1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
This 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce is
a rare find. It was owned by one woman from new until Spring 2002. This car
has only 22,500 miles on it--roughly 2,000 per year! It features stunning
bright white paint, with a tan leather and suede interior. The car has a
nearly new, expensive black cloth top. We bought it to replace our Graduate,
and looked long and hard to find such a nice original car... but, the economy
and some needed house repairs dictate that this car is likely headed to someone
else's garage. Maybe yours?
As a top-of-the line Veloce, this car has leather seats,
power windows and mirrors, air conditioning, a nice cassette stereo with
four speakers, beautiful original 15-inch alloy wheels, a cover for the top
when it's down, and all the great features found on Alfa Spiders!
Most importantly, this is a "final generation" design, only made from 1991
to 1994. Pininfarina, designer of the original Duetto Spider of the 1960s,
was called in to make this car look its best and they succeeded. The combination
of retro and current style leads to frequent inquiries whether it's a brand
new car. Because Spiders all cost over $20,000 new by 1991, and Veloces about
$22,500 (equivalent to $30,000 today), these cars sold in smaller numbers
than earlier models and are rarer and more coveted today. They also are the
smoothest driving Spiders.
The front and rear bumper covers, and taillights and trunklid, are the most
stunning parts of these cars. Compare it to the 1987 Spider below. It's just
a whole different car--a very classy, polished looker that's still a purebred
sports car.
This car is an outstanding find for its low mileage and
excellent mechanicals. It is peppy and enjoys being driven. It has brand
new brakes all around, and I recently had the oil changed, radiator flushed,
new spark plugs put in, and a very important piece of preventive maintenance
done--a valve adjustment. Tires are excellent. We bought this car to keep,
and the next owner will benefit by getting a car that is ready for the road.
The interior of the 1991-1994
cars is in many ways an improvement over earlier ones. It's very comfortable.
These cars also have a driver's side airbag and power steering. Their one
flaw is the suede seats: Beautiful but hard to keep looking nice! The passenger's
is as nice as any I have seen, but the driver's seat does have some pilling
and a tiny ink stain. There's a little natural crack on its right bolster,
but the seats are overall very soft and supple. They feel great to sit in.
Passenger's seat shown below, then driver's.
If you've been looking at other 1991s, you know this one
is a bargain with its low mileage. These cars can sell for thousands more
than our price of $10,950. You might wonder therefore what else it needs?
Only very minor things that don't affect its enjoyability. The power antenna
doesn't work (I recommend replacing it with a $25 non-power one) and there
is a break in one of the struts for the convertible top. This can be welded,
but it goes up and down and sits fine as it is. The new cloth top is just
great, very high quality! With a clear rear window. The paint is excellent
all around. There are a couple of minor stone chips in the front, just through
the clearcoat it appears; and the clearcoat has faded over the third brake
light (common in these cars as it's plastic). The car is not ready to win
a concours show, but it is in excellent condition for a daily driver that
needs to make no apologies.
Check out the instruments! Everything works (speedometer,
odometer, trip meter, oil pressure, battery, gas, temperature, and tach).
This is pretty rare on an Alfa. Rarer still, the "service air bag" light
that comes on every ten years or so is not lit. It has already been serviced,
thereby preparing it to pass inspection and the buyer to save about $200!
The red light you do see is the parking brake.
The engine. Everything is where it belongs. It runs
strong. The first view is from the driver's side, the second from the passenger's.
Under the hood, all the original factory information is in place.
The trunk. Original tools are included, and a full-size
spare alloy wheel. As is often the case in Alfas, there is some rust in the
spare tire well due to moisture--but it is fine for now and is a replaceable
part.
What more can I tell you? E-mail brewthack@aol.com, or
call me at 703/807-0798 so we can set up an appointment for you to hop in
and take a test drive!
