Alfa Romeo Spider (Series 1–4 / 105 series) History

Launched at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show, the Spider was styled by Pininfarina and originally competed under the name 'Duetto' — though a trademark dispute prevented the name from being officially used on the car. Alfa Romeo held a public naming contest with more than 100,000 entries; the winner proposed 'Duetto', but because confectionery maker Pavesi held that trademark, the car was sold simply as the Alfa Romeo Spider 1600.

The Spider ran for nearly three decades across four generations (Series 1: 1966–1969; Series 2: 1970–1982; Series 3: 1983–1990; Series 4: 1991–1994), with total production reaching approximately 124,000 units. It became a cultural icon after its appearance in the 1967 film 'The Graduate', which drove strong US demand and kept the model alive in America even as it aged.

All four series retained the 105/115 platform's rear-wheel drive layout and twin-cam engine, with engine displacements ranging from 1.3 to 2.0 litres over the car's life. The final Series 4 cars received fuel injection and a squared-off tail redesign before production ended in 1994.