Als de oudste tevens de mooiste blijkt te zijn… Deze beeldschone Alfa Romeo Duetto 1600 werd in 1966 gefabriceerd en verkeert in absolute topstaat! Zo zagen we de originele Spider nog nooit. En dat zegt heel wat, aangezien het team van Prins al sinds 1990 hét vertrouwde aanspreekpunt is voor ware Alfisti. Daarmee zijn we één van de langst bestaande Alfa Romeo specialisten van dit moment. Om maar even aan te geven hoe bijzonder (en) mooi deze auto is. Bijzonder is ook de historie van ons witte pareltje: dit unieke exemplaar heeft namelijk productienummer 98(!) en is uitgevoerd in de originele AR008 kleur. Classic Car Restoration is verantwoordelijk voor het opnieuw aanbrengen van de lak + een motorrevisie. Voor de rest bleef alles bij het oude, kijk alleen al naar de smetteloze (!) bodem, originele Dunlop schijfremmen en vele andere details. Eigenlijk te mooi om weg te doen, maar Wim gunt ‘m een andere Alfist!
Read moreAlfa Romeo Duetto 1600 Bianco Alfa
If the oldest one turns out to be the most beautiful too… This absolutely magnificent 1966 Alfa Romeo Duetto 1600 remains in perfect shape! We never saw an original Spider in such an immaculate condition. And that says a lot, regarding the fact that team Prins has been a renowned Alfa Romeo specialist since 1990. Making us one of the oldest (former) dealers at the moment – just to indicate how unique this car is. The history of our white gem is also special: the Duetto was delivered new in Sardinia and has been in the Netherlands since 1989. This specific classic has production number 98 and got the original AR008 color. Classic Car Restoration is responsible for reapplying the paint and overhauled the engine properly. Everything else remained the same, including the spotless (!) bottom, original Dunlop disc brakes and many other details. Too beautiful to sell, but Wim Prins wants to make a another true Alfist happy, other than himself. Maybe it’s you?
History
The chassis number ending with 107 suggests that this Alfa classic wasn’t among the first 100 Spiders Series 1 show cars, debuting on March 15 in Geneva. Yet it was the case, because the first few Duetto’s didn’t make it to the end of the production stage. This immediately explains the different production number: 98. The year of manufacture is 1966, the construction date is February 28: that’s half a month before the official introduction. Our original Spider found his perfect home at Sardinia. Yet a Dutchman managed to get his hands on the Italian beauty back in 1989. Naturally, the red Alfa blood runs like no other, but the former owner – a genuine fan and classic collector with an exceptional collection, couldn’t resist turning the Duetto 1600 to its original color scheme in 2009. And so the Alfa switched from white to red, back to white. Bianco Alfa to be precise, also known as AR008. An engine overhaul took place in the same period, which was carried out together with the paintjob by the specialists of Classic Car Restoration. How good those professionals are? The result speaks volumes…
Exterior
The pristine white Bianco bodywork of our Alfa Duetto deserves all the attention: so original, so sleek, so stylish. In terms of appearance and condition, this car has no equal! And yet there are some interesting details hidden from view: the bottom is also completely flawless… Even after 58 years! Unique is an understatement. The Duetto laid the foundation for multiple series of Alfa Romeo Spiders. From the very beginning, the Italians were determined to maintain the unprecedented charismatic looks of predecessor Giulietta Spider. It worked out and an extra touch of character and sportiness was added. Deeper round headlight units behind streamlined covers and a strongly sloping rear characterize the unmistakable Duetto design. No Spider adopted the ‘sepia shell’ shape. This makes the original extra special!
Interior
Another thing to die for: the interior of our Alfa Romeo Duetto 1600 is in excellent condition too. It’s almost surreal to see how bizarrely beautiful the cockpit still is after all these years! The black leather upholstery, red carpet, wooden steering wheel with its aluminum spokes; literally everything shows an incredible amount of care, attention and perfection. The gear lever, toggle switches, chrome-rimmed counters + meters and ashtray; it’s like new. Good luck finding a second version of this true Alfa Romeo masterpiece with more than half a century of experience…
Technique
Series 1 of the Spider, a.k.a. Duetto, round tail or Osso di Seppia, was in production until 1969. Production of the 1600 version stopped 2 years earlier, but it was by far the most popular among Alfa Romeo customers. Of course it was: with 109 hp and 142 Nm, it turned out to be powerful enough to provide lots of driving pleasure. The engine overhaul in 2009 has helped to ensure that the fun factor is as intact as the beauty of the car. With the engine in front and rear wheel drive, the original Spider was and still is a pleasure to drive with. Even the Dunlop disc brakes are completely original and in excellent shape. We cannot emphasize enough how special our Alfa Duetto is. That’s why a visit to the Netherlands is highly recommended. When can we introduce you to this unique piece of Italian history?
Kind regards,
team Prins.
