 1959 2000 Spider | 1961 2000  |
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1960 Alfa Romeo 2000 news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Sprint Coupe Designer: Alfredo Vignale Chassis Num: AR102.02.0019 |
The car was purchased by a US Air Force officer and made its way to the USA. In the late 70s, the car was in Tampa, Florida, where it stayed until 1990. Research revealed that it was a 'prototype' for Alfa Romeo. Found in derelict condition, but rather complete, it required a lot of time and attention to restore to its present condition.
A piece of Vignale automotive history was almost lost to a Florida swamp. Five years of hard work resulted in a unique piece of art that is also great to drive.
| | | Sprint Coupe Designer: Alfredo Vignale Chassis Num: AR102.02.0019 |
In the late fifties and early sixties, Alfa Romeo and their usual coach builders (Bertone, Touring, and Pinin Farina) could hardly keep up wîth the world wide demand for their automobiles; therefore, smaller coach builders like Vignale, Ghia, etc., would purchase chassis from Alfa Romeo, then have their own designers and fabricators put together the body and interior.
Very early in 1960, Alfa Romeo built 47 special chassis (AR102.02 series) for these specialty companies. According to the Alfa archives, chassis AR102.02.0001 was sold to Ghia, but most of the other chassis were sold to Vignale. These chassis were designed for Coupe bodies, as the structural framework is a bit different from the Roadsters (102.04 series) or the Sprints (102.01 series).
The Alfa project taken on by the current owner (#AR102.02.0019) was commissioned by an Anthony Wilson (possibly a ÚSA officer stationed in Italy) in March of 1960 and completed in September of the same year, just in time for the Turino World Auto Show. By the late sixties, it showed up in Miami, Florida, where it underwent a paint color change to silver and an interior change from red to black. The owner knew it was a rare Alfa when he first saw it in 1978. It belonged to Doug Harmon who lived in Tampa, Florida, at the time. it was not until 1990 that he was able to purchase the Vignale, and he was not prepared for what was involved wîth the total restoration of such a vehicle.Over the years, he has partially restored a couple of cast iron 2000 roadsters and have accumulated a number of spare parts as well as having acquired a considerable knowledge about this unique series. One of the things that was noticed upon disassembly of the Vignale, is that many of the components, such as the bumpers, chrome trim, seat frames, dashboard, etc., had the chassis number stamped into the part. In this era (1960's) even massed produced components were often custom fit to the body, but on this series, each design component was unique to that chassis number. Items like the hood and trunk were fabricated from light alloy aluminum and the inside of the bumpers still show all the hammer marks and beads of welding left from the hand fabrication process.
Because of the above process, there are no spare body and trim parts available; therefore, if a part is beyond repair, it must be fabricated as close to the original as possible. This car now possess its original colors, Italian green paint wîth white trim, and lipstick red leather and Wilton wool carpets.Source - Delmas Greene
| | | Sprint Coupe Designer: Alfredo Vignale Chassis Num: AR102.02.0019 |
Alfredo Vignale and his craftsmen started handbuilding custom bodies on the chassis of various manufacturers in a small shop in Torino, Italy. Most of his early customers were individuals, but his business quickly grew as companies such as Ferrari, Fiat and Lancia became clients.
Alfredo's designer, Michelotti, had created designs for customers on an Alfa Romeo chassis, and he wanted to get some business directly with Alfa Romeo to finance a new production facility, so it was decided to get Alfa Romeo's attention by building a special vehicle for the 1960 World Auto Show in Torino.
The car displayed here is the vehicle designed by Michelotti, built by the craftsman at Vignale, and then exhibited at the Torino auto show. The striking color combination of green and white paint with red leather interior is assumed to represent the Italian flag and generate even more interest at the show. Unfortunately, Vignale did not get the hoped-for contract with Alfa Romeo and this car remains a true one-of-a-kind.
After the Torino show, the car was purchased by an American military officer and shipped to Miami, Florida, where it ultimately ended up in derelict condition in a Florida swamp. The current owner rescued it in 1990 and then put in five years of research and hard labor to save this unique work of art.
 |  |  | Spider Roadster Coachwork: Touring Chassis Num: AR102 04 01847 |
| Sold for $39,600 at 2010 Gooding & Company. | |||
In 2010, this Touring bodied Spider was offered for sale at Gooding & Company's auction held in Amelia Island, Florida. The car was expected to sell for $35,000 - $50,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $39,600, inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2010
After World War II, Alfa Romeo shifted its philosophy of car building. All prewar Alfas had been body-on-frame cars with lavish bodies, low production numbers, and high prices. They had become legendary for their excellent styling and engineering. Fast and luxurious, Alfa Romeos were fine cars in the best Italian tradition.
Postwar Alfas took on a decidedly different feel. The first all-new Alfa to be introduced after the war was the 1900. First appearing in 1950, it was a great departure from prior Alfas. Its unit-body construction, a first for the Italian car maker, hinted at Alfa Romeo's desire to create a more modern vehicle to carry the company through the postwar years. Trim dimensions and a four-cylinder engine revealed another new feature on an Alfa—price consciousness! The 1900 was its maker's first attempt at a mass-production vehicle, and for perhaps the first time in the company's history Alfa recognized the need to check costs for the new cars to succeed.
The 1900 was still not a cheap car. It came well-styled by the factory, and could be tailored by many of the famous Italian coachbuilders despite its lack of a separate frame. The painfully gorgeous Disco Volante was based on the 1900, as were the radical Bertone BAT cars that experimented with advanced aerodynamics. The 1900 was built carefully and performed well. It sold in high numbers and was relatively affordable, but the 1900 was an Alfa through and through.
The successor of the 1900 came in 1958 and was called the 2000. Named for its displacement, the 2000 had a 1,975cc four compared to the 1900's 1,884cc unit. As Alfa would also produce a more modern, all-aluminum 2.0-liter engine, the motor used in the 1958-1962 2000 cars is now referred to as the 'cast-iron 2-liter' or 'old 2-liter.' The former nickname referenced the engine's cast-iron block, a design which it shared with the 1900. In addition to the upped displacement, the cast-iron 2-liter also featured a more modern valvetrain than the 1900. The valves were actuated through a bucket and tappet system, which shed some of the weight and inertia of the 1900's clumsier, shim-adjust design.
With separate covers for its twin camshafts, the 2000 engine was similar in outward appearance to the 1900. It breathed through twin Solex carburetors that didn't match the rest of the engine's reputation for durability and trouble-free motoring. Power output was 105hp at 5,300rpm for the sedan, and 115hp at 5,900rpm for the coupe and convertible versions. This was a good amount of power coming from such a small engine, but the large bodies of the 2000 series (with wheelbases up to 107 inches) were too much for the engines to handle with enthusiasm. Performance was adequate, but not sporty.
The three standard body styles—sedan, coupe, and convertible—were given the names Berlina, Sprint, and Spider, respectively. The Berlina's in-house styling, like its performance, was too bland for an Alfa. The Sprint and Spider, though, were styled by reputable design houses and offered much better looks combined with at least decent performance.
Bertone was contracted to style the 2000 Sprint. Giorgetto Giugiaro, then at Bertone, was responsible for the shape of the Sprint. A clean design that invoked thoughts of grand touring through the backcountry, the Sprint was a much prettier car than the Berlina. Its styling offered similar proportions to the later Alfa Sprint GT and GTV, though on a larger scale. Its taught lines helped define a generation of Alfas.
The Spider was styled by Touring, a design house with a rich history of creating beautiful Alfas. The Spider's appearance was conservative, but undeniably handsome. With a traditional upside-down triangle grille poking down beneath a split front bumper, the Spider's maker was immediately evident. Twin hood scoops and decorative vents along the bottoms of the front fenders were the only signs of extravagance. The rest of the design was clean and staid, with a lithe look and the perfect dimensions for a California cruiser. The interior, likewise, was clean and well-suited to comfortable cruising.
A synchronized 5-speed was attached to the 2000 engine, driving a solid rear axle suspended by coil springs. Front suspension used double A-arms and coil springs. Large Alfin drum brakes were fitted at all wheels. The conventional suspension design, along with the extra gear on the transmission for relaxed driving, emphasized that the 2000 was a grand touring car and not a sports car.
There were 7,089 2000 series cars produced. Convertibles made up an unusually high percentage of total production, with 3,443 Spiders accounting for nearly half of all cars built. In 1962 a replacement for the series came as the 2600. The 2600 cars were produced until 1968 and featured styling that resembled the 2000 series but used all-aluminum straight six engines. Often eclipsed by the revolutionary 1900 before it and the faster 2600 that replaced it, the 2000 was not seen as a particularly special Alfa until recently. The cars are now respected for their durability and smoothness, as well as for the clean lines of the Sprint and Spider.
Sources:
Benson, Joe. Illustrated Alfa Romeo Buyer's Guide. Osceola, WI: MBI Publishing Company, 1992. Print.
Braden, Pat. '1959 2000 Spider.' Keith Martin on Collecting Alfa Romeo 2006: PrintBy Evan Acuña
For more information and related vehicles, click herePostwar Alfas took on a decidedly different feel. The first all-new Alfa to be introduced after the war was the 1900. First appearing in 1950, it was a great departure from prior Alfas. Its unit-body construction, a first for the Italian car maker, hinted at Alfa Romeo's desire to create a more modern vehicle to carry the company through the postwar years. Trim dimensions and a four-cylinder engine revealed another new feature on an Alfa—price consciousness! The 1900 was its maker's first attempt at a mass-production vehicle, and for perhaps the first time in the company's history Alfa recognized the need to check costs for the new cars to succeed.
The 1900 was still not a cheap car. It came well-styled by the factory, and could be tailored by many of the famous Italian coachbuilders despite its lack of a separate frame. The painfully gorgeous Disco Volante was based on the 1900, as were the radical Bertone BAT cars that experimented with advanced aerodynamics. The 1900 was built carefully and performed well. It sold in high numbers and was relatively affordable, but the 1900 was an Alfa through and through.
The successor of the 1900 came in 1958 and was called the 2000. Named for its displacement, the 2000 had a 1,975cc four compared to the 1900's 1,884cc unit. As Alfa would also produce a more modern, all-aluminum 2.0-liter engine, the motor used in the 1958-1962 2000 cars is now referred to as the 'cast-iron 2-liter' or 'old 2-liter.' The former nickname referenced the engine's cast-iron block, a design which it shared with the 1900. In addition to the upped displacement, the cast-iron 2-liter also featured a more modern valvetrain than the 1900. The valves were actuated through a bucket and tappet system, which shed some of the weight and inertia of the 1900's clumsier, shim-adjust design.
With separate covers for its twin camshafts, the 2000 engine was similar in outward appearance to the 1900. It breathed through twin Solex carburetors that didn't match the rest of the engine's reputation for durability and trouble-free motoring. Power output was 105hp at 5,300rpm for the sedan, and 115hp at 5,900rpm for the coupe and convertible versions. This was a good amount of power coming from such a small engine, but the large bodies of the 2000 series (with wheelbases up to 107 inches) were too much for the engines to handle with enthusiasm. Performance was adequate, but not sporty.
The three standard body styles—sedan, coupe, and convertible—were given the names Berlina, Sprint, and Spider, respectively. The Berlina's in-house styling, like its performance, was too bland for an Alfa. The Sprint and Spider, though, were styled by reputable design houses and offered much better looks combined with at least decent performance.
Bertone was contracted to style the 2000 Sprint. Giorgetto Giugiaro, then at Bertone, was responsible for the shape of the Sprint. A clean design that invoked thoughts of grand touring through the backcountry, the Sprint was a much prettier car than the Berlina. Its styling offered similar proportions to the later Alfa Sprint GT and GTV, though on a larger scale. Its taught lines helped define a generation of Alfas.
The Spider was styled by Touring, a design house with a rich history of creating beautiful Alfas. The Spider's appearance was conservative, but undeniably handsome. With a traditional upside-down triangle grille poking down beneath a split front bumper, the Spider's maker was immediately evident. Twin hood scoops and decorative vents along the bottoms of the front fenders were the only signs of extravagance. The rest of the design was clean and staid, with a lithe look and the perfect dimensions for a California cruiser. The interior, likewise, was clean and well-suited to comfortable cruising.
A synchronized 5-speed was attached to the 2000 engine, driving a solid rear axle suspended by coil springs. Front suspension used double A-arms and coil springs. Large Alfin drum brakes were fitted at all wheels. The conventional suspension design, along with the extra gear on the transmission for relaxed driving, emphasized that the 2000 was a grand touring car and not a sports car.
There were 7,089 2000 series cars produced. Convertibles made up an unusually high percentage of total production, with 3,443 Spiders accounting for nearly half of all cars built. In 1962 a replacement for the series came as the 2600. The 2600 cars were produced until 1968 and featured styling that resembled the 2000 series but used all-aluminum straight six engines. Often eclipsed by the revolutionary 1900 before it and the faster 2600 that replaced it, the 2000 was not seen as a particularly special Alfa until recently. The cars are now respected for their durability and smoothness, as well as for the clean lines of the Sprint and Spider.
Sources:
Benson, Joe. Illustrated Alfa Romeo Buyer's Guide. Osceola, WI: MBI Publishing Company, 1992. Print.
Braden, Pat. '1959 2000 Spider.' Keith Martin on Collecting Alfa Romeo 2006: PrintBy Evan Acuña
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 1960
Alfa Romeo
models |
| Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider |
| Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale |
| Alfa Romeo Sprint Zagato |
| Similar Automakers | |
| Citroen | Fiat |
| Lancia | Morgan |
| Opel | Peugeot |
| Renault | Seat |
| Skoda | Vauxhall |
| Similarly Sized Vehicles from 1960 |
| Aston Martin DB4 GT |
| Ferrari 400 Superamerica |
| Similarly Priced Vehicles from 1960 |
| Chrysler 300F ($5,410-$5,840) |
| AC Ace ($4,800-$6,600) |
| Cadillac DeVille ($5,250-$5,500) |
| Jaguar XK-150 ($4,500-$5,200) |
| Mercedes-Benz 190 SL ($5,030-$5,240) |
| Imperial Crown ($5,400-$5,770) |
| Chrysler New Yorker ($4,405-$5,130) |
Average Auction Sale: $50,050 |
| Alfa Romeo: 1950-1960 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Other models by Alfa Romeo |
| 147 156 164 1750 1900 SS | 2000 24HP 2600 6C 8C | 8C 2600 90 Alfetta Arna BAT | Giulia Giulietta Junior Zagato Milano Montreal | P3 RL Spider Sprint Zagato SZ | Tipo 158 Alfetta Tipo 33 TZ |
| 1959 2000 Spider | 1961 2000 |
