There are two types of people in the world: those who love Alfa Romeos and those who haven’t owned one yet. Sure, they’re temperamental, but if you enjoy driving just for the sake of driving, an Alfa delivers the full Italian experience on a budget. That includes wonderful sounds, sublime handling, lovely handiwork in the interior, and, of course, a side of fussiness that demands you be a bit of a tinkerer. Things that other car owners think of as faults actually add character when you’re in an Alfa. And there’s just no more affordable way to get into a singing Italian sports car than the venerable Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce. With nearly 30 years of production history, it’s one of the longest-running sports cars ever built and there’s a reason for that—it’s just brilliant to drive, even today.

This handsome Arctic White 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce comes at the end of production, offering a slightly updated take on the classic Pininfarina design. Classic proportions with a long nose and short deck, scooped headlights, and a pointed snout all advertise that this is a sports car first and foremost. The styling has aged rather well and the late-cycle update (called the Series IV) designed to tie the Spider to the rest of the Alfa Romeo lineup brought it into the ‘90s in a very ‘90s fashion. Deeper side skirts, monochromatic plastic bumpers, and a clean, no frills look that doesn’t get in the way of the original design. For a little car, it’s rather handsome and practically defined the term “sports car” going into the 21st century. With just 85,607 miles, this Spider has never been a daily driver and has enjoyed life as a fair-weather toy. The Series IV Spiders used more galvanized metal than their predecessors, which means much better rust protection, now and in the future. Better yet, this car has never been wrecked and it feels tight because it didn’t have to fight its way across city pavement. It was repainted a few years ago in its original Arctic White, one of the less common Spider colors, and it looks fantastic today. Experts will quickly spot the non-stock remote mirrors, but these look right and the originals are included with the car. It has also had the clunky third brake light removed, but that comes with the car, too, in case you’re interested in adding some ugly.

The tan interior is a great choice for a car that’s going to spend time in the sun, and with expensive new leather and suede seat covers from Classic Alfa in England, it looks factory fresh. Black carpets and dashboard prevent it from being too bright in the sun. That shifter might look odd poking out of the dash like that, but it works just fine and feels natural when you’re moving through the gears. The driving position and controls are traditional Italian—a little long in the arm and a little confusing, but they all work well enough. As a top-of-the-line Veloce model, this car includes power windows, A/C, and an AM/FM/cassette stereo with upgraded speakers in the doors. The clock doesn’t work, which isn’t unusual, and the gauges sometimes send conflicting messages, but it wouldn’t be an Italian sports car without some quirks. The black canvas top appears to be original equipment and in excellent condition, and stows under a neat semi-rigid tonneau that gives it a sleek top-down profile. The enlarged tail section also improves trunk space, which is nicely upholstered in matching black carpets.

There’s something about the way an Italian engine sounds that makes the cars feel special. The 2.0 liter DOHC inline-4 in the Alfa Romeo dates back to the ‘60s, but with fuel injection, it’s a lot less finicky than you’d think. The cams actuate the intake and exhaust valves, respectively, so it’s an 8-valver, but it doesn’t mind revving a bit and has good-low-end punch. And there really is something about that finned cam cover that makes it special. These cars are surprisingly reliable and parts are plentiful, so it’s easy to keep it in top tune. You’ll note that this one has been carefully maintained and looks quite authentic under the hood, including factory decals and original-style hose clamps. And someone has thoughtfully added some insulation to protect the finish. Nice!

Underneath, you can see that this car has never seen winter weather and is completely stock. The 5-speed manual gearbox feeds the original rear end, which is a lovely aluminum casting with integral cooling fins on the cover and 4.10 gears inside, so it feels energetic on the road. The suspension is capable yet comfortable, and even with the live axle out back, it feels well-planted and eager to change direction, surely the result of decades of development. Power steering was standard, 4-wheel disc brakes are powerful for the car’s performance and weight, and there’s a lot of new equipment, including the exhaust system and fuel pump. 15-inch “phone dial” wheels were standard on the Veloce (14s were used on the base model) and they’re wrapped in 195/60/15 performance radials.

Miatas might be more reliable and the Honda S2000 might be faster and the MGB might be cheaper, but none of them bring the almost intangible feeling of an Italian sports car. The Spider Veloce delivers the authentic Italian experience with a certain joyousness that the other cars just can’t match. The engine sings to redline, the suspension is capable yet supple, and there’s still nothing else like a cockpit created by Italians. And at this price, buying the best example of the breed is just plain smart. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.