1958-Alfa Romeo-Giulietta Spider

Description

1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider
s/n AR1495*03579* engine no. AR1315*43013*
Red with Black Interior

The Giulietta is the car that took Alfa Romeo from being a relatively small production company to being an economically viable and successful firm. Prior to that, they had produced large and expensive cars, and never in very large numbers. With the Giulietta, however, Alfa Romeo produced significant numbers of these charming and capable cars. Its success was due in part to its unique placement in the market. It was neither a large hugely expensive car, nor was it very small utility car (such as the Fiat 500). Instead, the Giulietta was affordable enough so that many could buy it, yet permitted a more glamorous and useful approach to motoring that really struck a chord with buyers on both sides of the Atlantic. Available with beautiful open bodywork by Pininfarina, the cars sold well and are in many ways the quintessential sports car from the Italian point of view.

This particular car is a very good driver example that was comprehensively restored from 1987 to 1992 and remains very nice. The car was sourced in Arizona in 1987, where it had been stored for approximately ten years. Other than the battery box, the car was rust-free with no structural damage, thanks to its long term Arizona ownership. The restoration included every major system of the car. The engine and transmission were completely rebuilt, as were all ancillaries, including carburetor, starter, generator, and radiator. The wiring harness was renewed, and the suspension and steering also renewed. The brake system was completely rebuilt, and the glass replaced as necessary. New weather stripping was fitted throughout, and the paint and chrome were also renewed. The interior and top were also redone.

Restoration began in 1987 and was completed in February 1992. The vehicle has covered a few hundred miles since completion and has always been carefully stored in Colorado and then California. The wheel cylinders and master cylinder were rebuilt in 2003, and the water pump was rebuilt in 2011. The currently-installed engine, although non-matching, is of the correct type. The car’s original block comes with the car. It previously had a head stud problem, which has been resolved by Dan Marvin of Norman Racing.

The car presents very well. The body is straight and solid, with no issues besides a few small bubbles in the right rocker. The paintwork was done to good standards and remains very nice, with only a handful of small blemishes. The panels are straight and generally fit well. The chrome is very good to excellent and the glass and lights are excellent. The headlamps are Cibié items.

The interior remains very nice, with excellent upholstery, carpets, and rubber mats. The dashboard and switches are excellent and the gauges are in good shape although they are a little faded as is common on these early Giuliettas. The steering wheel is in excellent shape as is the top.

The engine compartment is tidy and correct in appearance, with wrinkle finish valve cover and correct air cleaner on single Solex carburetor. The inner fenders and wiring are neat and clean, and the overall impression is of a nice restoration completed some years ago and used minimally since. The trunk is nicely restored as well, with nice paint and correct rubber Alfa Romeo mat. The undercarriage is extremely solid and clean overall.

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a nice early Giulietta Spider with desirable and pretty early gauges and small tail lights. The car was nicely restored and has seen minimal use since, but remains in good running condition. The car comes with original manual in Alfa Romeo holder, extensive invoices from the restoration, and an April 1956 issue of Road and Track in which the Giulietta Spider was road tested.