Re: buying advice ... help

["Dean W. Cains" <dwc@domain.elided>]

Hi Ken:

I'm surprised the word "best" doesn't start more wars, and will most likely 
start at least a minor skirmish or two on this Digest.  I drive a '74 
Spider, and in my opinion, and the opinion of many others "in the know", 
the '74 is indeed the best.  Some reasons; last year of the 
unmolested-by-EPA Spica-injected 2-Liter (same as in your old GTV), 
catalyst-free/air pump-free exhaust, last year of the stainless steel 
bumpers, alloy wheels were standard, as was the LSD rear axle (with the 
gears for best acceleration), lovely interior with wood wheel and 
dual-binnacle dash, best power to weight ratio ('72 - '74).  '72 - '73 cars 
were only a few pounds lighter (from the lacking door beams and weaker 
bumpers), but many lacked the LSD and alloy wheels.

In '75 the rubber bumpers were added, and in the next few years so were the 
catalytic convertor and air pump, and a de-tuned Spica pump.  The '80 - '81 
cars had the dreaded "monofarfalle" Spica with EGR, and performance was 
degraded seriously.  The VVT was also introduced at the end, but only made 
up a fraction of the performance losses.  The good news is, that if local 
laws are slack, one can turn any '75 - '81 Spider into a '72 - '74 car by 
removing or exchanging bits and pieces.

'82 was a unique (transitional) year, but not as quick as the '72 - '74 
cars, so "best" may not apply if performance is your yardstick.  This was 
the first year of he Bosch L-Jet electronic injection, but the original 
Kamm-tail body was mostly intact, as was the interior.  "Best" is a word 
that might have been tagged to the '82 because of the Bosch injection, but 
again, that's subjective.  I prefer the Spica by a good margin.  The Spica 
is an elegant, if not brilliant design, and its operation is purely 
mechanical.  If something's amiss, you can actually see it, touch it, 
repair it.  (Ever try to see a faulty sensor, or watch an electron stream 
by?)  An L-Jet car is not necessarily more reliable than a Spica car.  My 
last '72 Spider was a daily driver that I put 80,000 miles on in less than 
4 years.  I treated it like a Camry and rarely opened to hood.

'83 was a year of BIG change.  The bodywork was treated to a front and rear 
spoilers, major-league bumpers, and huge taillights.  The '82 Bosch engine 
was retained.  In '86 the lovely interior was blighted by a large 
single-pod instrument panel with a plastic lens, and a plastic steering 
wheel.  Many cars had A/C, for those not manly enough to drive with the top 
down, or sweat.  The horror, the horror . . .

The series 4, '91 - '94, Spiders appeal to many.  The body was restyled 
again, and looks a lot more like the original Kamm-tail cars.  The Bosch 
L-Jet was replaced by Bosch Motronic engine management, so some horsepower 
came back, but more weight was added.  The interior was largely unchanged 
from the series 3, but better materials were used,as in lots of 
leather.  The A/C actually worked well, and there was even power steering 
and an automatic transmission available, and an airbag, too.  Not my glass 
of beer, but nice cars for some.

So, if you have fond remembrances  of your '74 GTV, start by looking at an 
older Spider.  Sometimes memories are better than the real thing.  The cars 
grew heavier, softer and less pure as they were modernized, and if that's 
what you want, there are plenty out there.  Any Alfa Spider will never be a 
Miata or a Boxster or anything contemporary, but that why we love 
them.  Drive some and see what you like.  I didn't say a word about the 
Duetto's (or the rare '71's), but don't cross them off your list, 
either.  Most of the mechanicals are the same as the early Kamm-tails, and 
the smaller engines have their fans, as does the originally designed 
body.  I just hit the high spots, so be prepared for as many opinions as 
you can stand.

Regards,

Dean W. Cains
Lutz, FL
'74 Spider Veloce


At 02:32 PM 8/23/2002, you wrote:


> Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 22:05:59 -0500
> From: "Merrill, Ken" <KMerrill2@domain.elided>
> Subject: buying advice ... help
>
> At the risk of opeing a can of worms, I'm undecided about which year Spider
> to start searching for in earnest. I bought a '63 Guilia about a hundred
> years ago and loved it, and a '74 GTV was a much better car that I was a
> driver through the late '70s and early '80s. I'm a glutton for punishment
> and am now looking for another Spider. I love the looks of the Duetto, have
> heard raves over the '74 Spider and recently saw a post claiming that the
> '82 version was the best ever. I'm not a fan of that ugly spoiler at the
> back of the mid-to-late '80s version, but I'm not an Alfa mechanic and I'm
> not sure I want to become one, either. I understand the vagaries of buying
> an older car, but is there some "inside" knowledge I can tap from fellow
> digesters as to years to covet and years to avoid? Should I just pony up the
> cash and get the early-'90s version? Should I hold out  for the "perfect"
> '74? Any thoughts?
> Regards,
> Ken Merrill
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided