1960 ALFA ROMEO TOURING SPIDER Registration Number: 307 XVJ...

Estimate

£90,000 - £110,000

1960 ALFA ROMEO TOURING SPIDER

Registration Number: 307 XVJ
Chassis Number: AR*10204*000517
Recorded Mileage: 73,500

As with other motor manufacturers, although production soon resumed after World War II, it took some years before new designs started to filter into the market. In Alfa-Romeo’s case it was with the 1900 model, a modern unitary bodied saloon car with twin cam 1,884cc engine. It marked also the first model to roll as a finished item off the production line (previous cars were sold as chassis to be clothed by a coachbuilder of the client’s choice). This boosted production ten-fold over the previous labour intensive manufacturing methods.

Having said that the 1900C Sprint coupe was introduced with coachwork body by Touring, and a Spider cabriolet by Pinin Farina, both built in much smaller quantities for niche markets. 

By 1958 the 1900 was replaced by the new 2000 model, leading of course to the 2000 Spider by Touring, in addition to a Bertone-bodied 2000 Sprint Coupe.

3,443 examples of the Spider were produced, retaining the more sporting-oriented floor-mounted gear shift. The 1,975cc engine, with twin cams, hemispherical combustion chambers, and a pair of side-draft Solex carburetors, delivered 131 horsepower, pushing top speed comfortably over the ton with relaxed high speed cruising due to the full-synchro five-speed transmission. The handsome Touring gave way to the six-cylinder 2600 convertible in 1962.

This beautiful example was owned by a classic car enthusiast in the United States before being traded via a dealer at the start of 2018, and finding its way to the UK shortly afterwards. The Alfa-Romeo, which was in very solid and original condition, was then subject to light refurbishment works in the UK. The coachwork was refinished in Nero and the interior retrimmed in beautiful wine red soft leather. A replacement hood in black mohair sets the car off nicely. The Alfa Romeo was then prepared for the road with a new UK MoT certificate, though it has been largely stored and used lightly since being completed.

Showing 73,000 miles recorded, and retaining nice factory features such as the period Autovox radio, this is an extremely beautiful classic car in lovely condition, and with a fabulous colour scheme.