GRADUATING WITH HONOURS (some text hidden) --NONE--

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Introductionword count: 149

There aren't too many cars that qualify as style icons. Many try but are either too contrived to succeed or lack the appropriate historical resonance. One car that's become a true classic is Alfa Romeo's original Spider. Here is a car that survived in one form or another for over a quarter of a century but which still seems as relevant and as desirable as ever. Looking good in a car like the Alfa Spider is easy. Finding one that's not a rotten basket case isn't such a cakewalk. There's no shortage of flaky examples about for which some less scrupulous traders are prepared to charge a hefty fee for. Do your homework, speak to a few enthusiasts and you should be able to come up with a car that still looks a million dollars and hopefully won't cost anything like as much to keep in tip top fettle.

Modelsword count: 9

Models Covered: Spider [1.3, 1.6, 1.75, 2.0-litre (Junior, Veloce]

Historyword count: 221

Although convertible versions of the Giulietta Sprint date back to 1955, it wasn't until 1966 that Pininfarina styled the Giulia Sprint Spider, originally with a 109bhp 1600cc engine. This model, dubbed the Series 1, achieved fame in the Dustin Hoffman film 'The Graduate', and underwent a few incremental changes. In 1967 the 1600cc car was replaced by a short-tailed Veloce 1750cc model that added another 9bhp whilst in 1968 a 1300cc model was also made available for budget buyers. The Series 1 was replaced in 1970 by - no prizes here - the Series 2. 1300cc and 1750cc versions continued, but the car that really cemented the Spider's place in history, the popular 2000cc Spider Veloce didn't arrive until later that year. With nearly 60,000 Series 2 cars built, this represents your happiest hunting ground. The plastic-bumpered Series 3 debuted in 1982 and offered a choice of a 104bhp 1.6-litre engine or a 128bhp 2.0-litre. The 2.0-litre car was popular and paved the way for a facelift in 1990 that featured a more kicked up tail that housed the rear lights. Purists shunned these models, built between 1990 and 1993 as being rather too far removed from the original's purity of line, but if you're interested in the best car you can afford, these run-out editions are well worth a look.

What You Getword count: 145

If you're a classic car enthusiast, there's no reason you shouldn't get on fine with an Alfa Spider. Step from a modern roadster into the Alfa and it may come as something of a culture shock. Ergonomics aren't a strong point, with the gear lever sprouting out of the dashboard at a novel angle and the minor switchgear is haphazardly scattered. Even the last of the Series 3 cars feels very idiosyncratic, but whichever model you go for, you'll get a decent amount of room for two and a surprisingly generously proportioned boot. If you want a car that works like a domestic appliance, go out and buy a Toyota Corolla. If, on the other hand, you quite fancy the appeal of a car that drips charisma from every pore, the Alfa Spider certainly won't disappoint. Unless, that is, you end up with a lemon.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227