden explains the design and history of the engine, as well as exploring trouble spots and offering extensive advice and tips. Additional technical sections focus on the fuel system, transmission, brakes and chassis, not to mention overall restoration. Alfa Romeo All-Alloy Twin Cam Companion is a key to getting the absolute maximum benefit and enjoyment out of Alfa.
