The Alfa DOHC four is a wonderful engine, and makes beautiful noises. Never blessed with enormous power, the Spider has always been adequately fast, and a joy to drive. Well maintained, this engine is bulletproof.

The chassis reflects its 60′s-era heritage. Lots of cowl shake and body flexing inhibits handling beyond 8/10ths, but it hangs on and on. Steering is wonderfully direct, and the ride is smooth, mostly because the body takes on most of the abuse. Braking is excellent, with 4-wheel discs.

Creature comforts and ergonomics are not an issue, as they aren’t present. The HVAC is 60′s-efficient, the top leaks, and the wind roars. Everything’s close at hand, though, so you don’t have to go searching for witches, buttons, and such.

Spiders can rust, but at least the Italians never figured out how to do thin-guage steel, so there’s lots of it to eat through. The body is strong, heavy, and takes heaps of abuse. Hit a Miata and win. Big.

Reliability is OK. Electrics are usually the biggest headache, and finding a bad ground can take ages, but everything’s pretty basic. There’s no ABS, complex computer controls (beyond the Bosch Motronic engine-control system), or fancy HVAC, stereo, or nav systems. It’s a basic car, and so relatively easy to fix, once you find a competent mechanic. Parts can be a hassle, but again, there are sources. Patience is a virtue.

However,on a starry night with the wind in your hair, nothing’s better. It rides decently, handles decently, and gets good fuel economy. The little 4 sings a beautiful Italian song, the steering feels connected directly to the wheels, and you can talk to your partner.

A great automobile, and worthy of any collector’s garage.