Did Alfa ever make a 1.6 spider round 1983??

..seen an '83 Spider for sale with a 1.6 engine but I cant find any info about this model on the net. Did alfa ever make one of these??

Wasn't that the so-called 'graduate' model, offered with a very basic spec ? I know they offered such a model in the US with the Series 3 Spider...

Im not sure. Its down as a 1.6 16V 1983 on a Y. Im trying to research history of where it came from and the specs etc etc.

Seen inside pics of it but cant tell whther its basic spec as they are all a bit basic really.

There was a 1.6 Gradate version with steel wheels and plastic hubcaps etc, the Italian bloke who toured Italy drove one.

It might be twin-cam, but I doubt it has a 16v engine.

Is the Spider in good condition? Dont let the 1.6L engine put you off, i believe that this Engine still produced enough hp to still be fun.

Regards asb

Just check wilkpedia and type in alfa romeo spider, that should help.

Regards asb

The car needs a little work cosmetically but has an MOT etc. there are are rust bubbles and the seats need recovering but its only £2K which makes it tempting.

Its 5 speed apparantly, has steel wheels, cloth seats.

I was put off with the 1.6 which is why Im trying to find out engine specs as if iots anywhere around 90-100bhp I reckon it will be just fine.

Cheers asb. Ive just been onto the wikipedia site and found the specs Ive been trying to find all day!!!!!

It looks like a standard model in the S3 Aerodinamica range:
Aerodinamica 1600 1570 cc 104 PS (103 hp/76 kW) 142 N·m (105 ft·lbf) 1983-1989

It should be sprighly enough I would have thought as what do these things weigh- 1000kg??

Does £2K sound like a good price does anyone think?

Post some pics.Classic Spiders are for cruising theirfore I think a 1.6 is more than adequate.My 2 litre Spider is not as fast as a modern day cars but when it comes to bends it handels much better than most modern cars.
It doesn't matter what the initial price is,be prepared to spend much more.
Regards

Fair point.

I dont know how to post pics directly to the thread so heres the links to photobucket.
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm118/b9boy/2.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm118/b9boy/3.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm118/b9boy/4.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm118/b9boy/5.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm118/b9boy/6.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm118/b9boy/7.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm118/b9boy/1.jpg

what do we think?

Im jealous

good luck with it I will get myself one day keep us posted

Doesn't look too shabby.Check the floors by lifting the carpets.The bubbling paint on the rear bottom panel behind the rear wheel gives a clear indication of rust.Check for rust in the spare-wheel well,on the lower panels,below the door.What condition is the soft-top,seats.
What does the motor sound like,any hesitation when accelerating(revving)?Gearbox syncro in 2nd gear?
Leaking clutch/brake master-cylinders
The list is endless.
These are the more common problems,they do cost a bit to repair.
I would knock the price down if you find any of the mentioned.
Regards
ps.Give him a smack on the ear,look at the state of that engine!!

Lol. I know what you mean - depends how big he is though
Its criminal really to not have it sparkling but Im a car cleaning obsessive so part of the enjoyment in buying a non concours car for me is in standing back after Ive put some elbow grease in and seeing it gleam!!!!

Thanks for the tips on what to look for. I will make sure I go through these with a fine tooth comb.

b9boy
Body looks good!! and it also has the twin pod speedo/rpm gauges.
Engine externally looks a bit more tired, would check obvious stuff like coolant colour, oil texture and fan belts, brakes etc.
Best of luck, let us know how it goes.

Best Regards asb

b9boy
Was this the one where the owner hasn't had it for too long and these are the previous owners pics? I could be confused as I look at so many I think it was on Ebay - looks familiar. As garry has mentioned, be prepared to spend after the purchase - do yourself a favour and get it checked out properly by an indy specialist - a bit of a hassle but well worth it - there's a good few on the market and it maybe worth spending a bit more upfront with less to do later - I'm hopeless @ mechanics so pay through the nose but you maybe different - good luck.

The guy thats selling it now looks like a trader and reckons he had tried to sell on eBay previously and go messed around etc.

I think the specialist report is god advice. The cost of their report will soon be eaten up in unseen repairs I would expect. I might look at it myself and then if its not a total dog get someone to look at it properly.
I would have gone already but missus is in hospital which is leaving me 'holding the baby' - literally so maybe over the weekend.

Sorry to hear about your wife,hope it isn't serious.

LHD...sure you want this ?
Saw this car advertised on FleaBay...I was concerned by the LHD and what appears to be extensive corrosion around the wheelarches...makes me wonder what's happening in the sills, the floors, boot floor, etc. I'd be sure to have a GOOD look at the bodywork if I were you. Also, have a peek at underside of oil filler cap and inside filler neck of radiator - be on the lookout for white creamy gunge, which points to a head gasket on the way out.
I'd be curious to know where it came from, originally. If a US import, if it came from a nice dry state, I'd be less concerned than if, for instance, it came from Florida or similar...
At least you can still get most if not all the required bits for repairs; spares availability for these cars simply amazes me...lots of good parts vendors here in the UK. Good Luck.

Garwood1,that Spider of yours is in a very good condition.It would be great to see pics of the engine.

If it's solid and mechanically okay you can't go wrong for £2000. That's a lot less than what some hateful MGB or similar British crap would sell for.
The 1600 is a bit lacking in punch and the rear axle doesn't feel so well located (it's a 1962 chasis design) but it would be a pleasant thing to smoke around in. I would douse it in Waxoyl and use it as it is, spending as little as possible. The US didn't get the 1.6, and not with carburettors. This is a European car almost without a doubt.

Alpina BiTurbo eh? You must know Pete Walsh!

Originally Posted by garwood1

LHD...sure you want this ?
Saw this car advertised on FleaBay...I was concerned by the LHD and what appears to be extensive corrosion around the wheelarches...makes me wonder what's happening in the sills, the floors, boot floor, etc. I'd be sure to have a GOOD look at the bodywork if I were you. Also, have a peek at underside of oil filler cap and inside filler neck of radiator - be on the lookout for white creamy gunge, which points to a head gasket on the way out.
I'd be curious to know where it came from, originally. If a US import, if it came from a nice dry state, I'd be less concerned than if, for instance, it came from Florida or similar...
At least you can still get most if not all the required bits for repairs; spares availability for these cars simply amazes me...lots of good parts vendors here in the UK. Good Luck.

Don't let the fact that it is LHD put you off. Some say that they are best when left in the LHD state rather than converted because of the weight position and also because of the shape of the floor. The car is narrow anyway, and the fact that your wife may spend her life on the white line is but a small price to pay, as I keep telling mine!

I would be more concerned about the state of the bodywork, and if it is your first Spider, try not to wear those rose tinted glasses. I did first time around, and what you can actually see may be just the tip of the iceberg. My first car was a European import, converted to RHD, and I sold it before I got it on the road because there was too much welding work for me to do - sills, inner arches and the 'U' channel that the roof sits in to name but a few areas. My second car is a dry state US import which is LHD, and the body is incredibly good, dry, and rust free.

From the look of your intended car, it's had some bodywork and a paint job, so if nothing else, assume that if it's had sills done, it will only be on the outers, and not the centre or inners, especially if the seller has no evidence. This could be an area of great cost, especially if you are not in a position to do it yourself.

Take someone to see it with you who doesn't really like Alfas. They may give you better advice.......

sorry for slow reply- had my hands full over the last few days but everything settled down now thankfully

Regards the Alpina and the name Pete Walsh rings a bell but I cant think why!

Im cool with LHD as long as the car is something a bit different whereas I certainly wouldnt put up with it for a Focus or similar. Is there someone who is regarded as good at inspecting these alfas who might be northern based where the car is??