Alfa Romeo Spider 2000 Touring

Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider (1961)

‘Alfa Romeo – Made in Italy’, reads the proud inscription on the identification plate in the door shut of this 2000 Spider. As if one could ever doubt it, while admiring this handsome two-seat convertible from 1961. Carrozzeria Touring of Milan built the Spider on the shortened floorpan of the Alfa Romeo 2000 Berlina. Between 1957 and 1961, fewer than 3,500 examples of the Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider were built.

The example offered by Peet Classics was imported into the Netherlands from the United States some years ago. The American version of the 2000 Spider can be recognised by the two closely spaced air vents in the bonnet, separated by a chrome trim strip. The American version also has only a single chrome strip along the flanks. This 2000 Spider is still a genuine two-seater, and therefore without the occasional seat that became part of the standard equipment from July 1961 onwards.

Since the 2000 Spider arrived in the Netherlands, considerable investment has been made in the car’s mechanical condition. The two-litre twin-cam four-cylinder engine was overhauled by Sam van Lingen in Houten, a renowned name in the Alfa Romeo world. The transmission, drivetrain and chassis were brought to top condition by Caresance Classic Cars in Voorschoten, a specialist in the restoration and engineering of Italian and British classics.

The two-litre four-cylinder of the Alfa Romeo 2000 is directly derived from the 1900 twin-cam of the 1950s. This engine was developed under the direction of the famous Italian engineer Orazio Satta Puliga – who later also played a founding role in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the Giulia, the Montreal and the Alfetta, among others. The engine of the Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider is fed by twin Solex carburettors. At present, semi-open air filters are fitted, though the original filter and housing are included with the car.

The bodywork of the Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider has never been restored; the panels are rock-solid throughout and the red paintwork gives the car an authentic character. A black-painted hardtop is included with the car. The red body forms a very successful combination with the beige leather interior upholstery, the light brown carpet and the black-painted dashboard. Inside, too, the Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider is a classic beauty. The long floor-mounted gear lever, perfectly positioned within reach, is connected to a fully synchronised five-speed gearbox, which certainly adds to the driving pleasure this Italian roadster has to offer.

Thanks to its generous boot, this fundamentally sound Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider is ideal for long summer journeys through Europe. The car steers wonderfully, making it perfectly at home on mountain roads. Yet thanks to its comfortably tuned suspension and the fifth gear, it is equally well suited to swift stretches along the Autobahn and Autostrada.

The Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider has by now become a rare classic – all the more reason to come and view this example at Peet Classics in Voorschoten.